Phys.org news

Phys.org / Congo Basin study reveals nuanced relationship between people and flooding

In the Lac Télé Community Reserve, a vast tropical peatland in Africa's Congo Basin that is home to about 20,000 people, the forces of climate change and globalization are hitting residents hard. The seasonal floods upon ...

22 hours ago
Phys.org / Human activity is pushing lakes beyond their natural carbon limits

Lakes play an important role in capturing and storing carbon, which accumulates in their sediments. But the amounts they can absorb have varied considerably over time. Jean-François Lapierre, a professor in the Department ...

23 hours ago
Phys.org / Chagas parasite's survival trick offers antimalarial-style target

Researchers at the University of Cincinnati have identified a potential new target to prevent the spread of Chagas disease. The parasitic infection is transmitted through the bite of the kissing bug in Central and South America ...

21 hours ago
Phys.org / Dogs may use blinking as a subtle social signal

Blinking keeps eyes moist, sweeps away bits of dirt and dust, and helps the brain rest when processing visual information. But in dogs, it may also serve another function as a subtle social signal. That was one of the conclusions ...

Aug 26, 2026
Phys.org / Hyperdoped silicon photodiode advances short-wave infrared detection at room temperature

Detecting short-wave infrared (SWIR) light, a region of the electromagnetic spectrum just beyond the light visible to the human eye, could be advantageous for many real-world applications. For instance, it could enable more ...

Aug 26, 2026
Phys.org / Utah mountain ranges may store a billion tons of hidden ice

Unlike conventional glaciers, rock glaciers appear as piles of rock that obscure large masses of unaccounted-for ice. Rock glaciers are common in the Wasatch and Uinta ranges, even appearing on the Colorado Plateau in the ...

Aug 26, 2026
Phys.org / One molecule, one photon: Entanglement makes an imperceptible recoil measurable

For decades, light has been used to understand the molecular structures of matter. A sample is irradiated with light, and measurements determine the wavelengths at which it is absorbed. Since each molecule absorbs light at ...

Aug 26, 2026
Phys.org / Volcanic eruptions and warming climate disrupt long-standing link between Indian and Pacific oceans

A new study that combines paleoclimate data and climate models suggests that large volcanic eruptions can disrupt the relationship between atmospheric circulation patterns over the tropical Indian and Pacific oceans. In addition, ...

Aug 26, 2026
Phys.org / High magnetic fields revive superconductivity in nickelates

Scientists from the National University of Singapore (NUS), in collaboration with Los Alamos National Laboratory in the United States, have uncovered that a class of nickel-based materials known as samarium (Sm)-based infinite-layer ...

Aug 26, 2026
Phys.org / Nanoparticles induce neuroregeneration in Alzheimer's disease models

The adult human brain has limited capacity to repair or regenerate neurons lost to Alzheimer's disease, the most common type of dementia. Existing treatments can slow disease progression but do not reverse cognitive decline. ...

Aug 26, 2026
Phys.org / Tangled plastic and fishing gear found in pilot whales stranded in Hawaii

A new study by University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa researchers shows that nearly 23% of short-finned pilot whales that stranded over 13 years in the main Hawaiian Islands ingested several pounds of plastic ropes, netting, fishing ...

Aug 26, 2026
Phys.org / Bat DNA adaptations may connect virus defense, longevity and cancer resistance

Bats are anomalies in the mammalian world—they fly, have long lifespans and rarely get cancer. Scientists now suspect the bat immune system enables them to live longer without disease, according to a new study published today ...

Aug 26, 2026