Phys.org news

Phys.org / Insects in the city: Flowers alone may not be enough to sustain them

What renders a city garden attractive to insects such as solitary bees, bumblebees and hoverflies? And how well do they pollinate plants in urban areas? A study by the Federal Research Institute for Forest, Snow and Landscape ...

20 hours ago
Phys.org / How city life changes bird song and why many species do not adapt

Urbanization is rapidly transforming natural habitats and poses growing challenges for wildlife. One lesser-known consequence is its potential impact on bird song, which plays a crucial role in communication, reproduction, ...

21 hours ago
Phys.org / New field evidence from Canada shows old wells can leave a hidden leakage footprint

Old oil and gas wells may continue to affect the environment long after they have stopped producing, with new field evidence showing that their leakage footprint can be broader and more persistent than surface methane measurements ...

21 hours ago
Phys.org / Carbon markets underestimate the risks U.S. forests face from climate change, researchers warn

The world's forests form a vast network of carbon reservoirs, keeping carbon sequestered from the atmosphere where its presence is disrupting Earth's climate systems. Many corporate, national and state climate policies rely ...

22 hours ago
Phys.org / The fungus that spoils nearly everything: Gray mold secret revealed

Even if you haven't heard of Botrytis cinerea, you've likely seen it—slowly growing in your store-bought blueberries, tomatoes or even on your beautiful orchids. Commonly known as gray mold, the fungus attacks hundreds of ...

23 hours ago
Phys.org / Forbidden friends become former friends after moms voice disapproval

It's a tale as old as time: parents don't like the company their children keep—and don't hesitate to say so. Often, parents openly state their disapproval, hoping that children will abandon unwelcome affiliates and seek out ...

23 hours ago
Phys.org / Food and drink plastics dominate marine litter across 112 nations, research reveals

Plastic food packaging, caps and lids, and plastic bottles are the planet's predominant items of marine litter, according to the world's first overview of marine litter by usage type.

22 hours ago
Phys.org / Genes without borders: Coral babies can travel vast distances across the Pacific Ocean

The offspring of a common coral branching species set up a new home up to 100 kilometers or more from their parents in one of the longest dispersal distances ever measured, according to new international research.

22 hours ago
Phys.org / What if the direction of a magnet could shape the building blocks of life?

In a new discovery, researchers from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem and the Weizmann Institute of Science have found that something in the direction of a magnetic field can influence how molecules of life behave at the ...

May 20, 2026
Phys.org / Portugal burial reveals first known bone dental bridge in national archaeological record

The first documented case of a fixed bone bridge unearthed in Portugal was presented in the International Journal of Osteoarchaeology by researchers Ms. Steffi Vassallo and her colleagues. The item is estimated to date to ...

May 20, 2026
Phys.org / Bees found an unlikely new food source, and it could reshape how a destructive forest disease travels

New research published in NeoBiota has found that the Western honey bee—an introduced species to Australia—and the devastating, invasive plant fungus known as myrtle rust (Austropuccinia psidii) may have formed a mutually ...

May 20, 2026
Phys.org / Could future Mars settlers print their own tools?

If humans one day settle Mars, they will need tools and parts to build structures on the planet. Carrying heavy, bulky supplies 34 million miles from Earth would be impractical. A better plan, says Zane Mebruer, a recent ...

May 20, 2026