Phys.org news
Phys.org / Brown leaves before fall could signal lasting heat damage, researchers warn
Due to increasing heat and drought, forests are turning brown more often before autumn, when leaf senescence normally occurs. It is often unclear whether the trees are actively shedding foliage to avoid a breakdown in water ...
Phys.org / Compromise drives shared risky decisions, but biased blame and credit can break teamwork
Relationships are all about compromise. From deciding on where to eat dinner with a friend to negotiating chore lists at home, we often experience situations that require some flexibility. But what happens when we must work ...
Phys.org / Plant DNA harbors virus 'fossils' that reflect 300 million years of evolution
Is it possible to study the history of viruses that emerged several hundred million years ago? An international team of INRAE and CIRAD researchers answered this question by exploring plant genomes to find the molecular fossils ...
Phys.org / Prescribed burns may generate over 20% of fine particle pollution in southeastern US
Prescribed fires are vital for reducing wildfire risk and sustaining forest biodiversity. But they also contribute significantly to air pollution and smoke exposure, according to new research from the University of Georgia. ...
Phys.org / Instant digital rewards may make hard thinking feel less worthwhile
Imagine opening a difficult book in a quiet room. The first page is dense. You read one paragraph, then reread it. Nothing "clicks" yet. Your brain is doing what learning often requires: spending effort before the reward ...
Phys.org / Last-minute launch problem delays satellite rescue mission for NASA
A rush rescue mission to save a NASA space telescope remains grounded, this time because of a last-minute launch problem.
Phys.org / Quantum properties of multimode light observed despite extreme losses
Quantum properties of light are extremely delicate. When researchers attempt to measure them, even small losses on the way to a detector can make them invisible, limiting their use outside carefully controlled environments. ...
Phys.org / Hidden role of garnet reveals how Earth's 660-km seismic boundary forms
Nearly 660 kilometers (410 miles) beneath Earth's surface lies one of the planet's most important internal boundaries. Known as the 660-km seismic discontinuity, it separates the mantle transition zone from the lower mantle ...
Phys.org / A WRAP for biology's greasiest problem
Embedded in the boundary between the inside and outside of each cell are membrane proteins. They act as first responders by sensing signals, regulating which molecules enter and leave the cell, and enabling cells to quickly ...
Phys.org / Hunting behavior drives the evolution of spider eye arrangements, study finds
Vision shapes how many animals find food, avoid danger and navigate their world. In animals with two eyes, eye placement is often linked to lifestyle: predators such as lions tend to have forward-facing eyes that help them ...
Phys.org / MOF thin films reveal hidden dense packing, challenging decades of porous assumptions
Due to their high porosity, metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) are regarded as promising materials for innovative applications, which is why the Nobel Prize in Chemistry was awarded in 2025 for their discovery. They are used, ...
Phys.org / Scourge of satellites lighting up the sky could be mitigated with help of ultra-black coating
Astrophysicists working to tackle the growing impact of satellite constellations have pioneered a new ultra-black coating as one possible way to mitigate the problem.
