Phys.org news

Phys.org / Tobacco companies helped flood the federal comment process that stalled menthol cigarette ban

When the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) proposed banning menthol cigarettes and flavored cigars in 2022, nearly 250,000 public comments flooded in—a record response that led the Biden administration to delay a final ...

Aug 20, 2026
Phys.org / Snake bones with flint cuts show Mount Carmel settlers ate reptiles 15,000 years ago

Around 15,000 years ago, the way of life of human communities in the southern Levant underwent a fundamental change. Groups of hunter-gatherers, who until then had been nomadic, reduced their mobility and established small, ...

Aug 20, 2026
Phys.org / Global sand dunes map reveals clues to distant worlds, including Mars

A new study from Monash University has delivered the most complete and accurate digital map of Earth's windblown sand dunes to date. The research, published in Nature Communications, answers long-standing questions about ...

Aug 20, 2026
Phys.org / Designing supramolecular therapies to cross the blood-brain barrier

A new Northwestern Medicine study has uncovered key molecular design principles that could help supramolecular therapeutics cross the blood-brain barrier, a major challenge for this novel approach to treating neurological ...

Aug 20, 2026
Phys.org / Rescue mission is called off for NASA's aging Swift space telescope

The mission to save NASA's sinking Swift Observatory was called off Wednesday, dooming the telescope to a fiery reentry later this year.

Aug 20, 2026
Phys.org / Children prefer fair punishment to unequal treatment, study finds

Consistent enforcement of rules is more important than the severity of the punishment itself, and children expect adults to treat every member of their group impartially and equally. Moreover, fair punishment brings emotional ...

Aug 20, 2026
Phys.org / Clubbing may boost well-being for women in midlife

An online survey published in the journal Psychology of Music asked 136 women ages 40 and older about their experiences at electronic dance music (EDM) events. Nine in 10 respondents (91%) said clubbing contributes positively ...

Aug 20, 2026
Phys.org / Honeybees struggle to gather nectar in August, direct measurements reveal

Letting late-summer weeds grow could help honeybees when they find it most challenging to gather nectar, according to new research published in the journal, Functional Ecology.

Aug 20, 2026
Phys.org / Uncovering the evolution of Edo-period Japanese ceramic jars with AI

Archaeological artifacts offer valuable insights into the history of past societies. They reveal not only technological developments but also the changing economic systems, cultural traditions and everyday practices of the ...

Aug 20, 2026
Phys.org / Area affected by wildfires in Europe could almost triple due to climate change

Increasingly hot, dry and windy conditions could substantially extend the area affected by wildfires across Europe, according to a new study led by the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research (PIK) with contributions ...

Aug 20, 2026
Phys.org / Warming waters draw summer 'feeding frenzies' by whales off Greenland

The effects of global warming depend on species: The losers are legion, but a lucky few are winners. Now, researchers have shown that baleen whales are taking advantage of a newly opened-up fish bonanza in the Greenland Sea, ...

Aug 20, 2026
Phys.org / Why many birds add fresh plants to their nests remains unclear despite signs of healthier offspring

As they build their nests, many birds are known to interweave dried grasses and other materials with green plants, such as fresh leaves, grass stems, herbs and aromatic leaves. While this behavior is well documented, why ...

Aug 19, 2026