Phys.org news

Phys.org / Why the Arctic's rivers are rusting now and where toxic orange water could spread next

Scientists have identified the two biggest reasons that once-pristine rivers across the Arctic are growing cloudy with toxic orange iron particles that smother insects and suffocate fish.

Jun 2, 2026
Phys.org / Faster lower-cost PFAS testing could reshape how US drinking water is monitored

A new investigation from the University of Kansas improves detection of PFAS, a family of so-called "forever chemicals" in drinking water supplies. The method, which can measure trace pollution levels of PFAS in water more ...

Jun 2, 2026
Phys.org / Biodiversity offsetting shows promise in pollinator conservation

Newly created grassland habitats that compensate for nature lost to development can effectively support wild pollinators like bees and hoverflies, according to a first of its kind study in the Netherlands. The findings are ...

Jun 2, 2026
Phys.org / Canadian forest fires are losing their climate cooling power, says study

Diminishing periods of snow cover in northern forests, shortened by climate change, are poised to disrupt a delicate balance in some of the planet's most climate-sensitive regions—according to new research from McMaster University, ...

Jun 2, 2026
Phys.org / Environmental engineers reshape understanding of airborne pollution particles

From sizzling bacon in the kitchen to wildfire smoke in the sky, cooking and pollution release microscopic particles that affect humans' health, the air they breathe, and even weather and climate. New research from Virginia ...

Jun 2, 2026
Phys.org / Robot fish could unravel how our ancient ancestors first learned to walk

Researchers have developed a fish-like robot that shows how some species of modern fish are able to walk on land, and could help unravel how early vertebrates evolved similar abilities hundreds of millions of years ago.

Jun 2, 2026
Phys.org / 'Mini-Neptune' exoplanets may have smoggy atmospheres similar to diesel exhaust

The astronauts circling Earth on the Artemis mission sent back beautiful clear photos of the continents, clouds, and oceans. But we might be the exception. Many planets in the universe may be hazed in clouds of soot, according ...

Jun 2, 2026
Phys.org / Predicting physics without parameter tuning: A faster computational approach

Numerical simulations in physics often require estimating a multitude of parameters, making the process computationally expensive and complex. Researchers at University of Tsukuba have introduced a new method called the multiparameter ...

Jun 2, 2026
Phys.org / Icy moons' ability to host life could be revealed through an ecology-based method

New observatories and spacecraft missions are probing environments in our solar system that could potentially host life but have long remained hidden. Icy moons like Saturn's Enceladus and Jupiter's Europa likely contain ...

Jun 2, 2026
Phys.org / Nine decades of changing insect diversity in Switzerland expose a striking divide

Thanks to a historical data archive, Swiss researchers are able to draw conclusions about the changes in the diversity of two insect groups over the past 90 years. The study, led by Agroscope, identified a significant decline ...

Jun 2, 2026
Phys.org / Climate-based tool predicts coral bleaching months in advance, offering critical lead time for reef protection

Researchers at the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution (WHOI) have developed a new method to predict coral bleaching five to six months before it occurs, giving reef managers valuable time to protect vulnerable ecosystems. ...

Jun 2, 2026
Phys.org / Leafy camouflage reshapes katydid love songs, making males more attractive to females

New research from the University of St Andrews has discovered that insects who conceal themselves as leaves also use their leafy camouflage to amplify mating calls, making themselves more attractive to the opposite sex. The ...

Jun 2, 2026