Phys.org news

Phys.org / Marsupial newborns get early arms as embryos bypass usual limb-building sequence

Scientists have discovered that marsupial forelimbs (arms) develop much earlier before birth than previously thought, providing new insights into evolutionary innovation and biology.

21 hours ago
Phys.org / Tiny water droplets convert stubborn plastic waste into valuable acids, study finds

A new way of converting stubborn plastic waste into high-value chemicals using only water and oxygen has been developed by an international team of scientists.

21 hours ago
Phys.org / New method scales up twist-engineered oxide materials for future electronics

Researchers have shown it is possible to expand the field of twistronics—literally. They have demonstrated a technique that allows them to fabricate oxide twistronic materials at much larger scales while also controlling ...

23 hours ago
Phys.org / Epigenetic mechanism explains how some plants cope with salt stress

Due to artificial irrigation and rising temperatures, the concentration of salts (including sodium chloride, or "table salt") is increasing in soils worldwide. This is not only an environmental problem but also a challenge ...

21 hours ago
Phys.org / New species of monkey with unusual orange lips discovered in the Democratic Republic of Congo

Scientists have described a new species of colobus monkey in the forests of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), report John Hart at Lukuru Wildlife Research Foundation and colleagues in PLOS One. The first hint that a ...

23 hours ago
Phys.org / Scientists explain how nucleolus sub-compartments drive ribosome assembly

The nucleolus is a liquid-like cellular organelle where protein factories called ribosomes are assembled. Researchers knew of three distinct compartments within the nucleolus, but how these compartments function to drive ...

22 hours ago
Phys.org / Does teleworking reduce carbon emissions? It depends on how you do it

Teleworking—including working from home, coworking or working from other third places—can reduce carbon emissions by eliminating commutes. But if you're not careful, this benefit will be offset by the carbon cost of work-related ...

23 hours ago
Phys.org / T. rex was likely responsible for some tooth marks on fossil bones from Cretaceous era

A collection of fossilized dinosaur bones from Wyoming features tooth marks that provide evidence that some bites were likely made by Tyrannosaurus rex, according to a study published July 15, 2026, in PLOS One by Bethania ...

23 hours ago
Phys.org / Large precolonial villages in the Brazilian Cerrado practiced maize-based polyculture, evidence reveals

For decades, researchers have debated the subsistence strategies of precolonial societies in the Brazilian Cerrado (tropical savanna): Were they hunter-gatherers or intensive maize farmers, and in either case, how did they ...

23 hours ago
Phys.org / Bone 'fingerprints' unlock hidden stories of underwater caves

Bones preserved in underwater caves offer a rare and powerful window into the past—but until now, researchers have had limited tools to understand how the remains of extinct megafauna and other animals came to rest in their ...

23 hours ago
Phys.org / When eyeing a predator, horses keep a poker face as their hearts race

Horses know a predator when they see one—even if it's only on a video screen while they're standing in a stall, with no sounds, smells or previous experience providing context for what they're viewing, a new study suggests.

23 hours ago
Phys.org / Sweeping analysis shows prestige, topic and location matter most to get research published

Scientists from prestigious universities and large research groups are significantly more likely to have their research published in general-interest, top-tier scientific journals. Meanwhile, authors based in China and those ...

23 hours ago