Phys.org news
Dialog / Optical meta‑conveyors enable programmable nanomanipulation along arbitrary open paths
The task of gently transporting a microscopic particle from one point to another along a winding path, and then bringing it back using nothing more than a single, compact chip is a challenge we set out to address in our new ...
Phys.org / Astronomers directly detect how turbulence between stars distorts light
Astronomers led by the Center for Astrophysics | Harvard & Smithsonian (CfA) have made the first direct detection of turbulence distorting light in the interstellar medium. The findings will help scientists achieve clearer ...
Phys.org / These computer voices sound human enough to mislead, but one layer of speech still breaks the illusion
We are surrounded by computer-generated voices these days, from navigation systems and voice assistants to automated announcements. But how human do these voices actually sound? A recent study by the Max Planck Institute ...
Phys.org / Statistical technique could uncover secrets of 'ringing' black holes
Researchers have developed a technique to analyze how black holes "ring" when they collide and merge: one of the universe's most dramatic events. When black holes merge, the collision produces a new, larger black hole that ...
Phys.org / Rising seasonal sea-level swings are under-reported, but could have a major impact
Sea levels are rising not only on average, but also in their seasonal fluctuations. This is a lesser-known trend that could have major consequences for mudflats, salt marshes and other coastal ecosystems. Researchers from ...
Phys.org / Gold nanoparticles that behave like a liquid open path to adaptive materials
When inorganic nanoparticles come together, their optical, electronic, and magnetic properties depend strongly on how they are arranged. Being able to reorganize these arrangements in a controlled way could therefore provide ...
Phys.org / AI generates first complete models of proteins in motion
Many drug and antibody discovery pathways focus on intricately folded cell membrane proteins. When molecules of a drug candidate bind to these proteins, like a key going into a lock, they trigger chemical cascades that alter ...
Phys.org / Fossil teeth from China uncover 400,000-year-old H. erectus ties to Denisovans
Scientists from the Institute of Vertebrate Paleontology and Paleoanthropology (IVPP) of the Chinese Academy of Sciences have uncovered new information suggesting a potential connection between Homo erectus and modern humans, ...
Phys.org / Electrified route to epoxides could cut costs and pollution with common catalyst
When you hear the word "epoxide," what do you think? If anything, likely "glue." But epoxides are quite common in our everyday lives. You might be sitting on a foam seat cushion made from epoxides. There is a good chance ...
Phys.org / Geologists in films are the good guys... but they often die
It all began with a perfectly ordinary chat over coffee between four researchers. How many films featuring geologists can we think of? Quite quickly, the colleagues were able to come up with about 10 films. But then the scientific ...
Dialog / Researchers identify stability range for piezoelectric glycine using nanoconfinement
Have you ever wondered if the simple building blocks of life could one day power our wearable electronics? Glycine, the simplest amino acid found in our bodies, has a superpower in its β-phase form: it is highly piezoelectric, ...
Phys.org / Torpedo bats may shift baseball's sweet spot, acoustic analysis shows
In the spring of 2025, baseball fans were treated to a surprise when the New York Yankees began the season with a unique style of bat. Termed "torpedo bats," these new designs tapered slightly toward the end, so the widest ...
