Phys.org news

Phys.org / New species of Middle Miocene bear-dog described in tribute to Salvador Moyà-Solà

A research team with the participation of the Institut Català de Paleontologia Miquel Crusafont (ICP) has described a new species of extinct carnivore from fossil remains recovered at the Els Casots site (Subirats, Alt Penedès). ...

Jun 12, 2026
Phys.org / Rare-earth-free zinc oxide achieves a first in stress-to-light conversion

Mechanoluminescent materials convert mechanical energy such as stress, strain and vibration directly into light, making them attractive as self-powered sensors that require no batteries or wiring. From biomedical sensors ...

Jun 12, 2026
Phys.org / New findings complete first evolutionary history of all living millipede orders, dating back 460 million years

Long before vertebrates walked on land, millipedes had the place to themselves. Hundreds of millions of years before dinosaurs arrived, these early decomposers were helping establish Earth's terrestrial ecosystems. But despite ...

Jun 12, 2026
Phys.org / Mountainous landscapes store far more carbon than previously thought, new research shows

Hilly and mountainous landscapes have a much greater ability to store carbon in the soil than previously thought, according to a new study co-led by scientists at the University of Oregon.

Jun 12, 2026
Phys.org / Engineered bacterium turns potato starch into biodegradable plastic in 24 hours

Every year, hundreds of millions of tons of petrochemical-based plastics are produced, much of which ends up in the environment or is incinerated. This exacerbates greenhouse gas emissions and the environmental crisis caused ...

Jun 12, 2026
Phys.org / Trees may store less carbon than expected in the future

It's intuitive to think that if a tree is photosynthesizing, it's also growing. But that's not necessarily so—and a new study of oak trees, published in the journal Science Advances, found that even as they photosynthesize ...

Jun 12, 2026
Phys.org / Meltwater is causing Antarctic glaciers to flow faster toward the ocean

In a new study, Professor Shin Sugiyama of Hokkaido University and his team have directly confirmed for the first time that water from melting snow and ice, or meltwater, found at the surface of a glacier can drain to its ...

Jun 12, 2026
Phys.org / Dragonfly and damselfly migrations crisscross planet, with 100 species confirmed

Migration flights of dragonflies and damselflies crisscross much of our planet, new research reveals. Scientists from the universities of Exeter and Lund reviewed global evidence and found 100 dragonfly and damselfly species ...

Jun 12, 2026
Phys.org / Carbon dioxide unlocks safer oxidation chemistry under room-temperature conditions

Oxidation reactions are indispensable to the chemical industry, but from a process safety perspective, they are among the most challenging transformations. A research team at the University of Bayreuth, working in collaboration ...

Jun 12, 2026
Phys.org / Climate change is causing fish to move to cooler water—what if their escape route is blocked?

Around the world, ocean warming is causing fish to move poleward in search of cooler water.

Jun 12, 2026
Phys.org / Antarctic surface melt could jump tenfold this century as warming spreads south

New research shows surface melting across Antarctica is set to intensify and spread dramatically over the 21st century, with melt increasing 10-fold and the affected area growing by more than 10% by 2100 if global temperatures ...

Jun 12, 2026
Phys.org / Why chickens come in so many colors, and what one gene reveals about evolution

From snow white and jet black to golden brown, domestic chickens display a wider range of plumage colors than almost any other livestock species. A new international study, with researchers from Leipzig University playing ...

Jun 12, 2026