Phys.org news

Phys.org / Avoiding the very hungry caterpillar: Herbivores pose unexpected threat to predatory mite eggs

Predators don't expect to be preyed upon, and especially not by herbivores such as caterpillars. The slow-moving, leaf-eating larvae may only intend to consume plants, but sometimes tiny creatures making their homes under ...

Apr 8, 2026
Phys.org / Glucose transport may hinge on a fleeting transition-like state

Stockholm University and SciLifeLab researchers have uncovered how glucose transporters move nutrients into cells, bridging a long-standing gap between structure and function in membrane biology. "Our study shows that these ...

Apr 8, 2026
Phys.org / Sinking land drives coastal flood risk on densely populated Java Island

A new study published in Science Advances reveals that sinking land—not just rising oceans alone—will be the main cause of future coastal flooding along Indonesia's densely populated Java Island, putting millions at risk ...

Apr 8, 2026
Phys.org / Tracking reef winners and losers after a Category 4 storm

Research led by James Cook University has shown the devastating impacts of severe cyclones on corals and coral reef fishes, highlighting changes in coral reef structure that influence long-term recovery and resilience. The ...

Apr 8, 2026
Phys.org / 'Voorhees law' explains why the slower car often catches up

Many drivers will know the feeling: you pull ahead of the slower car you've been stuck behind and cruise the open road ahead at your own, faster speed. By the time you reach the next stop light, you're sure that you've left ...

Apr 7, 2026
Phys.org / Astronomers discover Andromeda XXXVI, an ultra-faint dwarf satellite galaxy

By analyzing the data from the Pan-Andromeda Archaeological Survey (PandAS), European astronomers have discovered a new satellite of the Andromeda galaxy. The newfound object, which received the designation Andromeda XXXVI, ...

Apr 7, 2026
Phys.org / First close pair of supermassive black holes detected

Supermassive black holes at the centers of galaxies are one of the most active fields of research in astronomy. In order to accumulate their enormous masses, they must merge with each other. A research team led by Silke Britzen ...

Apr 7, 2026
Phys.org / How the social lives of magpies shape their call repertoire

Communication is central to the survival of most animals, including humans. Yet animals of different species communicate differently, and the complexity of their communication skills varies greatly. One characteristic of ...

Apr 7, 2026
Phys.org / Do you see faces in the clouds? Researchers examine pareidolia

Humans are masters of seeing faces in any old thing—a handbag, TV static, toasted white bread. Scientists want to know why. A few years ago, as the category 5 Hurricane Milton bore down on the Florida coast, the internet ...

Apr 7, 2026
Phys.org / 'Oldest octopus' fossil is no octopus at all, scans reveal

A famous 300-million-year-old fossil that was thought to be the world's oldest octopus—even featuring in the Guinness Book of Records—has turned out to be something else altogether. In what amounts to a case of mistaken identity, ...

Apr 7, 2026
Phys.org / Turmeric and ginger extract may boost implant bonding and kill 92% bacteria

An extract of turmeric and ginger helps bone implants bond strongly while killing bacteria and cancer cells, according to new research from Washington State University with implications for millions of patients with joint ...

Apr 7, 2026
Phys.org / New spider species in the Amazon mimics parasitic fungus

An international research team, including the Leibniz Institute for the Analysis of Biodiversity Change (LIB), has described a new species of spider from the Ecuadorian Amazon: Taczanowskia waska. The species is characterized ...

Apr 7, 2026