Phys.org news

Phys.org / Widely-used method for assessing stream health doesn't work very well

A new study finds a widely used technique for assessing the health of freshwater streams is not effective at detecting a range of water quality problems, including those related to acidity, oxygen levels and the presence ...

20 hours ago
Phys.org / 3D-printable elastic polymer proves surprisingly strong and durable

EPFL researchers have discovered that a soft material originally optimized for 3D printing may solve a longstanding challenge in materials science: making 3D-printable elastomers both tough and durable.

20 hours ago
Phys.org / Major earthquakes can affect Southeast Asia sea-level projections

Earth scientists at Nanyang Technological University, Singapore (NTU Singapore) have published an international study showing that major earthquakes in Southeast Asia can affect regional relative sea-level projections.

21 hours ago
Phys.org / 2.5 million stem cells reveal first genome-scale guide to gene function

A team led by bioengineers at the University of California San Diego has developed a genome-scale reference map that details how individual genes control the functions and identities of human stem cells. This open-access ...

21 hours ago
Phys.org / Random by design: Flickering genes may spend energy to achieve precision

Inside the cell nucleus, genes must be turned on and off with precision to regulate biological processes. The first models of gene regulation were developed in the 1960s, yet modern science continues to uncover new layers ...

21 hours ago
Phys.org / Oobleck droplets reveal 5 ways cornstarch 'goo' behaves when hitting water

Cornstarch can thicken soup or serve as a base for a DIY shampoo, but there's more to the humble pantry staple. Given the right conditions, it seems to defy the laws of physics. Mixing cornstarch with water creates "oobleck"—a ...

22 hours ago
Phys.org / Atomic‐scale tracing of lithium trapped in copper current collectors

Any loss of lithium reduces the capacity and service life of lithium batteries. Recent research suggested that lithium is lost to the current collector during charging. Researchers at Ruhr University Bochum, Germany, working ...

22 hours ago
Phys.org / World's first superconducting quantum heat engine offers path to larger quantum computers

Recent improvements in our understanding of how the principles of thermodynamics apply in the quantum realm could give a boost to quantum technology, and a clearer picture of quantum thermodynamics could in turn enhance our ...

Jul 13, 2026
Phys.org / RNA-only repair enzyme reveals how primordial life could have protected genomes

In most modern cells, DNA stores the genetic blueprint, and proteins replicate, repair and build from those blueprints. At the same time, proteins require instructions from DNA to be made in the first place.

Jul 13, 2026
Phys.org / Only 13% of biodiversity promises from 180 influential companies pass accountability test

New research by the University of Oxford and the Stockholm Resilience Centre at Stockholm University has revealed that most biodiversity commitments made by large, influential companies are not precise enough to enable society ...

Jul 13, 2026
Phys.org / Gravitational waves reveal hidden populations within black hole mergers

Since gravitational waves were first detected in 2015, instruments including LIGO, Virgo and KAGRA have picked up a steady stream of signals from colliding black holes, building a catalog that now numbers in the hundreds. ...

Jul 12, 2026
Phys.org / Self‑building molecular rings bring next‑generation drug delivery and smart materials closer

Rotaxanes are dumbbell-shaped mechanically interlocked molecules in which one or more ring-shaped molecules are threaded through a linear segment, known as the axle. To keep the ring from sliding off, two bulky groups, sometimes ...

Jul 12, 2026