Phys.org news

Phys.org / Astronomer uses 'China Sky Eye' to reveal binary origin of fast radio bursts

An international team of astronomers, including researchers from the Department of Physics at The University of Hong Kong (HKU), has uncovered the first decisive evidence that at least some fast radio burst (FRB) sources—brief ...

Jan 16, 2026 in Astronomy & Space
Phys.org / Plant diversity shapes chemical communication in ecosystems

Researchers at the Max Planck Institute for Chemical Ecology and the University of Kiel have provided experimental evidence showing that reducing plant species diversity alters plant chemical signals across whole communities ...

Jan 16, 2026 in Biology
Phys.org / When tropical oceans were oxygen oases

Research reveals when and why ancient tropical seas transitioned from oxygen oases to marine dead zones, providing clues to the long-term evolution of oceanic environments.

Jan 16, 2026 in Earth
Phys.org / Sideways discovery rewrites the rules of antigen presentation

A new discovery about how cells communicate with each other in the body's immune system has revealed deeper insights for an international team of scientists into fundamental immune system function.

Jan 16, 2026 in Biology
Phys.org / Exploring mutations that spontaneously switch on a key brain cell receptor

Many people are familiar with histamine, a biological molecule that serves as a key driver of allergic reactions and other immune responses. However, histamine is also a major neurotransmitter in the mammalian brain, regulating ...

Jan 16, 2026 in Biology
Phys.org / X-ray four-wave mixing captures elusive electron interactions inside atoms and molecules

Scientists at the X-ray free-electron laser SwissFEL have realized a long-pursued experimental goal in physics: to show how electrons dance together. The technique, known as X-ray four-wave mixing, opens a new way to see ...

Jan 16, 2026 in Physics
Phys.org / Biomass-derived furans offer sustainable alternative to petroleum in chemical production

A research project conducted by the Max-Planck-Institut für Kohlenforschung shows how biomass can be used as a raw material for chemical products instead of petroleum. The scientists have published their findings in the ...

Jan 16, 2026 in Chemistry
Phys.org / Wormholes may not exist—we've found they reveal something deeper about time and the universe

Wormholes are often imagined as tunnels through space or time—shortcuts across the universe. But this image rests on a misunderstanding of work by physicists Albert Einstein and Nathan Rosen.

Jan 15, 2026 in Physics
Phys.org / Construction emissions are higher than thought—but the solution isn't building less, new study finds

Many cities are making great strides in the fight against climate change, such as improving building energy efficiency, reducing traffic congestion and switching to renewable power sources. But there is another often overlooked ...

Jan 15, 2026 in Earth
Phys.org / Collapse of the Tang dynasty: Climate change likely played a role

Environmental phenomena and their consequences can disrupt social structures and destabilize political systems. An interdisciplinary research team demonstrated this using the example of the late Tang dynasty in medieval China.

Jan 15, 2026 in Earth
Phys.org / Earth system models overestimate river flow increases, research reveals

Understanding how water moves through the Earth system is fundamental to predicting climate impacts and ensuring sustainable water management. Yet despite decades of research, uncertainties persist regarding how global precipitation ...

Jan 15, 2026 in Earth
Phys.org / Large parts of the tropics overlooked in environmental research, study says

Environmental research in the tropics is heavily skewed, according to a comprehensive study led by Umeå University. Humid lowland forest ecosystems receive a disproportionate amount of attention, while colder and drier regions ...

Jan 15, 2026 in Earth