Phys.org news
Phys.org / Why plastic lingers: Water chemistry slows nature's cleanup
Scientists have long known that sunlight helps break down plastic. So, why do plastic products linger for decades and even centuries in rivers, lakes, and oceans—even when bathed in direct sunlight? Northwestern University ...
Phys.org / Possible dark matter-deficient twins discovered in the Fornax Cluster
Astronomers have identified a possible new example of one of the universe's strangest galaxy types: galaxies that appear to contain little or no dark matter. The newly studied pair, FCC 224 and FCC 240, on the outskirts of ...
Phys.org / Can AI help coastal cities prepare for rising seas and extreme events?
Our novel artificial intelligence model can predict extreme storm surges with high accuracy, including under future climate conditions. Because the AI model runs much faster, it can help researchers and practitioners better ...
Phys.org / Dino-killing asteroid may have fueled underground life for 8 million years
The asteroid that caused the extinction of the dinosaurs also created an underground environment suited to supporting new life, and new research suggests it lasted for millions of years longer than previously suspected.
Phys.org / Satellite data reveal Southern Ocean vertical currents diving 3,000 feet below surface
Ocean currents are not just horizontal motions that flow from side to side. There are also vertical currents that act like deep-sea elevators, pushing heat and carbon down into the deep, while bringing up vital nutrients ...
Phys.org / Maya altar and offerings at abandoned Belize sites highlight enduring ritual activities
Archaeologists excavating Maya sites at Kaxil Uinik and Ayiin Winik in Belize have discovered the first reported Late Postclassic altar in the region, along with additional evidence that Postclassic Maya people continued ...
Phys.org / Oldest Maya Long Count calendar date may reveal how royalty turned time into power
Archaeologists working at the ancient Maya site of El Palmar in Campeche, Mexico, have discovered what may be the earliest known Long Count calendar date in the Maya lowlands. It is carved into a stone monument and is interpreted ...
Phys.org / Quantum memory surpasses classical limits for storing unknown quantum operations
Quantum memories, systems that store and retrieve information leveraging quantum mechanical effects, can outperform classical storage systems on some existing tasks. Yet these promising memories could also complete operations ...
Phys.org / Iberian DNA remained largely unchanged for six centuries before Roman influence, study finds
A study led by a UAB research team of Biological Anthropology has analyzed the genome of 54 newborns with the aim of tracking the genetic history of their culture since it developed in the Early Iron Age until the start of ...
Phys.org / Physicists observe synchronized quantum dance of excitons and phonons
An international team of researchers has reported a major advance in understanding quantum dynamics in semiconductor materials. They directly observed how excitons and phonons evolve together in perovskite nanocrystals, revealing ...
Phys.org / Freshwater boundary breach deepens as climate and land use amplify extremes
Human activities have significantly altered the freshwater cycle, threatening its ability to support vital climatic and ecological Earth system processes. A new study led by researchers at the University of Eastern Finland ...
Phys.org / Brain removal in Iron Age Scotland burial reveals far-reaching family ties
It is difficult to identify funerary practices in Iron Age (c. 800 BC–AD 43) Britain, as human remains rarely survive. However, evidence is particularly prominent in north-west Scotland, because environmental conditions support ...
