Phys.org news

Phys.org / Light-activated compound kills antibiotic-resistant bacteria by turning its own defense enzyme against it

Antibiotic resistance is becoming an accelerating crisis because of the overuse and misuse of antibiotics over many years. The problem is exacerbated when antibiotics wipe out susceptible bacteria but leave resistant bacteria ...

Jun 29, 2026
Phys.org / Giraffes combine quantities similarly to addition

In addition to humans, some species of primates and birds have demonstrated under experimental conditions their ability to manipulate quantities in tasks that require combining or separating them, in a manner similar to addition ...

Jun 29, 2026
Phys.org / Unexpected pathway turns water and CO₂ into climate‑neutral methane on nickel–zirconia

Natural gas still plays an important role in many industrial sectors, but it is a climate-damaging fossil fuel. TU Wien and the University of Innsbruck have now discovered an unexpected reaction pathway that makes it possible ...

Jun 29, 2026
Phys.org / Giant exoplanet may hold a magnetic grip on its host star

Within their planetary systems, stars are continuously shaping their orbiting planets through gravity, radiation and magnetic forces. So far, this relationship has appeared to be a one-way street.

Jun 29, 2026
Phys.org / Why nanoscale droplets don't coalesce and microscale droplets do

Olive oil and water do not naturally mix. Water molecules are polar, having a net electric dipole moment due to the bend angle of about 104.5° between the two oxygen-hydrogen bonds. Olive oil is nonpolar due to its long hydrocarbon ...

Jun 29, 2026
Phys.org / Mummified dogs reveal Tiwanaku people buried companions beside homes long before they became status symbols

In the arid landscapes of southern Peru, around 1,100 years ago, someone carefully dug a small pit, laid down a woven mat and placed a young dog within as if sleeping, possibly wrapped in twine. Centuries later, the mummified ...

Jun 29, 2026
Phys.org / First-of-a-kind laser spring opens up new avenues for plasma control

When a high-intensity laser interacts with plasma, the charged particles typically oscillate back and forth like waves on the ocean. But what if the laser itself could twist like a whirlpool? Researchers have now demonstrated ...

Jun 29, 2026
Phys.org / New superconductors identified, unlocking process that could yield thousands more

An international team of quantum researchers has shown how machine learning can be used to filter a practically infinite number of possible material combinations to identify candidates for superconductivity. Thanks to the ...

Jun 29, 2026
Phys.org / Some boreal forest species fail to recover even 100 years after clearcutting

Boreal forests are being clear-cut faster than some of their wildlife and plant species can recover, with a few failing to return even 100 years after harvesting, according to University of Alberta-led research.

Jun 29, 2026
Phys.org / Graphene can hold multiple states of superconductivity, a new study finds

The ordinary graphite in pencil lead is proving to be surprisingly multifaceted at the microscale. In a study published in the journal Nature, MIT researchers report that a certain microscopic structure found in natural graphite ...

Jun 29, 2026
Phys.org / Plutonium compound unlocks rare topological quantum behavior with potential nuclear science applications

Plutonium is one of the most complex elements in the periodic table. First synthesized and isolated in 1940 by scientists at the University of California, Berkeley, plutonium has been studied closely for more than eight decades. ...

Jun 29, 2026
Phys.org / First ever dinosaur found in Antarctica described for science

The first dinosaur fossil found on the Antarctic continent has been described scientifically. The fossil, a vertebra, was found on a British Antarctic Survey (BAS) expedition in 1985 but has only recently been recognized ...

Jun 29, 2026