Phys.org news

Phys.org / Autonomous underwater robot discovers hidden coral reef 'hotspots'

Researchers have developed an autonomous system for seeking out and mapping hotspots of biodiversity on coral reefs with unprecedented precision, offering a powerful new tool for studying and protecting some of the ocean's ...

May 14, 2026
Phys.org / Discovery of antimicrobial peptides in ant venom has far-reaching implications

In addition to serving as biochemical weapons for offense and defense, the venoms produced by ants in the subfamily Formicinae also fulfill additional roles. For example, the ants use it to protect their nests from pathogens. ...

May 14, 2026
Phys.org / New reversible conductive glue could reshape electronics repair, recycling, and material recovery

A collaboration between electrical and chemical engineers at Newcastle University is responsible for a reversible glue that can change how we recycle electronic waste. The team has already demonstrated reversible adhesive ...

May 14, 2026
Phys.org / Silk made into strong plastic-like materials with 6G potential

Silk threads can be fused into transparent, plastic-like materials that twist terahertz frequencies of light, according to research led by Imperial College London, University of Michigan Engineering and Tufts University. ...

May 14, 2026
Phys.org / Researchers uncover chemical origins of the Perseus cluster of galaxies

An international team of researchers has developed new stellar and supernova models to explain the mysterious elemental abundance patterns left by billions of supernova explosions around the Perseus constellation, which have ...

May 14, 2026
Phys.org / Physics in uncharted waters: The mysteries of marine snow

Can "snow" fall in the ocean and influence the climate of the entire planet? It turns out that it can. Research conducted by scientists from the Faculty of Physics at University of Warsaw, published in the Journal of Fluid ...

May 14, 2026
Phys.org / Mathematicians prove existence of Kaleidocycles then unlock their exact motion

Kaleidocycles are flexible polyhedral structures composed of rigid tetrahedra connected along their edges to form rotating rings. Each tetrahedron is a solid 3D polygon with four triangular faces (like a triangular pyramid), ...

May 14, 2026
Phys.org / Buried in dark waters, viruses reshape one of Earth's largest carbon systems

Viruses play a far more active role in Earth's carbon cycle than previously understood, according to new research that reveals how they infect and control microbes responsible for carbon production in some of the planet's ...

May 14, 2026
Phys.org / A child's environment may shape how their brain solves problems

For decades, researchers have documented an achievement gap between children from higher- and lower-income families. On average, children with more resources perform better in school and on cognitive tests.

May 14, 2026
Phys.org / Tiny ocean life helps scientists estimate whale prevalence off the California coast

A new approach to better assessing whale population data has emerged, led by a research team of marine biologists from Scripps Institution of Oceanography at UC San Diego and statisticians from Cal Poly. Scientists typically ...

May 14, 2026
Phys.org / NASA's Psyche spacecraft buzzing Mars on its way to a rare metal asteroid

A NASA spacecraft chasing a rare metal asteroid swings past Mars this week for a gravity boost, snapping thousands of pictures as practice for the main encounter in 2029.

May 14, 2026
Phys.org / A new model for predicting plant resistance can help prepare for climate change

A recent Minnesota Pollution Control Agency report found that climate change could cost Minnesotans more than $20 billion a year by 2040. This is just the local cost of a global problem. Ecosystem stability is essential to ...

May 14, 2026