Phys.org news

Phys.org / 3D imaging reveals messy-looking supraparticles can be nearly perfect crystals inside

Researchers at Utrecht University have quantitatively mapped the three-dimensional structure of photonic supraparticles for the first time. Supraparticles are microscopic spheres composed of thousands of smaller colloidal ...

23 hours ago
Phys.org / Where wells run deep, biodiversity runs thin

As the United States continues to lead global oil and gas production—accounting for roughly 20% of worldwide output in 2024—understanding how different extraction methods affect ecosystems has never been more urgent. ...

23 hours ago
Phys.org / Japanese scientists discover how falling cats almost always make perfect landings

When cats fall, they usually land on their feet. This uncanny ability to right themselves before hitting the ground has long puzzled scientists. Now, a team from Yamaguchi University in Japan has the answer, and it's all ...

Mar 10, 2026
Phys.org / New exoplanet survey method finds high rates of closely orbiting planets

Up until now, exoplanet surveys have mostly focused on nearby, bright stars that are sun-like or are red dwarfs, which are known to frequently host planets. While astronomers have discovered thousands of planets this way, ...

Mar 10, 2026
Phys.org / Precisely measuring quantum signals in large spin ensembles

Quantum mechanical effects are known to be easily disrupted by disturbances from the surrounding environment, commonly referred to as noise. To minimize these disturbances, physicists often study these effects in small and ...

Mar 10, 2026
Phys.org / Glacial lakes in Alaska are expanding rapidly and could quadruple in size

Alaska's glacial lakes are growing faster than in previous decades. They expanded by more than 150 square kilometers between 2018 and 2024, and could eventually grow to more than four times their current size as glaciers ...

Mar 10, 2026
Phys.org / Scientists harness quantum tunneling to boost heavy water production efficiency

A study by scientists at Hunan University introduces a new hydrogen isotope separation method that leverages proton quantum tunneling to produce heavy water, overcoming the key physical limitation faced by current methods ...

Mar 10, 2026
Phys.org / Student serves up fresh solutions to the pancake problem

David Cutler is in the spotlight for his work on a tasty-sounding mathematics problem. In January, the New York Times featured a research paper authored by Cutler and Neil Sloane, the founder of The On-line Encyclopedia of ...

Mar 10, 2026
Phys.org / 3D-printed photonic lanterns combine up to 37 multimode lasers into one fiber

Researchers have developed a microscopic 3D-printed optical device that can efficiently combine light from dozens of small semiconductor lasers into a single multimode optical fiber with very low loss. The team demonstrated ...

Mar 10, 2026
Phys.org / First absolute dating of Paleolithic paintings in the Dordogne

A research team led by a CNRS researcher has for the first time accurately determined the age of the cave paintings at Font-de-Gaume (Les Eyzies) in Dordogne (southwestern France), according to a study published on March ...

Mar 10, 2026
Phys.org / Ancient parrot DNA reveals sophisticated, long-distance animal trade network pre-dating the Inca Empire

New analysis of ancient parrot DNA has revealed that vibrant Amazonian parrots were transported alive across the Andes to coastal Peru centuries before the Inca Empire, highlighting a sophisticated pre-Inca, long-distance ...

Mar 10, 2026
Phys.org / A new model defines an upper limit to planetary radiation belt intensity

We all know that stars radiate light and much more. But radiation belts can also surround many other celestial bodies, such as planets. These belts do not generate particles themselves—the belts receive them from nearby ...

Mar 10, 2026