Phys.org news

Phys.org / Light unlocks full polarization control at ultrafast speeds, reshaping photonics

Scientists at Heriot‑Watt University have demonstrated in a world-first, that light can be used to control every aspect of how electromagnetic waves oscillate, opening new technological frontiers. Researchers working in photonics, ...

Apr 30, 2026
Phys.org / Buried in soil, a 100-million-year-old bacterial toxin could reshape pest control and antibiotic discovery

In every backyard, park, and playground on Earth, the ground is teeming with a type of bacteria called Streptomyces—one of the most abundant organisms on the planet. While these dirt-dwelling microbes are known for producing ...

Apr 30, 2026
Phys.org / A hidden food boom across Central Africa is pushing wildlife and rural diets toward a precarious edge

The total annual biomass of wild meat consumed across Central Africa has increased from an estimated 0.73 million metric tons in 2000 to 1.10 million metric tons in 2022. This increase is threatening wildlife populations ...

Apr 30, 2026
Phys.org / LHAASO discovers new extreme particle accelerator in the Milky Way

The Large High Altitude Air Shower Observatory (LHAASO) has made a breakthrough in exploring the extreme universe. For the first time, the LHAASO collaboration has detected ultra-high-energy (UHE) gamma rays—with energies ...

Apr 30, 2026
Phys.org / CRISPR speed patterns can identify multiple viruses and variants simultaneously

As the spread of infectious diseases accelerates, technologies that can accurately distinguish multiple viruses in a single test are becoming increasingly important. KAIST and an international research team have developed ...

Apr 30, 2026
Phys.org / Tiny fossil shells hold two chemical signals that could skew past ocean temperatures

Tiny plankton shells used to reconstruct past polar ocean temperatures may contain two different chemical stories, a new study by iC3 researchers has found. The work shows that Neogloboquadrina pachyderma, a key species in ...

Apr 30, 2026
Phys.org / Heat and cold alter how animals fight disease. As the climate changes, this knowledge may be vital

Each animal species has an optimal temperature at which it can metabolize food and its immune system can best fight off pathogens.

Apr 30, 2026
Phys.org / RNA-built droplets create customizable organelles inside living cells

Just as the human body relies on organs such as the heart or liver for essential functions, cells depend on their own tiny organs, or organelles, to carry out vital tasks, including transporting nutrients, removing waste, ...

Apr 30, 2026
Phys.org / Lithium in the Appalachians could replace imports for a century or more, estimates suggest

The southern Appalachians hold an estimated 1.43 million metric tons of lithium oxide, concentrated in the Carolinas, and the northern Appalachians hold an estimated 900,000 metric tons, concentrated in Maine and New Hampshire, ...

Apr 30, 2026
Phys.org / How mass extinctions helped termites become essential engineers of today's tropical ecosystems

Tropical ecosystems rely on the infrastructure provided by termites. These insects supply plants with vital nutrients by breaking down organic waste, bringing water to the roots by aerating the soil through tunneling, and ...

Apr 30, 2026
Phys.org / Kangaroos chart 'upside-down' evolution

New research led by Flinders University argues thick tooth enamel helped kangaroos chart an unconventional evolution story, compared to the animals of other continents. A 50-million-year natural "experiment" among Australia's ...

Apr 30, 2026
Phys.org / Rare Tyrian purple reveals elite Roman infant burials in York

Two infants buried in Roman York were laid to rest in costly purple cloth normally reserved for emperors and members of the aristocracy, new research reveals. The babies were wrapped in a fine textile of Tyrian purple embellished ...

Apr 30, 2026