Phys.org news

Phys.org / Tiny water droplets transmutate aniline into pyridine in ambient and catalyst-free conditions

Aniline can now be transformed into pyridine without adding any catalysts, oxidants or toxic reagents. In a recent study published in the Journal of the American Chemical Society, researchers achieved skeletal editing, involving ...

Jun 25, 2026
Phys.org / Ancient stellar flyby may still be steering long-period comets today

The Gaia mission has allowed researchers to understand the motions of stars like never before, even revealing possible interactions between our solar system and nearby stars. Planetary Science Institute Senior Scientist Nathan ...

Jun 25, 2026
Phys.org / Why old nuclear-site concrete could become a tool for trapping strontium-90

Crushed concrete from legacy nuclear facilities could play a far greater role in safely managing radioactive land than previously understood. Research published in ACS ES&T Water and conducted by scientists from the University ...

Jun 25, 2026
Phys.org / Apes and humans have been sharing a laugh for 15 million years

Great apes may have been laughing with a similar rhythm to modern humans for at least 15 million years, a University of Warwick study reveals. The finding offers unexpected clues to how human speech evolved.

Jun 25, 2026
Phys.org / Ultra-fast light-shaping technology could be 'game-changer' for future imaging

Scientists have developed a new type of "virtual" metasurface—capable of controlling light in ways traditional lenses and optics can't—which they say is superior to the current approach, which relies on ultrathin engineered ...

Jun 25, 2026
Phys.org / Centuries-old planktonic shell mystery solved with discovery of self-assembling proteins

Biomaterials with extraordinary properties, such as spider silk, have so far been known primarily from animals. Researchers at the University of Salzburg in Austria have now deciphered a surprising counterpart from the world ...

Jun 25, 2026
Phys.org / Commute stress can fuel workplace conflict, but research suggests a simple fix

Pothole season, summer construction season or maybe bad weather. No matter the time of year, it's no surprise commuters who drive to work may start their day already feeling a bit on edge.

Jun 25, 2026
Phys.org / Microscale hydrogel fibers could enable imaging inside tiny tissue structures

Researchers have developed light-transmitting hydrogel fibers that are just hundreds of micrometers in diameter. With further development, these soft fibers could one day make it possible to use imaging techniques to detect ...

Jun 25, 2026
Phys.org / Warming may slow forest growth and cut carbon storage by 30%, model shows

Forests and land play an important role in absorbing carbon dioxide emissions, but current models and forecasts don't incorporate a surprising ecological discovery: Despite more available carbon, climate change and warmer ...

Jun 25, 2026
Phys.org / Ancient asteroid barrage may explain why early Earth had no stable continents

New research led by Curtin University and QUT (Queensland University of Technology) has revealed that repeated asteroid impacts may have been the dominant force shaping early Earth, delivering vast amounts of heat into the ...

Jun 25, 2026
Phys.org / Scientists measure hidden quantum forces that could power a new generation of pharmaceutical drugs

It's one thing to design a pharmaceutical drug. It's another to know if and why it actually works; not on paper or in a computer model, but inside the chaotic world of living systems, where proteins twist into shape, atoms ...

Jun 25, 2026
Phys.org / Natural hallucinogens may have evolved as ecological tools, not chemical accidents

Natural hallucinogens, such as psilocybin, mescaline, N,N-dimethyltryptamine (DMT) and related compounds, have generally received attention for their effects on human perception, emotion and cognition. Recently, interest ...

Jun 25, 2026