Phys.org news

Phys.org / New 3D COF structure could help tune porous materials for batteries and cleanup

A research team synthesized and determined the structure of a borate-linked 3D crystalline covalent organic framework, TCTP-COF, via electron diffraction for the first time. These findings will help scientists determine the ...

Jul 10, 2026
Phys.org / Artificial hand reproduces human gestures using memory written into light-responsive polymers

Danqing Liu from Eindhoven University of Technology explores how interactions with digital systems can be improved through the sense of touch. To achieve this, she develops advanced liquid crystal polymers that respond to ...

Jul 10, 2026
Phys.org / Researchers discover genetic secrets of mung bean crops

Researchers at the Center for Crop and Food Innovation (CCFI) have made a significant contribution to a landmark study, uncovering tens of thousands of previously hidden structural variations influencing agriculturally important ...

Jul 10, 2026
Phys.org / Genomic study of the Asian house shrew reveals a complex history of Indo-Pacific trade and human migration

Sometimes mistaken for a strange-looking mouse with a long, pointed snout, the Asian house shrew is a small, furry animal known for its musky odor. It's usually found lurking near homes and farms, ports and cities, across ...

Jul 10, 2026
Phys.org / Tiny mountain lakes pose big, overlooked flood risks, new study warns

A new international study involving scientists from the University of Aberdeen has revealed a critical blind spot in global climate risk assessments—the growing danger posed by small alpine lakes formed by glacier retreat ...

Jul 10, 2026
Phys.org / Astronomers reveal how clouds shape the hidden interiors of the galaxy's most common planets

Sub-Neptunes are the most common type of planet in our galaxy. Bigger than Earth but smaller than Neptune, these worlds remain deeply mysterious because scientists still do not know what they are made of. What astronomers ...

Jul 10, 2026
Phys.org / New ligand engineering strategy creates more active nanocluster catalysts

A joint research group from Tohoku University, Tokyo University of Science, Tokyo Metropolitan University and the Japan Fine Ceramics Center has developed a thermal catalyst that exhibits high carbon monoxide (CO) oxidation ...

Jul 10, 2026
Phys.org / Image: Curiosity rover sees Martian sulfur up close

This close-up view shows fragments of sulfur crystals, the first ever seen on the Red Planet.

Jul 9, 2026
Phys.org / AI identifies new particle models that may explain neutrinos' tiny mass

Physicists at the University of California, Irvine, have developed an artificial intelligence system that can autonomously design theoretical physics models, a task traditionally carried out by human theorists. The approach ...

Jul 9, 2026
Phys.org / Volcanoes and wildfires are adding water vapor to the stratosphere, raising climate concerns

Moderate volcanic eruptions and extreme wildfires since 2005 have led to an increase in the amount of water vapor in the stratosphere, a layer of Earth's atmosphere above the weather-filled troposphere. That's potentially ...

Jul 9, 2026
Phys.org / Newly identified 'saprotropism' helps roots avoid decaying plant matter—but not animal decay

Decaying matter shapes life in soil, but it can also create hostile zones for growing roots. Professor Jiří Friml of the Institute of Science and Technology Austria (ISTA) and international collaborators have now identified ...

Jul 9, 2026
Phys.org / Next‑generation membranes can refine crude oil using under half the energy of distillation

Oil refining is necessary for transforming raw, unusable crude oil into valuable goods like gasoline, diesel, jet fuel and petrochemical feedstocks. However, the usual distillation process is energy-intensive, spurring researchers ...

Jul 9, 2026