Phys.org news

Phys.org / Five-metal 2D catalysts could convert CO₂ to CO without needing an extra electrical boost

Carbon dioxide (CO₂) is usually discussed as something the world needs to get rid of. Activities such as the burning of fossil fuels for daily use, including electricity and transportation, and industrial applications release ...

Sep 2, 2026
Phys.org / 'Pac-Man' enzyme breaks down bioplastics and penicillin in laboratory tests

In the ocean, plastic waste collects to form large garbage patches that endanger marine life. This is partly because the synthetic plastic polymers used today can only be broken down biologically—that is, by microorganisms—at ...

Sep 2, 2026
Phys.org / Blue Origin's New Glenn explosion shows infrasound can detect rocket accidents from up to 1,700 kilometers away

When Blue Origin's New Glenn launch vehicle accidentally exploded during a static test fire in May 2026, the explosion generated low frequency soundwaves below the range of human hearing.

Sep 2, 2026
Phys.org / New nanostructure makes non-linear light conversion 72,000 times more efficient

Researchers from Graz University of Technology (TU Graz), Harvard and the University of Texas at Austin (UT Austin) have developed an innovative method for coupling light non-linearly. This opens up new possibilities for ...

Sep 2, 2026
Phys.org / Trapped light generates nanoscale magnetization

Using an engineered metasurface that traps light, Cornell researchers have demonstrated a new way to generate strong static magnetic fields without using external magnets or magnetic materials—an approach that could advance ...

Sep 2, 2026
Phys.org / Hidden DNA in medieval gospels reveals history of deadly livestock virus

Some of Europe's most well-known historic manuscripts, including the York Gospels, have proven to be biological time capsules for uncovering the 3,500-year history of the sheeppox virus (SPPV).

Sep 2, 2026
Phys.org / What's in an 'O'? Unusual Greek spelling may unlock mystery of ring tied to Pontius Pilate

It's a small, simple ring made of copper alloy and engraved with a handful of Greek letters and the image of a pottery vessel. But its unremarkable appearance belies a remarkable history: The signet was likely connected in ...

Sep 2, 2026
Phys.org / AI-designed proteins enable a new generation of RNA transporters

RNA-based therapeutics use RNA as a blueprint that enables cells to produce specific proteins—including proteins that can precisely modify genes. For this to work, the RNA must reach the inside of the cell intact. Delivery ...

Sep 2, 2026
Phys.org / Chemists design extra-sticky adhesives that degrade on command

A good adhesive is unequivocally sticky. A great adhesive is sticky until you don't want it to be sticky anymore—a label on cardboard until it's time to recycle it. Medical tape on a cut until the wound heals. A GWAR poster ...

Sep 2, 2026
Phys.org / PACMAN AI framework for controlling fusion systems safely makes key decisions in milliseconds

Inside some fusion energy systems, particles hotter than the core of the sun can become unruly in a few thousandths of a second, far faster than any human operator can react. A new software framework developed by researchers ...

Sep 2, 2026
Phys.org / Copper's oxygen-rich early oxidation layer could inform catalyst design and nuclear waste storage

Copper roofs lose their reddish color over time because a pale green layer of copper oxide forms on their surface, protecting the roof from further corrosion for many years. But what exactly happens during the first steps ...

Sep 2, 2026
Phys.org / Ancient fossil from China reveals animal‑microbe partnerships dating back 550 million years

We often think of microbes as organisms that live around us, like the Salmonella bacteria and flu viruses that cause illness. But some of our most intimate relationships are with the microbes living inside us.

Sep 2, 2026