Phys.org news

Phys.org / One-atom substitution successfully tunes molecular heat transport for the first time

Control of heat transport in nanostructures is of central importance for numerous modern technologies—from high-performance computer chips that need to be cooled to energy converters—and is a highly active area of research. ...

Apr 2, 2026
Phys.org / Atomic distortions reveal new clues about superconductivity

A team of researchers has identified atomic distortions that may be linked with high-temperature superconductivity in a promising class of nickel-based materials, offering new insight into how next-generation superconductors ...

Apr 2, 2026
Phys.org / Smartphone rapid test detects microbiologically contaminated water in less than a minute

Worldwide, billions of people rely on water sources whose hygienic quality is unclear or difficult to monitor. Conventional microbiological analysis methods take up to 24 hours, are costly, and require specialized laboratories ...

Apr 2, 2026
Phys.org / Dalí's 'sublime' amber medium may explain unusual aging in a museum masterpiece

As part of the FED-tWIN Face-to-Face project, a multidisciplinary team bringing together the European Centre of Archaeometry (University of Liège, ULiège), the Royal Museums of Fine Arts of Belgium (RMFAB), CNRS-Sorbonne ...

Apr 2, 2026
Phys.org / Platform for precise cellular control uses non-genetic DNA decoupled from genetic information

Stepping away from its billions-of-years-old role as a genetic blueprint, DNA is now embarking on a new journey as an active field agent within cells. This research by a team led by Professor Jongmin Kim and Ph.D. candidate ...

Apr 2, 2026
Phys.org / Artemis II to test new models that predict solar particle storms up to a day ahead

During the Artemis II mission launched Wednesday, NASA will test out a pair of new solar radiation forecasts, developed at University of Michigan Engineering, designed to protect astronauts venturing away from Earth. The ...

Apr 2, 2026
Phys.org / Cell lineage tracing reveals early‑segregated germline in plants

August Weismann's germ plasm theory of the late 19th century posited that only germ cells, e.g., sperm and egg cells in animals or pollen and ovule cells in plants, transmit genetic information to the next generation, and ...

Apr 2, 2026
Phys.org / Scientists study radiation limits for safer seafood shipping

Scientists at Florida International University have identified a promising way to safely ship fish long distances without losing vital vitamin D, using a method already widely applied to preserve other foods—gamma irradiation.

Apr 2, 2026
Phys.org / This tiny organism simply loves corners, using geometry to sense its world

A surprising observation in the lab has revealed a remarkable ability in Stentor coeruleus, a single-celled organism about one millimeter long. Sometimes nicknamed the "platypus" of microorganisms for its trumpet-like shape, ...

Apr 2, 2026
Phys.org / Deep mantle deformation is linked to subducted slabs, global map shows

Slow roiling convection currents deep within Earth's mantle, which are associated with the movements of tectonic plates, also deform the material of the mantle itself. Now, a new study in The Seismic Record confirms that ...

Apr 2, 2026
Phys.org / 'Serendipitous' discovery of Martian ripple marks reveals an ancient sandstorm

The search for life on Mars involves the efforts of scientists from many different disciplines. An important aspect of that search is to study Martian sedimentary rocks for information about the planet's environment when ...

Apr 2, 2026
Phys.org / Compact flat-lens system can generate nondiffracting bottle beams

Most laser sources produce Gaussian beams that diverge as they propagate. This natural spreading limits their effectiveness in applications that require light to remain concentrated over long distances. To overcome this challenge, ...

Apr 2, 2026