Phys.org news

Phys.org / Turning nitrate pollution into green fuel: A 3D COF enables highly efficient ammonia electrosynthesis

Ammonia (NH3) is essential for fertilizers and emerging carbon-free energy technologies, yet its conventional production via the Haber-Bosch process is energy-intensive and CO2-emitting. Researchers from Tohoku University ...

Feb 6, 2026 in Chemistry
Phys.org / Smartwatch study shows stadium atmosphere spikes heart rate and stress levels

Fans of DSC Arminia Bielefeld experience matchday excitement far more intensely in the stadium than in front of the television when watching football (soccer). A study from Bielefeld University demonstrates clear differences ...

Feb 6, 2026 in Other Sciences
Phys.org / A 'crazy' dice proof leads to a new understanding of a fundamental law of physics

Right now, molecules in the air are moving around you in chaotic and unpredictable ways. To make sense of such systems, physicists use a law known as the Boltzmann distribution, which, rather than describe exactly where each ...

Feb 5, 2026 in Other Sciences
Phys.org / Hannibal's famous war elephants: Single bone in Spain offers first direct evidence

Historical accounts of the Punic Wars—and many other ancient wars—often paint a picture of soldiers riding in on imposing "war elephants." Yet, no skeletal remains of these war elephants had ever been found from the Punic ...

Feb 5, 2026 in Other Sciences
Phys.org / Dark matter, not a black hole, could power Milky Way's heart

Our Milky Way galaxy may not have a supermassive black hole at its center but rather an enormous clump of mysterious dark matter exerting the same gravitational influence, astronomers say. They believe this invisible substance—which ...

Feb 5, 2026 in Astronomy & Space
Phys.org / Petra aqueduct survey uncovers rare 116-meter lead conduit beside terracotta pipe

In a recent study, Niklas Jungmann from the Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin conducted a survey and investigation of the 'Ain Braq aqueduct of the ancient city of Petra. It was discovered that, unlike previously believed, ...

Feb 5, 2026 in Other Sciences
Phys.org / 'Jetty McJetface': Star-shredding black hole may keep ramping up its radio jet until 2027 peak

A supermassive black hole with a case of cosmic indigestion has been burping out the remains of a shredded star for four years—and it's still going strong, new research led by a University of Oregon astrophysicist shows.

Feb 5, 2026 in Astronomy & Space
Phys.org / Could apes 'play pretend' like toddlers? A study tracks imaginary juice and grapes

In a series of tea party-like experiments, Johns Hopkins University researchers demonstrate for the first time that apes can use their imagination and play pretend, an ability thought to be uniquely human.

Feb 5, 2026 in Biology
Phys.org / Scents of the afterlife: Identifying embalming recipes by 'sniffing' the air around Egyptian mummies

If you have ever stood close to an ancient Egyptian mummy, you may remember a distinctive, lingering odor. For a long time, it was assumed that this was simply due to age and decay. However, scientists have discovered that ...

Feb 5, 2026 in Other Sciences
Phys.org / From deer to chickadees: How fewer social encounters could raise extinction risk

Imagine an asteroid striking Earth and wiping out most of the human population. Even if some lucky people survived the impact, Homo sapiens might still face extinction, because the social networks humans rely on would collapse.

Feb 5, 2026 in Biology
Phys.org / Finger length could provide vital clue to understanding human brain evolution

The evolution of the human species is marked by an increase in brain size. Now new research suggests that could be partly dependent on increases in prenatal estrogen—revealed by looking at the length of a person's fingers. ...

Feb 5, 2026 in Biology
Phys.org / Study links daily mental sharpness to 30 to 40 extra minutes of work

A new U of T Scarborough study finds that being mentally sharp can translate into a productivity boost equivalent to about 40 extra minutes of work each day.

Feb 5, 2026 in Other Sciences