Phys.org news

Phys.org / Scientists find molecular-level evidence for two structures in liquid water

A study published in Nature Physics provides new molecular-level evidence from simulations that liquid water is not a single uniform substance, but a constantly shifting mixture of two distinct microscopic structures.

Jun 25, 2026
Phys.org / Thirsty desert lizards inspire a new water-harvesting system

When the desert horned lizard (Phrynosoma platyrhinos) is thirsty, it cannot just lap up water or scoop it up like a bird because it lives in environments where water is extremely scarce. Typically, it's found in damp soil ...

Jun 25, 2026
Phys.org / Quantum waves reveal one-sided motion marking elusive critical states

Sound waves, light waves and other types of waves, generally spread freely through space and over time. In 1958, physicist Philip W. Anderson first described a phenomenon via which irregularities or other sources of disorder ...

Jun 25, 2026
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 / 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 / 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 / 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 / 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 / Laser pulses capture unexplored polaronic states

In an international experiment, researchers observed Jahn–Teller polarons—quasiparticles that could play an important role in future ultrafast spintronic devices. These polarons emerged within the crystal lattice of cobalt ...

Jun 25, 2026