Phys.org news

Phys.org / Nearly 50 years of data reveal happiness gap for single parents

Single parents are less happy than parents with a partner, according to a comprehensive analysis of global studies spanning nearly 50 years of data. With the number of solo caregivers on the rise in many countries, scientists ...

May 26, 2026
Phys.org / Mercury's water ice may have been deposited by a larger, slower impactor than previously thought—in only one day

The source of the significant water ice deposits hidden in Mercury's polar regions has been a topic of debate among researchers. A new study, published in the Journal of Geophysical Research: Planets, suggests that these ...

May 26, 2026
Phys.org / Triply-eclipsing triple star system discovered with TESS

Using NASA's Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS), astronomers have discovered a triply-eclipsing star system. The newfound system, designated TIC 295741342, consists of two sun-like stars in an eclipsing binary and ...

May 26, 2026
Dialog / New fossil salamander species related to the famous axolotl is discovered in Mexico

The Mexican axolotl (Ambystoma mexicanum) is famous because adults look like overgrown babies, or tadpoles, retaining juvenile features as adults and capable of remarkable regeneration of lost limbs or tails. New studies ...

May 26, 2026
Phys.org / Ancient DNA rewrites the story of a historical Sámi burial

A new study by the University of Turku and partners provides fresh insights into an individual buried near Lake Kitka in Kuusamo, Finland, at the turn of the 17th century. DNA and isotope analyses show that the individual, ...

May 26, 2026
Phys.org / Teaching thermodynamic laws to AI unlocks a polymer modeling challenge

For more than half a century, materials scientists have struggled with how to simulate the complexity of polymer materials. An individual chain can comprise tens of thousands of atoms, a melt or composite contains billions, ...

May 26, 2026
Phys.org / Divers may think they protect reefs, but one unseen habit is taking a steady toll

Research at the University of Sydney has found that scuba-diving tourism—widely promoted as a sustainable way to experience coral reefs—is causing frequent and often hidden damage to fragile marine ecosystems.

May 26, 2026
Phys.org / Ancient dust points to retreat of West Antarctic Ice Sheet during last warm period

Antarctica's Ross Ice Shelf and the West Antarctic Ice Sheet may have been far smaller during one of Earth's most recent warm periods, according to a new study that traced the origin of ancient dust preserved in Antarctic ...

May 26, 2026
Phys.org / As wolves recover, golden jackals may still conquer most of Europe thanks to 'human shield'

Human activity may be enabling the expansion of golden jackals across Europe by reducing the suppressive effect of gray wolves, suggests research published in Nature Ecology & Evolution. This human-mediated interaction could ...

May 26, 2026
Phys.org / Surface design transforms thermal management and enables frictionless systems

A research team led by Professor Steven Wang, Associate Vice President (Resources Planning) and Associate Professor in the Department of Mechanical Engineering and School of Energy and Environment, has designed a revolutionary ...

May 26, 2026
Phys.org / Five-tea comparison reveals kombucha's biological properties depend on starting point

Over the past few years, kombucha has become one of the world's most popular fermented beverages. While most consumers focus primarily on its taste, scientists are increasingly analyzing its chemical composition and potential ...

May 26, 2026
Phys.org / Discovery of furtivovirus advances understanding of giant virus evolution

In evolutionary biology, all life on Earth is theoretically part of a single phylogenetic tree, indicating common ancestry. This model suggests that every living organism can be traced back to a distant common ancestor. However, ...

May 26, 2026