Phys.org news

Phys.org / How accurately can we measure the ocean's deepest point?

How deep is the deepest ocean—and how precisely can we actually measure it? A Japanese research team led by the National Institute of Polar Research (NIPR), SOKENDAI, the University of Tokyo and other Japanese institutions ...

Sep 17, 2026
Phys.org / Laser shocks turn plastic into ultra-small, high-purity nanodiamonds

Nanodiamonds are tiny diamond particles that usually measure mere millionths of a millimeter. They are extremely hard, stable and heat-resistant and highly adaptable for various purposes in medicine, new materials, catalysis ...

Sep 17, 2026
Phys.org / Electron and photon beams drive same gold-forming reaction toward different nanoscale structures

Beauty and mystery—it is hard to imagine a more alluring combination, and this is precisely what we encounter when we observe phenomena in the nanoworld. But are we really sure that observations made using modern microscopic ...

Sep 17, 2026
Phys.org / Portable metasurface biosensor turns molecular signals into images, bypassing spectrometers

What if signs of disease could be detected using nothing more than a tiny chip that fits in the palm of your hand and a camera, without ever visiting a hospital? A scene that once seemed possible only in science fiction has ...

Sep 17, 2026
Phys.org / Disorder is key to tuning a high-temperature superconductor

Cornell physicists have discovered that minimizing disorder, not varying electron count, is the key factor for controlling superconductivity in the unique material iron selenide (FeSe), a new insight for understanding high-temperature ...

Sep 17, 2026
Phys.org / NASA spacecraft discovers a huge new crater on the moon

Scientists have discovered a crater on the moon that's bigger than the Roman Colosseum and is the result of a powerful impact two years ago that initially went undetected.

Sep 17, 2026
Phys.org / Vapor-phase synthesis of MXenes could expand their technological applications

MXenes are two-dimensional nanomaterials first synthesized at Drexel University in 2011. They have been recognized by the International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry as an emerging technology with "true potential to ...

Sep 17, 2026
Phys.org / Microfluidic device simulates human tissue and offers an alternative to animal testing

Researchers at the Brazilian Center for Research in Energy and Materials (CNPEM) have developed microfluidic technology that can grow cells in three dimensions (3D). The goal is to conduct toxicity tests on new products by ...

Sep 17, 2026
Phys.org / Why global wind energy may stay steady even as storm tracks shift poleward

Understanding how wind changes in response to global warming is necessary for accurately modeling climate and weather, identifying risks to infrastructure, and assessing global wind power capacity.

Sep 17, 2026
Phys.org / Is dark matter 'natural?' Physicist puts the question to the test

Dark matter is one of the oldest open problems in physics. It makes up most of the matter in the universe and shapes how galaxies form and move, yet no one has ever directly detected it. Physicists have proposed dozens of ...

Sep 17, 2026
Phys.org / Activated learning-and-memory protein forms growing molecular chains, imaging reveals

Researchers at the Nano Life Science Institute (WPI-NanoLSI) at Kanazawa University, Kyoto University, SOKENDAI and the National Institute for Physiological Sciences have revealed how CaMKIIα—a key brain protein involved ...

Sep 17, 2026
Phys.org / Decoding the DNA switches behind gene regulation

Understanding gene regulation may be key to interpreting human disease genetics. Genes are regulated in part by stretches of DNA called enhancers, which define when, where and how strongly each gene is turned on. Mapping ...

Sep 17, 2026