Phys.org news

Phys.org / First Denisovan forearm bone discovered in southwest China

Scientists have discovered various Denisovan remains in Southwest China dating to the late Middle Pleistocene, including the first Denisovan radius—one of two long bones in the forearm.

18 hours ago
Phys.org / The Anthropocene was rejected as a geological epoch—but the idea is still changing how we see the world

The Anthropocene became part of the zeitgeist after Nobel laureate Paul Crutzen launched the idea in 2000. This is the notion that a crescendo of human impacts has recently propelled Earth out of the relatively stable climatic ...

16 hours ago
Phys.org / Fossils from embryo to adult suggest how an enigmatic, bird-like troodontid dinosaur grew

Analysis of fossilized remains from dinosaurs known as troodontids reveals how one species' hip and leg bones may have developed over its lifespan, from embryo to adult—with potential implications for resolving longstanding ...

15 hours ago
Phys.org / New AI model for DNA learns from evolution to unlock secrets of the human genome

More than two decades after scientists first sequenced the entire human genome—all 3 billion base pairs, of DNA code—the meaning of much of this code remains a mystery.

18 hours ago
Phys.org / Forever chemicals break apart into fluoride under UV treatment, revealing a cleanup roadmap

UC Riverside environmental engineers have identified key chemical reactions that occur when ultraviolet light is used to destroy "forever chemical" pollutants in water, providing a roadmap for developing more effective cleanup ...

17 hours ago
Phys.org / Tiny 2D cracks creep through materials before triggering sudden fracture, experiments reveal

We have all seen something suddenly break: a phone screen cracks, a plastic object snaps or a piece of glass shatters. To our eyes, the failure seems to happen all at once. But what if the most important part of the break ...

17 hours ago
Phys.org / OpenAI says 10,000 AI agents cracked one of math's hardest problems in 88 hours

OpenAI said Tuesday that one of its unreleased artificial intelligence models had solved a mathematical puzzle that has eluded mathematicians for generations, a claim that also drew a fight with rival researchers over credit.

22 hours ago
Phys.org / How we manage and engage with horses may shape their personality

A new study reveals that horse personality is not only a matter of genetics, age or breed but also systematically linked to how horses are housed, ridden and cared for, and to the quality of the relationship they share with ...

18 hours ago
Phys.org / Layer-based design offers new route to topological magnets

Topological quantum materials combine unusual electronic states with properties such as magnetism or superconductivity, offering possibilities for future electronics and quantum technologies. Researchers at Tohoku University ...

17 hours ago
Phys.org / Physics-aware benchmark reveals why similar materials AI models can predict thermal conductivity differently

Material properties such as sound insulation, resistance to extreme heat and thermal expansion originate from how the zillions of microscopic building blocks (nuclei and electrons) interact at equilibrium and respond to perturbations. ...

18 hours ago
Phys.org / Petrochemical industry emissions could climb 50% by 2050, global mapping suggests

Carbon emissions from the petrochemical industry could increase by 50% by 2050, according to new research from the University of Sheffield. The study, published in Nature Sustainability, provides the most detailed data to ...

18 hours ago
Phys.org / A 'wholistic' view of cellular communication across an entire animal

It can't be heard, but different parts of the human body are in constant conversation, communicating to keep the entire system running efficiently. For biologists, being able to listen in on this discussion is a long-sought-after ...

18 hours ago