Phys.org news

Phys.org / Radio black hole trio lights up in rare galaxy merger

Astronomers have confirmed the first known triple system in which all three galaxies host actively feeding, radio-bright supermassive black holes.

Dec 24, 2025 in Astronomy & Space
Phys.org / Mechanism for twisted growth of plant organs discovered

From morning glories spiraling up fence posts to grape vines corkscrewing through arbors, twisted growth is a problem-solving tool found throughout the plant kingdom. Roots "do the twist" all the time, skewing hard right ...

Dec 24, 2025 in Biology
Phys.org / Africa's rarest carnivore: The story of the first Ethiopian wolf ever captured, nursed and returned to the wild

What's the value of one animal? When a wild animal is found badly injured, the most humane option is often euthanasia to prevent further suffering. That's what usually happens, and often for good reason. Even when the resources ...

Dec 24, 2025 in Biology
Phys.org / An AI-based blueprint for designing catalysts across materials

Hydrogen peroxide is widely used in everyday life, from disinfectants and medical sterilization to environmental cleanup and manufacturing. Despite its importance, most hydrogen peroxide is still produced using large-scale ...

Dec 24, 2025 in Chemistry
Phys.org / New reactor produces clean energy and carbon nanotubes from natural gas

Scientists from the University of Cambridge have developed a new reactor that converts natural gas (a common energy source primarily composed of methane) into two highly valuable resources: clean hydrogen fuel and carbon ...

Dec 23, 2025 in Physics
Phys.org / Raindrops form 'sandballs' as they roll downhill, contributing more to erosion than previously thought

What happens as a raindrop impacts bare soil has been fairly well-studied, but what happens to raindrops afterward is poorly understood. We know that the initial splash of raindrops on soil contributes to erosion, but a new ...

Dec 23, 2025 in Physics
Phys.org / The chaotic 'Dracula's Chivito': Hubble reveals largest birthplace of planets ever observed

Astronomers using NASA's Hubble Space Telescope have imaged the largest protoplanetary disk ever observed circling a young star. For the first time in visible light, Hubble has revealed the disk is unexpectedly chaotic and ...

Dec 23, 2025 in Astronomy & Space
Phys.org / Scientists crack ancient salt crystals to unlock secrets of 1.4 billion-year-old air

More than a billion years ago, in a shallow basin across what is now northern Ontario, a subtropical lake much like modern-day Death Valley evaporated under the sun's gentle heat, leaving behind crystals of halite—rock ...

Dec 23, 2025 in Astronomy & Space
Phys.org / Converting CO₂ into valuable chemicals in acidic environments: Iodide ions unlock efficient ethylene production

The emission of carbon dioxide (CO₂) is one of the primary factors contributing to air pollution and climate change on Earth. In recent years, energy engineers have thus been trying to develop systems that could reduce ...

Dec 23, 2025 in Chemistry
Phys.org / How the global fish trade is spreading 'forever chemicals' around the world

Eating fish may well be good for you, but it carries a hidden risk of exposure to so-called "forever chemicals." A new study published in the journal Science has revealed that the global seafood trade is acting as a massive ...

Dec 23, 2025 in Earth
Phys.org / Arctic sea ice melt slowdown since 2012 linked to atmospheric pattern shift

A research team led by The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST) scholars has discovered a significant slowdown in Arctic sea ice melting since 2012, with a decrease rate of 11.3% per decade to an insignificant ...

Dec 23, 2025 in Earth
Phys.org / The universe may be lopsided, new research suggests

The shape of the universe is not something we often think about. My colleagues and I have published a new study that suggests it could be asymmetric or lopsided, meaning not the same in every direction.

Dec 23, 2025 in Astronomy & Space