Phys.org news

Phys.org / Exploring mutations that spontaneously switch on a key brain cell receptor

Many people are familiar with histamine, a biological molecule that serves as a key driver of allergic reactions and other immune responses. However, histamine is also a major neurotransmitter in the mammalian brain, regulating ...

Jan 16, 2026 in Biology
Phys.org / Wormholes may not exist—we've found they reveal something deeper about time and the universe

Wormholes are often imagined as tunnels through space or time—shortcuts across the universe. But this image rests on a misunderstanding of work by physicists Albert Einstein and Nathan Rosen.

Jan 15, 2026 in Physics
Phys.org / Construction emissions are higher than thought—but the solution isn't building less, new study finds

Many cities are making great strides in the fight against climate change, such as improving building energy efficiency, reducing traffic congestion and switching to renewable power sources. But there is another often overlooked ...

Jan 15, 2026 in Earth
Phys.org / Collapse of the Tang dynasty: Climate change likely played a role

Environmental phenomena and their consequences can disrupt social structures and destabilize political systems. An interdisciplinary research team demonstrated this using the example of the late Tang dynasty in medieval China.

Jan 15, 2026 in Earth
Phys.org / Earth system models overestimate river flow increases, research reveals

Understanding how water moves through the Earth system is fundamental to predicting climate impacts and ensuring sustainable water management. Yet despite decades of research, uncertainties persist regarding how global precipitation ...

Jan 15, 2026 in Earth
Phys.org / Large parts of the tropics overlooked in environmental research, study says

Environmental research in the tropics is heavily skewed, according to a comprehensive study led by Umeå University. Humid lowland forest ecosystems receive a disproportionate amount of attention, while colder and drier regions ...

Jan 15, 2026 in Earth
Phys.org / Ancient Type II supernova discovered from universe's first billion years

Using the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST), an international team of astronomers has discovered a new Type II supernova. The newly detected supernova, named SN Eos, exploded when the universe was only 1 billion years old. ...

Jan 15, 2026 in Astronomy & Space
Phys.org / Antarctic submillimeter telescope enables more complete view of the carbon cycle in star-forming regions

Chinese researchers have braved the cold and harsh environment of Antarctica in order to get a unique view of star formation in the interstellar medium (ISM). The Chinese National Antarctica and Arctic Research Expedition ...

Jan 15, 2026 in Astronomy & Space
Phys.org / Slowing down muon decay with short laser pulses

Muons are unstable subatomic particles that spontaneously and rapidly transform into other particles via a process known as electroweak decay. Altering the speed with which muons decay into other particles was so far deemed ...

Jan 15, 2026 in Physics
Phys.org / Temporal anti-parity–time symmetry offers new way to steer energy through systems

The movement of waves, patterns that carry sound, light or heat, through materials has been widely studied by physicists, as it has implications for the development of numerous modern technologies. In several materials, the ...

Jan 15, 2026 in Physics
Phys.org / How concrete jungles could be changing dandelion seed dispersal in Japan

Dandelions are incredible plants with a highly efficient seed-dispersal system, meaning even a gentle breeze can carry seeds and their parachutes great distances. But in several places in Aichi Prefecture, Japan, they have ...

Jan 15, 2026 in Biology
Phys.org / Perovskite display technology demonstrates record efficiency and industry-level operational lifetime

A research team has developed a hierarchical-shell perovskite nanocrystal technology that simultaneously overcomes the long-standing instability of metal-halide perovskite emitters while achieving record-breaking quantum ...

Jan 15, 2026 in Nanotechnology