Phys.org news

Phys.org / New AI method flags fluid flow tipping points before simulations break down

David J. Silvester, a mathematics professor at the University of Manchester, has developed a novel machine-learning method to detect sudden changes in fluid behavior, improving speed and the cost of identifying these instabilities ...

15 hours ago
Phys.org / Simple vineyard growing practice impacts soil microbiome deep below surface

Pennsylvania is the fourth-largest wine producer in the United States, according to the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture. The industry supports nearly 11,000 jobs and directly contributes $1.77 billion to the state ...

6 hours ago
Phys.org / African swine fever: A novel model assesses transmission between domestic pigs and wild boar

African swine fever (ASF) is one of the most devastating diseases affecting domestic pigs and wild boars worldwide. Since its introduction into Europe, this deadly virus has spread widely, threatening pig production and causing ...

7 hours ago
Phys.org / Hidden ocean feedback loop could accelerate climate change

The world's oceans may be quietly amplifying climate change in ways scientists are only beginning to understand. In a new study published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, University of Rochester scientists—including ...

7 hours ago
Phys.org / Houston, we have a problem ... with the toilet

After a successful trip around the moon, everything has been going smoothly on the Orion spacecraft's journey back to Earth—except for the $23 million toilet, which has gotten clogged.

19 hours ago
Phys.org / How an internal plant 'thermostat' guides root growth in unpredictable temperatures

Plants can't move to escape the heat like humans can; they are forced to adapt. As temperatures fluctuate, one key survival strategy is the ability of roots to keep growing, allowing plants to access water and nutrients farther ...

7 hours ago
Phys.org / Soundscapes from nearby forests are more uplifting than those from faraway places, research suggests

Listening to one-minute-long audio recordings of forests had positive effects on people's short-term well-being, especially when the recordings were from local temperate forests. Study participants residing in Germany perceived ...

20 hours ago
Phys.org / What if dark matter came in two states?

The absence of a signal could itself be a signal. This is the idea behind a new study published in the Journal of Cosmology and Astroparticle Physics, which aims to redefine how we search for dark matter, showing that it ...

Apr 9, 2026
Phys.org / Why doesn't the US recycle more plastic? Study points to lack of access

A new University at Buffalo study finds that people in the United States generate similar amounts of plastic packaging waste regardless of income, education level or where they live. Yet wealthier and more college-educated ...

Apr 8, 2026
Phys.org / The lengths male octopuses go to protect the arm they need to mate

For mating male octopuses, one limb is more important than all others. That is the third right arm or hectocotylus, which is used to transfer sperm to the female because the penis cannot do it directly. Losing the limb can ...

Apr 8, 2026
Phys.org / AI trained like a Rubik's Cube solver simplifies particle physics equations

For years, Rutgers physicist David Shih solved Rubik's Cubes with his children, twisting the colorful squares until the scrambled puzzle returned to order. He didn't expect the toy to connect to his research, but recently ...

Apr 8, 2026
Phys.org / Physicists zero in on the mass of the fundamental W boson particle

When fundamental particles are heavier or lighter than expected, physicists' understanding of the universe can tip into the unknown. A particle that is just beyond its predicted mass can unravel scientists' assumptions about ...

Apr 8, 2026