Phys.org news

Phys.org / Could ultrasound help save hedgehogs?

Researchers at the University of Oxford have suggested that ultrasound-repellers could help reduce hedgehog deaths caused by cars. The proposal is based on new findings, published in Biology Letters, which demonstrate for ...

Mar 10, 2026
Phys.org / A new model defines an upper limit to planetary radiation belt intensity

We all know that stars radiate light and much more. But radiation belts can also surround many other celestial bodies, such as planets. These belts do not generate particles themselves—the belts receive them from nearby ...

Mar 10, 2026
Phys.org / Chemical shifts help track molecules breaking apart in real time

When molecules fall apart, their electric charge doesn't stay put—it rearranges as bonds stretch and break. An international team of scientists has now tracked these ultrafast changes in the small molecule fluoromethane ...

Mar 10, 2026
Phys.org / Soil health index finds restored mangroves can near full function

Brazilian researchers have developed an index that can measure the health of mangrove soils at different stages. When applied to degraded, restored, and preserved areas, the index revealed that healthy mangroves, including ...

Mar 10, 2026
Phys.org / Study shows spiral sound can shift sideways

A new University of Mississippi study shows that some sound waves don't just move forward—they also move slightly to the side. Understanding this movement could help researchers develop more precise acoustic tools. Likun ...

Mar 10, 2026
Phys.org / Scientists control 'free-flowing' electric currents with light

By controlling magnetic fields using light, a team of researchers led by NTU scientists has solved a long-standing challenge to precisely direct electric currents produced by quantum materials. Their findings unlock new avenues ...

Mar 10, 2026
Phys.org / Telomere breaks provide new insights into chaotic chromosome mutations

Researchers at Cardiff University have uncovered how a particularly severe form of DNA damage arises—shedding new light on mutation processes that contribute to cancer and inherited genetic conditions. The study, led by ...

Mar 10, 2026
Phys.org / Gnaw-y by nature: Researchers discover neural circuit that rewards gnawing behavior in rodents

Researchers at the University of Michigan have discovered that the constant gnawing of rodents isn't just a reflex or a consequence of a tough diet. It also triggers a release of dopamine in the brain—which acts as a biochemical ...

Mar 10, 2026
Phys.org / Electron microscopy maps protein landscapes that drive photosynthesis

Research led by scientists at Washington State University has revealed insights on how plants form a microscopic landscape of proteins crucial to photosynthesis, the basis of Earth's food and energy chain. The discovery provides ...

Mar 10, 2026
Phys.org / Scientists document Europe's first Jurassic lizard trackways in Asturias

The article presenting the research results was published online at the end of February in the journal Ichnos. The study focuses on two trackways (T1 and T2) preserved as convex hyporeliefs on the underside of a Late Jurassic ...

Mar 10, 2026
Phys.org / Subway systems are uncomfortably hot—and worsening, study finds

For millions of commuters, the workday doesn't just begin with a train ride. It also begins with a blast of heat. In one of the largest studies ever conducted on thermal comfort in metro systems, Northwestern University scientists ...

Mar 10, 2026
Phys.org / Hybrid synthetic strategy unlocks previously unattainable molecular architectures

The molecular-scale design of materials is one of the major frontiers in modern science. Flat, highly conjugated organic molecules are already used in advanced technologies such as chemical sensors, optoelectronic devices, ...

Mar 10, 2026