Phys.org news

Phys.org / Two independent studies push semiconductor qubits towards practical scales

Semiconductor spin qubits are one of the most promising building blocks for future quantum computers, but turning them into a working, large-scale quantum computer has so far proven difficult. For now, two big questions remain ...

Jul 31, 2026
Phys.org / Ancient Irish volcano offers new clues about the development of its modern-day, active 'brothers and sisters'

An international team of volcanologists working on Carlingford Mountain has found that liquid "magma chambers" do not always exist beneath volcanoes. The team instead demonstrated that magma "plumbing systems" beneath Earth's ...

Jul 31, 2026
Phys.org / Magnetic nanoparticles remove forever chemicals from water

PFAS, otherwise known as forever chemicals, have become commonplace in numerous everyday and industrial products. At the same time, they are some of the most problematic pollutants of our times: They are extremely durable, ...

Jul 31, 2026
Phys.org / Diamond's newfound defect may tame vibrations that hinder quantum light sources

Researchers in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign have discovered a new type of quantum light emitter in diamonds that could help overcome a number of challenges ...

Jul 31, 2026
Phys.org / New method flags hurricane rapid intensification up to five days ahead

The rapid intensification of a hurricane ranks among the most dangerous weather events on Earth. Storms such as Hurricane Michael, which crashed ashore in the Florida Panhandle with winds of 160 mph (about 257 km/h), and ...

Jul 31, 2026
Phys.org / The Arctic Ocean keeps permafrost carbon firmly locked

Permafrost in the Arctic stores large quantities of organic carbon. When frozen ground thaws or coastal sections erode, this carbon can enter the sea, where microorganisms can break it down and convert it into climate-damaging ...

Jul 31, 2026
Phys.org / Modified cell vesicles trigger 'lipid counterstorm' against lung inflammation in mice

The COVID-19 pandemic highlighted severe consequences of unchecked respiratory disease, including cytokine storms. This phenomenon affected many COVID-19 patients and is a potential side effect of many other diseases involving ...

Jul 31, 2026
Phys.org / Surprising boiling behavior in liquids could advance future space missions

When astronauts travel deeper into space, every drop of fuel becomes critical, and keeping those fuels stable for months or even years is one of the biggest engineering challenges facing future missions. Now, University of ...

Jul 31, 2026
Phys.org / Only 1 in 3 people arrested by ICE have a criminal conviction, research reveals

Just 34% of people arrested by the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents during President Donald Trump's second term have a criminal conviction, according to research published in the Proceedings of the National ...

Jul 31, 2026
Phys.org / Newly discovered parasite linked to coastal seabird deaths

Along the Gulf Coast, black skimmers have long been a familiar sight—gliding just above the water with their bright orange beaks slicing through the surface to feed.

Jul 31, 2026
Phys.org / Chemists unlock Appel fluorination with potassium fluoride

Alcohols are among the most abundant building blocks in chemistry. Fluorinated compounds, meanwhile, are essential for many modern medicines, crop protection products and advanced materials. Converting one into the other, ...

Jul 31, 2026
Phys.org / Randomly mixed atoms arranged in rows and columns for sustainable catalysis

The energy system of the future will require sustainable catalysts that, for example, enable the efficient production of green hydrogen. Materials consisting of mixtures of five chemical elements show great promise for enabling ...

Jul 31, 2026