Phys.org news

Phys.org / Astronomers directly detect how turbulence between stars distorts light

Astronomers led by the Center for Astrophysics | Harvard & Smithsonian (CfA) have made the first direct detection of turbulence distorting light in the interstellar medium. The findings will help scientists achieve clearer ...

May 13, 2026
Phys.org / How flies dodge so fast: Brain map reveals rare synapses behind split-second escapes

Have you ever wondered how a fly manages to dodge you in a split second? Scientists have long been fascinated by the lightning-fast reflexes that help flies escape danger almost instantly. But despite decades of research, ...

May 13, 2026
Phys.org / Quantum geometry provides theoretical limits on measurable properties of solids

Two RIKEN physicists have established new theoretical limits for experimentally measurable quantities by viewing solids through a lens of quantum geometry. Their results shed light both on the physics of solids and on quantum ...

May 13, 2026
Phys.org / Geologists in films are the good guys... but they often die

It all began with a perfectly ordinary chat over coffee between four researchers. How many films featuring geologists can we think of? Quite quickly, the colleagues were able to come up with about 10 films. But then the scientific ...

May 13, 2026
Phys.org / The hidden force of growth: Dividing cell colonies drive phase separation in passing particles

In physics, the spontaneous de-mixing of two substances is known as phase separation. It is an important mechanism in nature to create structure and patterns and typically requires some form of attraction between the constituents. ...

May 13, 2026
Phys.org / From molecules to meaning: A search engine developed for the chemistry of life

An international team led by researchers at University of California San Diego and University of California, Riverside has developed a free, web-based platform designed to make public metabolomics data more accessible. By ...

May 13, 2026
Phys.org / Stardust trapped in Antarctic ice reveals tens of thousands of years of solar system's past

When you think of outer space, you're likely picturing stars, planets and moons. But much of space is filled with clouds of gas, plasma and stardust—known as interstellar clouds.

May 13, 2026
Phys.org / Precision DNA editing targets root cause of severe childhood epilepsy in preclinical study

Gene editing can repair a DNA error in mice that causes Dravet syndrome, a rare, incurable, and potentially deadly form of childhood epilepsy. After the edit, the mice have far fewer seizures and live much longer. As published ...

May 13, 2026
Phys.org / InclusiveAI: Public voting model could open AI decisions to broader communities

Artificial intelligence (AI) systems affect many parts of daily life, including health care, education, and public policy, but the public has had few meaningful opportunities to participate in the development, governance, ...

May 13, 2026
Phys.org / Torpedo bats may shift baseball's sweet spot, acoustic analysis shows

In the spring of 2025, baseball fans were treated to a surprise when the New York Yankees began the season with a unique style of bat. Termed "torpedo bats," these new designs tapered slightly toward the end, so the widest ...

May 13, 2026
Phys.org / Identity traits sharply narrow who becomes friends or marries, model reveals

Our personal identity is composed of many dimensions, such as age, gender, ethnic background, or socioeconomic status. A research team led by Fariba Karimi from the Institute of Human-Centered Computing at Graz University ...

May 13, 2026
Phys.org / AI tool boosts imperfect antibiotic candidates, with 85% working in lab tests

Researchers at the University of Pennsylvania have developed ApexGO, a novel, AI-powered method for turning promising but imperfect antibiotic candidates into more potent ones. Unlike many existing AI approaches to antibiotic ...

May 13, 2026