Phys.org news

Phys.org / Ultrathin nanotubes reach 1 nanometer, opening path to smaller electronics

Researchers in Japan have created some of the world's smallest semiconducting nanotubes, structures 100,000 times thinner than a human hair. By growing molybdenum disulfide inside protective tubes of boron nitride, the researchers, ...

23 hours ago
Phys.org / What makes 15-minute cities work? More nearby jobs and connected streets

The concept of the "15-Minute City" has gained global traction as a blueprint for more livable, sustainable communities by placing daily essentials—such as grocery stores, schools, restaurants and parks—within easy reach ...

21 hours ago
Phys.org / Newfound velociraptor cousin probably glided on four 'wings' and hunted early birds

A fossil bed in northwestern China is littered with the remains of hundreds of prehistoric birds—including some whose broken bones were crushed into pellets, similar to those coughed up by modern owls. For years, scientists ...

23 hours ago
Phys.org / Bumble bees show spontaneous problem-solving, challenging big-brain assumptions

In a new study, bumble bees solve a completely novel object-manipulation task. What makes this behavior especially remarkable is that the bees had never been trained. The findings challenge the long-standing assumption that ...

23 hours ago
Phys.org / Atmosphere survival model refines search for habitable planets

Researchers have developed the Smaller Than Earth Habitability Model (STEHM) to assess which planets can maintain life-supporting atmospheres, focusing on size and atmospheric dynamics.

21 hours ago
Phys.org / AI paired with tiny optical device corrects distorted light for sharper imaging

Blurry light from lens imperfections is a problem everywhere, from microscopes to telescopes to smartphone cameras. Using a tiny yet carefully engineered optical element and artificial intelligence, University of California ...

22 hours ago
Phys.org / AI-guided catalyst turns CO₂ and waste into fertilizer at industrially relevant rates

Researchers from the National University of Singapore (NUS) have developed a computation-guided strategy to produce urea more efficiently from carbon dioxide and nitrate. By combining large language models, density functional ...

22 hours ago
Phys.org / Global mangrove forests rebound, offering hopeful sign for climate and coastal resilience

Mangrove forests, once considered one of the world's most threatened coastal ecosystems, are showing signs of recovery worldwide, according to new research from Tulane University that finds decades of losses largely offset ...

23 hours ago
Phys.org / Teaching AI to design optical surfaces using real-world imperfections

Designing surfaces that precisely control how light behaves at the nanoscale is tricky. Optical Fourier surfaces, which are nanostructured gratings that redistribute light into specific directions and wavelengths, hold enormous ...

22 hours ago
Phys.org / Wildfires reverse decade of ozone cleanup in the United States, study reveals

Ozone pollution has worsened in much of the continental United States over the past decade, fueled by wildfires and the long-distance transport of unhealthy air, according to a new study titled "Fires reverse progress toward ...

23 hours ago
Phys.org / Most people cooperate—and underestimate others' willingness to cooperate, global study reveals

The study "Homo cooperans: Understanding the nature of human cooperation" arrives at a clear result: 69% of study participants chose to cooperate. At the same time, the study published in the journal Science shows that people ...

23 hours ago
Phys.org / Billions are going into fish passage projects, but planning methods can undercut results

Fish that split their lives between fresh and salt water often face obstacles getting back and forth. Dams and roads fracture river networks and interfere with traditional migratory routes, sparking concerns about fish health ...

Jun 4, 2026