Phys.org news

Phys.org / We are not alone: Our sun escaped together with stellar 'twins' from galaxy center

Researchers have uncovered evidence for our sun joining a mass migration of similar "twins" leaving the core regions of our galaxy, 4 to 6 billion years ago. The team created and studied an unprecedentedly accurate catalog ...

Mar 12, 2026
Phys.org / Meet Crocodylus lucivenator, a 12- to 15-foot predator that hunted iconic Lucy's species

More than 3 million years ago, when our ancient ancestors embodied by the iconic Lucy were roaming the African landscape, they would have feared a big, bad crocodile with a prominent lump on its head, patiently lurking in ...

Mar 12, 2026
Phys.org / Failed experiment leads to surprise drug development breakthrough

Scientists at the University of Cambridge have developed a new way to alter complex drug molecules using light rather than toxic chemicals—a discovery that could accelerate and improve how medicines are designed and made. ...

Mar 12, 2026
Phys.org / Selfish sperm hijack Overdrive gene to kill healthy rivals

A new University of Utah-led study has discovered the mechanism behind a decades-old evolutionary mystery—how "selfish chromosomes" cheat the rules of genetic inheritance. The researchers found that rogue chromosomes hijack ...

Mar 12, 2026
Phys.org / Fortified salad packs a healthy punch to meet a growing vitamin B12 need

A pioneering research-industry partnership has used advances in indoor farming technology to grow pea shoots fortified with vitamin B12, opening an exciting route to market for farmers and addressing a major public health ...

Mar 12, 2026
Phys.org / Caught but not eaten: Smaller insects more likely to escape catfish mouths

A Kobe University study shows that small aquatic beetles survive catfish attacks by resisting ingestion inside the catfish's mouth and being spat out alive. This research contributes to a deeper understanding of size-dependent ...

Mar 12, 2026
Phys.org / Despite their contrasting reputations, bonobos and chimpanzees show similar levels of aggression in zoos

Chimpanzees have a reputation for being aggressive, while bonobos are often seen as their peaceful counterparts. This contrast has frequently been used to explain different sides of human nature. However, a new study by Utrecht ...

Mar 11, 2026
Phys.org / Galaxy-group motion suggests slower expansion in our cosmic neighborhood

Two new studies have measured the expansion of the universe in our immediate cosmic neighborhood using a novel method that analyzes the motion of two nearby galaxy groups within their surrounding cosmic flow. The results ...

Mar 11, 2026
Phys.org / Ancient Filipino skeleton reveals a rare hip condition further complicated by scurvy

The growing paleopathological literature shows that scurvy was not a rare problem among people living in the ancient Asia-Pacific tropics. Scurvy is increasingly identified throughout the region, primarily in children but ...

Mar 11, 2026
Phys.org / Nocturnal ants use lunar compass and sophisticated calculations to travel at night

It's well known that many animals, including migratory birds, butterflies, and even fish, use the sun for navigational purposes. Nocturnal animals are dealt a more difficult hand, however, as the moon's path is far more variable. ...

Mar 11, 2026
Phys.org / Dolphin mass strandings in Patagonia linked to killer whales

In 2021 and 2023, hundreds of dolphins were stranded in shallow waters in San Antonio Bay in northern Patagonia. Some died, but many were returned safely to the sea. But what remained a mystery until now was how they ended ...

Mar 11, 2026
Phys.org / Hydrogen atmosphere could keep exomoons habitable for billions of years

Liquid water is considered essential for life. Surprisingly, however, stable conditions that are conducive to life could exist far from any sun. A research team from the Excellence Cluster ORIGINS at LMU and the Max Planck ...

Mar 11, 2026