Phys.org news

Phys.org / Whales go quiet during noisy underwater surveys

A new study has shown that whale calls are reduced by as much as 50% in response to seismic surveys, which are commonly used to find oil and gas reserves. Researchers are worried that such surveys could impact vulnerable ...

Apr 14, 2026
Phys.org / Cosmic dust identified as the source of Venus' enigmatic lower haze

Venus, often called Earth's twin, is in fact a planet of extremes. Beneath its thick carbon dioxide atmosphere are crushing surface temperatures and dense clouds of sulfuric acid. While the planet's main cloud layer sits ...

Apr 14, 2026
Phys.org / Virtual sunspots help AI find rare magnetic matches in vast solar archives

Research led by Southwest Research Institute (SwRI) has integrated three types of machine learning models to generate solar magnetic patches with physical properties and used those as a query to find matching patches in real ...

Apr 14, 2026
Phys.org / Catching distant gamma-ray explosions with precisely aligned X-ray optics

Gamma-ray bursts (GRBs) rank among the most powerful explosions in the universe, releasing immense energy in intense flashes of gamma rays. The most distant GRBs originate from the era when the first stars and galaxies formed. ...

Apr 14, 2026
Phys.org / AI-guided electron microscope provides unique glimpse into the world of MXenes

The use of artificial intelligence has enabled researchers at the National Laboratory of the Rockies (NLR) to gain a greater understanding of two-dimensional (2D) materials that can be useful for energy storage, water purification, ...

Apr 14, 2026
Phys.org / A 'blob' in a tank is helping scientists tease out the secrets of turbulence

In a tank on the bottom floor of a University of Chicago research laboratory, scientists summon "The Blob" into existence by firing water jets to create an artfully choreographed series of rings.

Apr 14, 2026
Phys.org / Island songbirds may have their own music and culture

Whether it is the climate, beaches, or simply being away from the hustle and bustle, island cultures around the world often do things differently to the mainland. It turns out this phenomenon isn't unique to humans.

Apr 14, 2026
Phys.org / Parasites get trapped inside host cells when MIC11 is removed, exposing a crucial escape mechanism

Parasites are a major global health problem, underlying many human diseases worldwide. For example, Plasmodium falciparum, the parasite responsible for malaria, plays a well-established role; however, its complex life cycle ...

Apr 14, 2026
Phys.org / A built-in 'hairpin' mechanism in CRISPR-Cas13 prevents rogue RNAs

The CRISPR-Cas gene-editing system has long been the focus of research as a promising tool in genome editing. However, the emphasis has been on its underlying mechanisms and nucleases. In contrast, little research has examined ...

Apr 14, 2026
Phys.org / Some lake bacteria survive by slashing half their genome and never looking back

Researchers at the University of Zurich have analyzed the genome of bacteria living in Lake Zurich to conclude that microbes employ two different strategies to colonize new habitats. Some acquire new traits, as expected—but ...

Apr 14, 2026
Phys.org / Bats on a break: Tracking the secret life of pond bats

What do bats do at night when they're not hunting? Using tiny GPS trackers, Leiden researchers discovered that pond bats spend a substantial portion of the night resting—often outdoors. This surprising insight could change ...

Apr 14, 2026
Phys.org / A tabletop ring of atoms brings the universe's doomsday vacuum collapse into the lab

Physicists in China have simulated the effect of "false vacuum decay": a phenomenon believed to play out constantly in the seemingly empty expanses of space, and which one theory even suggests could bring an abrupt end to ...

Apr 13, 2026