Phys.org news

Phys.org / Melting diamond could unlock triple fusion gain and the secrets of ice giant planets

Diamond is more than a dazzling gem—the extremely hard form of carbon makes up the pellet that encases fuel for inertial confinement fusion, and scientists believe it rains down deep inside ice giant planets like Neptune ...

Aug 13, 2026
Phys.org / 'Real mummy's curse' behind sale and trade of mummified remains exposed

A new study, led by researchers at the University of Staffordshire, has found evidence of potentially hazardous microbial growth on mummified human and animal remains advertised for sale online—posing risks to both sellers ...

Aug 13, 2026
Phys.org / While Great Lakes ice cover is slipping, a 'temporary respite' may be on the way

There's good news and bad news for folks who love a good coat of ice on the Great Lakes for the activities and businesses it supports. The good news is that, after decades of declining annual average ice cover, there's reason ...

Aug 13, 2026
Phys.org / Rapid warming may tip Atlantic circulation at 2°C, while slower warming may avert collapse

For several years, climate scientists have shown that the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation (AMOC) could come to a halt if the world warms too much. New research from Utrecht University shows that this picture is ...

Aug 13, 2026
Phys.org / Mutation hotspots help 'friendly' viruses outmaneuver the bacteria in your gut

Every 15 minutes, someone in the U.S. dies from a drug-resistant superbug. A few decades from now, antibiotic-resistant bacterial infections threaten to become the leading cause of death worldwide, outpacing cancer.

Aug 13, 2026
Phys.org / How a mystery kept in London led to the discovery of a new Ecuadorian frog

Scientists from the Pontificia Universidad Católica del Ecuador officially described Pristimantis milpe, an abundant and widely distributed species that had been confused with another species for more than a century. To solve ...

Aug 13, 2026
Phys.org / Thinking fast and slow: Wild fish reveal how cognition evolved in two closely related species

Why do two individuals faced with the same information sometimes make completely different decisions? It is a question made famous by Nobel laureate Daniel Kahneman, whose book "Thinking, Fast and Slow" explored the contrast ...

Aug 13, 2026
Phys.org / Climate change decided who ruled as top predator 35 million years ago

An international team of researchers from Belgium, France, Switzerland, Spain and the U.S. has reconstructed the evolution of body mass in carnivorous mammals during the Paleogene—a crucial window in the diversification of ...

Aug 13, 2026
Phys.org / Nature's original bioplastic may have fed animals for hundreds of millions of years

Long before humans discovered biodegradable plastics, microorganisms had already invented their own. Many bacteria and archaea produce natural bioplastics called polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs), storing them inside their cells ...

Aug 13, 2026
Phys.org / Tracer exchange reveals ions can speed up or slow down inside battery solids

Understanding how ions diffuse in solid materials is essential for technologies including batteries, electronics and chemical catalysts, but it has been hard for a simple reason: the materials are solids.

Aug 13, 2026
Phys.org / Does your city match your relationship status? New study exposes the hidden costs of urban living

Kids, marriage and commute: A study co-authored by Dr. Mariana Macedo of Constructor University provides new insights into how major life transitions alter how individuals navigate and experience urban environments. Published ...

Aug 13, 2026
Phys.org / Magnetic mystery in thorium clusters resolved by new study

Scientists from the University of Manchester's Department of Chemistry, Centre for Radiochemistry Research and Photon Science Institute, led by Professor Steve Liddle, have uncovered why a rare class of metal clusters appears ...

Aug 13, 2026