Phys.org news

Phys.org / Human language shows deep safety bias, challenging 70-year scientific consensus

Researchers at the University of Vermont have uncovered a powerful new insight about how language works—one that overturns a cornerstone assumption in psychology, linguistics, and artificial intelligence that has stood for ...

May 6, 2026
Phys.org / Buried in Arnhem Land, an ancient fire trick may rewrite early stone technology's timeline

A recent archaeological study has identified the earliest lithic heat treatment of chert in the world. Discovered in Australia, this discovery is nearly twice as old as any previously identified chert heat treatment in Eurasia. ...

May 6, 2026
Phys.org / In mafias, marriages are strategic tools, analysis suggests

A new analysis of inter-family marriages in the mafia-type organized crime group 'Ndrangheta, suggests that matrimonial ties between non-powerful families may play a previously under-appreciated role in maintaining the resilience ...

May 6, 2026
Phys.org / A persistent quantum computing error finally explained

Scientists have discovered the cause of a persistent glitch that continues to disrupt superconducting quantum computers, even when they have built-in defenses. For all their advanced hardware, superconducting quantum computers ...

May 6, 2026
Phys.org / A tale as old as time: Young, attractive femme fatale lore appears in nearly every culture

From James Bond movies to water spirits in mythology, the tales of attractive, dangerous female forms that distract the hero from his path or lure men to their deaths have been around for quite some time. A recent study revisits ...

May 6, 2026
Phys.org / J1152 is an unusual long-period dwarf nova with recurring eclipses, observations find

Astronomers from the South African Astronomical Observatory (SAAO) and elsewhere have conducted photometric and spectroscopic observations of a cataclysmic variable system designated SRGA J115215.0−510656. Results of the ...

May 6, 2026
Phys.org / A new way to read the universe could sharpen understanding of cosmic expansion and dark energy

An international team led by researchers at the Institute of Cosmos Sciences of the University of Barcelona (ICCUB) has developed a new method that could significantly improve our understanding of the expansion of the universe ...

May 6, 2026
Phys.org / Dark proteome yields 1,785 new microproteins that could reshape disease research

Scientists have uncovered more than 1,700 new proteins that could have implications for human diseases, including cancer. Mostly very small, these proteins were found in what's called the "dark proteome," which covers gene ...

May 6, 2026
Phys.org / How quasars shut down star formation in the early universe

Supermassive black holes lurk at the centers of massive galaxies, including our own Milky Way. Puzzlingly, supermassive black holes more than a billion times the mass of the sun appear to exist just a few hundred million ...

May 6, 2026
Phys.org / Death-defying protein found in tardigrades preserves synthetic cells

A protein found only in microscopic tardigrades, one that allows them to survive extreme conditions like dehydration, can convey similar durability in synthetic cells, according to new research from University of Michigan ...

May 6, 2026
Phys.org / Love hormone enters battle mode, exposing rivalry and group lines in Amazon study

The "love hormone" oxytocin (OT) plays a role not only in moments of intimacy but also in competitive situations. Researchers at the University of Zurich (UZH) have shown that OT levels increase when rivalry or clearly defined ...

May 6, 2026
Phys.org / Quantum geometry applied to light-based systems expands toolkit for topological photonics

Quantum geometry describes quantum states in systems with changing system parameters, such as an electron spinning in a magnetic field whose direction is slowly changing. The state of the electron evolves, and this change ...

May 6, 2026