Phys.org news

Phys.org / Chaotic 3D currents form multiple microplastic 'attractors' beneath the ocean surface, study finds

The ocean is saturated with microplastics. While we know the location of the great garbage patches, where plastic particles may accumulate below the ocean surface remains unknown. The vastness of the ocean means particle ...

Dec 9, 2025 in Earth
Phys.org / Oyster larvae and addictive drugs: Study finds exposure affects behavior and survival rates

The discharge and prevalence of psychoactive drugs in surface waters has raised concerns about potential risks to ecosystems and public health. Yet there is limited information on the ecotoxicity of these compounds in marine ...

Dec 9, 2025 in Biology
Phys.org / Health monitoring patch offers gentle way to conserve frog populations

La Trobe University academics have developed a noninvasive way to monitor hormones in frogs in an important step toward protecting the vulnerable animals from extinction.

Dec 9, 2025 in Biology
Phys.org / Elusive species face the greatest threat from human land use, global analysis finds

A study by University of Liverpool researchers reveals that the species hardest to detect—those rarely seen, recorded, or included in scientific monitoring—are also the most vulnerable to human-driven habitat change.

Dec 9, 2025 in Biology
Phys.org / Mitotic stopwatch pathway shows how cancer loses its sense of time to avoid stress responses

When cell division (mitosis) takes too long, it can be a sign that something is wrong with the cells, for example, DNA damage or chromosomal instability. That's why our cells come with an innate ability to tell the time, ...

Dec 9, 2025 in Biology
Phys.org / What lies beneath Greenland could change what we know about rising seas

A new study led by researchers at the University of Ottawa provides a series of highly detailed 3D models of the Earth's temperature beneath Greenland and northeastern Canada, providing insights into the region's geological ...

Dec 8, 2025 in Earth
Phys.org / Axolotls regenerate functional thymus after complete removal

The axolotl, a type of salamander that stays in the tadpole form throughout its life, is a master of regeneration. Axolotls have been observed to regrow several body parts, including limbs, eyes, and even parts of their brains.

Dec 8, 2025 in Biology
Phys.org / A new nuclear 'island' where magic numbers break down

For decades, nuclear physicists believed that "Islands of Inversion"—regions where the normal rules of nuclear structure suddenly break down—were found mostly in neutron-rich isotopes. In these unusual pockets of the ...

Dec 8, 2025 in Physics
Phys.org / Inequalities exist in even the most egalitarian societies, anthropologists find

There is no such thing as a society where everyone is equal. That is the key message of new research that challenges the romantic ideal of a perfectly egalitarian human society.

Dec 8, 2025 in Other Sciences
Phys.org / Record-breaking cosmic explosion challenges astronomers' understanding of gamma-ray bursts

Astronomers at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill have helped uncover new clues about the longest-lasting cosmic explosion ever observed, a gamma-ray burst that lasted nearly seven hours. The event, known as ...

Dec 8, 2025 in Astronomy & Space
Phys.org / Quantifying unknown quantum states: Study explores effectiveness of existing methods

Reliably quantifying and characterizing the quantum states of various systems is highly advantageous for both quantum physics research and the development of quantum technologies. Quantifying these states typically entails ...

Dec 8, 2025 in Physics
Phys.org / Implantable sensor uses engineered bacteria for wireless molecular tracking

Scientists from Turkey have designed a next-generation implantable biosensor using genetically engineered E. coli for molecular-level monitoring within the body that runs on its own, wirelessly, with no external batteries ...

Dec 8, 2025 in Biology