Phys.org news
Phys.org / From bolts to blue jets, lightning comes in many strange forms
Lightning has captured people's fascination for millennia. It's embedded in mythology, religion and popular culture. Think of Thor in Norse mythology or Indra in Hinduism.
Phys.org / Time warp: How marketers express time can affect what consumers buy
Which feels further back in time: the year 2016, or 10 years ago? And which feels closer: 2036, or 10 years from now?
Phys.org / 2025 was third hottest year on record: climate monitors
The planet logged its third hottest year on record in 2025, extending a run of unprecedented heat, with no relief expected in 2026, global climate monitors said Wednesday.
Phys.org / Crop droughts set to worsen—even as rainfall increases
Europe and western North America will experience more frequent and severe crop droughts as Earth warms, even in places where yearly rainfall increases.
Phys.org / Scientists measure cellular membrane thickness inside cells for the first time
Scientists have long known that cellular membranes vary in thickness, but measuring those differences inside actual cells has been out of reach.
Phys.org / Plants use bacterial-like gene to make alkaloids, offering new route for sustainable medicines
Plants make substances called alkaloids to protect themselves, and humans have long taken advantage of these chemicals, using them in painkillers, treatments for disease and household products such as caffeine and nicotine.
Phys.org / Avocadoes may become easier to grow in India—but not if global emissions remain high
A new study suggests that with low to moderate levels of global greenhouse emissions in coming decades, more of India could become suitable for growing avocadoes. However, with high enough emissions, growing zones could shrink ...
Phys.org / Can a bat catch prey on a mirror? A bat's expert foraging skills revealed using a robot
Scientists built a robot to help explain how a tropical bat spots insects perched on leaves using echolocation, a highly sophisticated behavior that requires precise, split-second decision making on the part of the hunting ...
Phys.org / A CRISPR fingerprint of pathogenic C. auris fungi for precision diagnostics
Infection with the pathogenic yeast fungus Candida auris (C. auris) can wreak havoc on the health of hospital patients and residents of nursing homes, especially those who are already weakened by other illnesses. The pathogen ...
Phys.org / Measuring movement creates a new way to map indoor air pollution
University of Birmingham scientists have developed a new way of measuring and analyzing indoor air pollution that—in initial trials—has established a clear link between office occupancy, physical activity, and air quality.
Phys.org / Polyamines guide cellular decisions by altering the phosphoproteomic landscape, study finds
Polyamines are small molecules naturally present in all cells and are critical in guiding cellular decisions, whereas an alteration in the abundance of these metabolites is invariably observed in pathological scenarios such ...
Phys.org / Fluid gears rotate without teeth, offering new mechanical flexibility
A team of New York University scientists has created a gear mechanism that relies on fluids to generate rotation. The invention holds potential for a new generation of mechanical devices that offer greater flexibility and ...
