Phys.org news

Phys.org / First gap-free peanut genomes reveal genes behind bigger seeds and better oils

An international team of researchers has produced complete, gap-free genome sequences for six peanut varieties, providing a comprehensive blueprint for future peanut breeding and improvement strategies.

Apr 24, 2026
Phys.org / Beavers leave a trail as they head into the Arctic and reshape the landscape

A study has provided new evidence of beavers' expansion into the Canadian Arctic by dating the changes they have made to the tundra landscape as they spread northward. Published in the journal Ecosphere, the research combines ...

Apr 24, 2026
Phys.org / How electron structure affects light responses in moiré materials

In materials science, if you can understand the "texture" of a material—how its internal patterns form and shift—you can begin to design how it behaves. That's the focus of the work of Zhenglu Li, assistant professor in the ...

Apr 24, 2026
Phys.org / Amazon recovery masks diversity loss as fires, droughts and windstorms reshape forest edges

Even after fires, severe droughts, and windstorms, the vegetation in degraded Amazonian forests demonstrates a high capacity for regeneration, including tree species. However, recovery occurs under new ecological conditions, ...

Apr 24, 2026
Phys.org / Some rays flash decoy eyes while others never do, as evolution's hidden trade-off comes into focus

From butterflies to peacocks, bold circular "eyespots" are among nature's most eye-catching patterns. But why do they appear in some animals and not others? A new study of skates and rays finally provides an answer—and it ...

Apr 24, 2026
Phys.org / This 2,200-year-old Roman wreck hid a repair story that rewrites how ancient ships survived long voyages

Ever since humans have embarked on sea voyages, they needed to ensure vessels were waterproof, resistant to salty seawater, and could withstand microorganisms or sea-dwellers like worms. Until the mid-20th century, however, ...

Apr 24, 2026
Phys.org / A third of animal habitats on land could experience multiple extreme events by 2085, new study suggests

By 2085, 36% of species' current habitats on land could be exposed to multiple types of climate-driven extreme events such as heat waves, fire or floods if warming continues to rise into the latter half of the century. The ...

Apr 24, 2026
Phys.org / Physicists revive 1990s laser concept to propose a next-generation atomic clock

Researchers in the US and Germany have unveiled a theoretical blueprint for an atomic clock driven by a highly synchronized laser, where atoms work in concert rather than independently. Publishing their results in Physical ...

Apr 23, 2026
Phys.org / These eight coastal cities sit on America's flood front line, and AI shows why

New York, New Orleans and Miami are among the eight cities along the US Gulf and Atlantic coasts facing the highest flood risk, according to a new study published in Science Advances. Scientists developed a new AI-driven ...

Apr 23, 2026
Phys.org / Neanderthals may have shared key DNA for complex language, reshaping when human speech began

In a first-of-its-kind finding, researchers at University of Iowa Health Care discovered that specific genetic sequences have an outsized impact on humans' language abilities and that these sequences evolved before humans ...

Apr 23, 2026
Phys.org / Why groups slowly stop working well together, even when conditions are good

Humans are generally a cooperative bunch and most of us probably like to think of ourselves as reliable team players. Cooperation is useful for all sorts of reasons, from running a business and managing community resources ...

Apr 23, 2026
Phys.org / Mysterious gas clouds near Milky Way's black hole now have a likely source

New observations and simulations by a team of researchers led by MPE reveal that a massive binary star near our galaxy's center is responsible for creating a series of enigmatic gas clouds—compact gas clumps that help feed ...

Apr 23, 2026