Phys.org news

Phys.org / Aboriginal people harvested this native grass for millennia: Scientists find an odd trait in its DNA

Seen from the air, Channel Country resembles a vibrant, vast tapestry, with a network of waterways crisscrossing the land. Spread across more than 280,000 square kilometers (108,000 square miles) in outback Australia, it ...

Jul 17, 2026
Phys.org / Thinner wires, faster electrons: Quantum material challenges copper at chip scale

Electrical interconnects may very well be the unsung heroes of modern microchips. These tiny wires—typically made of copper due to its high conductivity—string together the billions of transistors that drive our computers ...

Jul 17, 2026
Phys.org / Amazon soy pact collapse could add 1.4 million hectares of deforestation by 2036

The collapse of a landmark Amazon soy pact will drive at least 1.4 million hectares (3.5 million acres) of extra deforestation in Brazil over the next decade, releasing carbon emissions equal to Canada's annual output, according ...

Jul 17, 2026
Phys.org / Wild snapdragons paint themselves in subtle shades to attract bees

Just as careful blending of eye shadow can make a difference to our looks, a recent study has shown how flowers go to considerable trouble to fine-tune their shades. In the relentless competition to attract bees, a slight ...

Jul 17, 2026
Phys.org / Sun holds 55% more silver than estimated, new model reveals

Researchers at Uppsala University have calculated that the sun contains 55% more silver than previously estimated. The results are based on more realistic modeling of the sun's atmosphere and resolve a long-standing problem ...

Jul 17, 2026
Phys.org / AI-designed proteins help scientists see inside living cells

Cells are like metropolises, home to millions of molecular residents. If one were to stand atop a high-rise, trying to identify most of its inhabitants would seem an impossible task. Even with the sophisticated imaging tools ...

Jul 17, 2026
Phys.org / Prototype bicycle tire uses silk to outperform nylon in strength and endurance

Researchers in Thailand have developed a prototype high-performance bicycle tire that replaces conventional nylon fabric reinforcement with natural silk. The team combined laboratory-scale material testing with pilot-scale ...

Jul 17, 2026
Phys.org / Australia's most diverse marsupial predators have been hiding their origins for millions of years

When you think of carnivorous marsupials, you probably picture the Tasmanian devil or perhaps a spotted-tailed quoll. But these famous predators are only the largest members of a remarkable family of marsupials called dasyurids.

Jul 17, 2026
Phys.org / Canadian wildfire smoke linked to fewer bird sightings in New York State

Despite burning hundreds of miles away, Canadian wildfires have become a familiar source of disruption in New York state.

Jul 17, 2026
Phys.org / Researchers identify 'dimmer switch' for plants' immune system

As sulfur becomes increasingly scarce in soils worldwide, scientists are studying how plants decide whether to invest limited resources in growth or defense.

Jul 17, 2026
Phys.org / Bones reveal ancient Egyptian princesses born 4,000 years ago used weapons

For decades, scientists have disputed the meaning of the weapons found in the burial chambers of some ancient Egyptian princesses. Were they symbolic or practical tools? Now, a reassessment of five royal women's mummies from ...

Jul 17, 2026
Phys.org / Portable system cuts PFAS testing time to hours

For communities worried about PFAS contamination, waiting for test results can mean days of uncertainty. A University of Tasmania trial has used a mobile laboratory equipped with portable liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry ...

Jul 17, 2026