Phys.org news

Phys.org / Blood marker from dementia research could help track aging across the animal world

A protein called neurofilament light chain (NfL)—studied in humans in the context of neurodegenerative diseases and aging—is also detectable in the blood of numerous animals, and NfL levels increase with age in mice, ...

10 hours ago in Biology
Phys.org / How massive lava fields formed in the Pacific Northwest

Volcanic eruptions are significant geologic hazards. Underwater volcanoes are challenging to study, yet they play an integral role in marine geology and may cause destructive tsunamis that can threaten coastal communities.

11 hours ago in Earth
Phys.org / How early farming unintentionally bred highly competitive 'warrior' wheat

An evolutionary "arms race" for light and space led to the early domestication of wheat, according to new research that could offer fresh insights into crop design. The study led by Dr. Yixiang Shan and Professor Colin Osborne, ...

13 hours ago in Biology
Phys.org / Quantum trembling: Why there are no truly flat molecules

Traditional chemistry textbooks present a tidy picture: Atoms in molecules occupy fixed positions, connected by rigid rods. A molecule such as formic acid (methanoic acid, HCOOH) is imagined as two-dimensional—flat as a ...

13 hours ago in Physics
Phys.org / Americium, curium and californium—crystallizing the rarest elements

Actinides are a group of heavy, radioactive elements that include uranium, plutonium, americium, curium, berkelium and californium. Understanding how these elements bond with other atoms (known as coordination chemistry), ...

13 hours ago in Chemistry
Phys.org / Cleaner fish show intelligence typical of mammals

Researchers at Osaka Metropolitan University in Japan have discovered a previously undiscovered behavior in cleaner wrasse (Labroides dimidiatus). When presented with a mirror, the tiny fish not only recognized themselves, ...

14 hours ago in Biology
Phys.org / Phonon lasers unlock ultrabroadband acoustic frequency combs

Acoustic frequency combs organize sound or mechanical vibrations into a series of evenly spaced frequencies, much like the teeth on a comb. They are the acoustic counterparts of optical frequency combs, which consist of equally ...

14 hours ago in Physics
Phys.org / Study identifies oaks, dry duff and debris as top power line failure risks

Wildfires and power outages caused by vegetation near powerlines have contributed to some of the state's most destructive fires.

15 hours ago in Earth
Phys.org / Scientists reveal best- and worst-case scenarios for a warming Antarctica

The climate crisis is warming Antarctica fast, with potentially disastrous consequences. Now scientists have modeled the best- and worst-case scenarios for climate change in Antarctica, demonstrating just how high the stakes ...

23 hours ago in Earth
Phys.org / A hidden step before meiosis could reshape efforts to treat infertility

In human cells, DNA carries chemical or "epigenetic" marks that decide how genes will be used in different tissues. Yet in a group of specialized cells, known as "germ cells," which will later form sperm and eggs, these inherited ...

18 hours ago in Biology
Phys.org / A few weeks of X's algorithm can make you more right-wing—and it doesn't wear off quickly

A new study published in Nature has found that X's algorithm—the hidden system or "recipe" that governs which posts appear in your feed and in which order—shifts users' political opinions in a more conservative direction.

Feb 19, 2026 in Other Sciences
Phys.org / Hiding in plain sight: Discovery of cryptic species could double the number of vertebrates

There may be twice as many vertebrates on the planet as previous estimates claimed, according to a new study published in the journal Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences. That's not because of any errors ...

Feb 19, 2026 in Biology