Phys.org news
Phys.org / How a shape-shifting tiny rover inspired by Japanese toys autonomously explored the moon
Moon missions come in all shapes and sizes, from car-sized rovers packed with scientific equipment to towering rocket payloads—and now, a small, shape-shifting machine that is about the size of the average palm.
Phys.org / Ancient clay figurine from Guatemala may bear the oldest written numbers in Mesoamerica
A clay figurine, small enough to cradle in your hand, with 11 dots arranged in columns where its head should be, may depict the oldest known example of written numbers in Mesoamerica.
Phys.org / Electron matter waves gain ultrafast torque that flips handedness in femtoseconds
Many natural processes, ranging from magnetism to chemical reactions, entail the movement and rotation of particles at very small scales. In quantum mechanics, particles exhibit both particle-like and wave-like behaviors, ...
Phys.org / Scientists discover collagen, the human body's most abundant protein, is liquid-like inside cells
Collagen, the protein that builds skin, bones, tendons and organs, exists inside cells as a liquidlike droplet rather than the long, rigid rod seen in textbooks over the last half-century, according to a new study from the ...
Phys.org / Rare deep-sea goblin sharks filmed in natural habitat for first time
The first published live observations of the rare goblin shark (Mitsukurina owstoni) in its natural deep-ocean habitat were reported in a new paper by a University of Hawai'i at Mānoa-led team of oceanographers. In the past, ...
Phys.org / Wasp spider reveals rapid genetic adaptation during decades-long march into northern Europe
It has taken only a few decades: The wasp spider (Argiope bruennichi) has expanded its range from the Mediterranean region to northern Europe—even as far as southern Finland. In doing so, it has adapted genetically much faster ...
Phys.org / Massive Kamchatka earthquake has extended rupture that overlaps 1952 event, researchers find
Researchers combining two methods to reconstruct the rupture evolution of the July 2025 magnitude 8.8 Kamchatka earthquake found the rupture from the megathrust event extended about 500 kilometers (311 miles) from its epicenter.
Dialog / Binary asteroids' puzzling configurations may link to multi-satellite history
Binary asteroid systems are widespread throughout our inner solar system. For decades, the standard paradigm held that many of them form when a rapidly spinning primary asteroid casts off material, which then reaccumulates ...
Phys.org / Ocean glow meets 3D printing with living gels that sense mechanical force
The integration of biological organisms into synthetic structures offers a radical new pathway for developing intelligent, self-powered materials. Researchers have pioneered an innovative approach to biomanufacturing by using ...
Phys.org / Why shame is an evolution-based defense mechanism
It is unpleasant, strange and often comes as a surprise: shame. But why do we feel it? An international study has shed new light on the emotion of shame, which has long been considered harmful. The conclusion: Shame is not ...
Phys.org / Why animal calls sound alike in time: Most species share a common communication tempo
From insects to great apes, by way of birds and fish, animals communicate through an extraordinary variety of sounds. While the pitch or timbre of their vocalizations matters, rhythm may play a more fundamental role. Scientists ...
Phys.org / Would you return a favor? Scientists say it depends on the relationship
When a friend buys you a cup of coffee, it's likely that next time, you'll return the gesture. This type of reciprocal generosity has been well-documented in behavioral economics studies. However, anthropologists and other ...
