Phys.org news

Phys.org / Atomic-level snapshots reveal how a key copper enzyme powers nature's chemistry

Researchers from the University of Liverpool, Japan, and Argentina have captured atomic-resolution images of an important copper-containing enzyme using advanced X-ray Free Electron Laser (XFEL) technology at SACLA in Japan. ...

21 hours ago
Phys.org / Why more gut and soil microbes could make ecosystems easier to predict

Much of the beauty—and challenge—of biology lies in its complexity. That's especially true in the microbial world, where hundreds or thousands of different bacterial species may co-exist in a patch of soil or in a section ...

22 hours ago
Phys.org / Molecular chains unlock atomically precise nanoribbons for next-generation electronics

Scientists have developed a unique way to build electronic components so small they are made from chains of individual molecules—creating a toolbox to help build materials that could power the next generation of technology.

23 hours ago
Phys.org / Machine learning helps detect roars from lion collars without recording actual audio

Roaring over long distances is a key behavior of lions. They communicate within prides as well as with other animals using distinct sequences of moans and grunts. Scientists from the GAIA Initiative have now published a machine ...

Apr 23, 2026
Phys.org / These eight coastal cities sit on America's flood front line, and AI shows why

New York, New Orleans and Miami are among the eight cities along the US Gulf and Atlantic coasts facing the highest flood risk, according to a new study published in Science Advances. Scientists developed a new AI-driven ...

Apr 23, 2026
Phys.org / Why groups slowly stop working well together, even when conditions are good

Humans are generally a cooperative bunch and most of us probably like to think of ourselves as reliable team players. Cooperation is useful for all sorts of reasons, from running a business and managing community resources ...

Apr 23, 2026
Phys.org / Neanderthals may have shared key DNA for complex language, reshaping when human speech began

In a first-of-its-kind finding, researchers at University of Iowa Health Care discovered that specific genetic sequences have an outsized impact on humans' language abilities and that these sequences evolved before humans ...

Apr 23, 2026
Phys.org / Quantum chips could scale faster with new spin-qubit readout that reduces sensors and wiring

Quantum computers, devices that process information leveraging quantum mechanical effects, could tackle some tasks that are difficult or impossible to solve using classical computers. These systems represent data as qubits, ...

Apr 23, 2026
Phys.org / Mysterious gas clouds near Milky Way's black hole now have a likely source

New observations and simulations by a team of researchers led by MPE reveal that a massive binary star near our galaxy's center is responsible for creating a series of enigmatic gas clouds—compact gas clumps that help feed ...

Apr 23, 2026
Phys.org / Physicists revive 1990s laser concept to propose a next-generation atomic clock

Researchers in the US and Germany have unveiled a theoretical blueprint for an atomic clock driven by a highly synchronized laser, where atoms work in concert rather than independently. Publishing their results in Physical ...

Apr 23, 2026
Phys.org / Nuclear war at Ukraine-Russia border could trigger years of global climate disruption and radioactive fallout

Geopolitical tensions in Eastern Europe underscore the urgency of addressing the climate and radiological consequences of a regional nuclear conflict. Even a small-scale nuclear conflict at the Ukraine–Russia border could ...

Apr 23, 2026
Phys.org / 3I/ATLAS contains 30 times more semi-heavy water than comets in our solar system

New observations of the interstellar comet 3I/ATLAS include the first measurement of the abundance of deuterated water relative to ordinary water in an interstellar object. Astronomers using the Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter ...

Apr 23, 2026