Phys.org news

Phys.org / Neanderthals in Central Europe hunted pond turtles—not for food, but likely for their shells

Neanderthals hunted European pond turtles (Emys orbicularis) in Central Europe, though probably not for food. The careful cleaning of carapace elements at Neumark-Nord indicates that shells were reused, perhaps as small containers ...

Apr 8, 2026
Phys.org / Seal tooth pendant reveals ancient human culture and long-distance trading

The identity of a mysterious artifact found in Devon almost 160 years ago has finally been revealed. New research has identified it as a pendant made from the tooth of a gray seal, which would have been worn by an ancient ...

Apr 8, 2026
Phys.org / Optical control of nuclear spins in molecules points to new paths for quantum technologies

Researchers at the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT) have reported important progress in quantum physics and materials science by optically initializing, controlling, and reading out nuclear spin states in a molecular ...

Apr 8, 2026
Phys.org / Sinking land drives coastal flood risk on densely populated Java Island

A new study published in Science Advances reveals that sinking land—not just rising oceans alone—will be the main cause of future coastal flooding along Indonesia's densely populated Java Island, putting millions at risk ...

Apr 8, 2026
Phys.org / Tracking reef winners and losers after a Category 4 storm

Research led by James Cook University has shown the devastating impacts of severe cyclones on corals and coral reef fishes, highlighting changes in coral reef structure that influence long-term recovery and resilience. The ...

Apr 8, 2026
Phys.org / New glassfrog species named for first Ecuadorian woman to win a gold medal

Researchers have discovered a new species of glassfrog in Ecuador—the Dajomes glassfrog—named after Neisi Dajomes, the first Ecuadorian woman to receive an Olympic gold medal, which she won in Tokyo 2020 in women's 76 kg ...

Apr 8, 2026
Phys.org / Glucose transport may hinge on a fleeting transition-like state

Stockholm University and SciLifeLab researchers have uncovered how glucose transporters move nutrients into cells, bridging a long-standing gap between structure and function in membrane biology. "Our study shows that these ...

Apr 8, 2026
Phys.org / Avoiding the very hungry caterpillar: Herbivores pose unexpected threat to predatory mite eggs

Predators don't expect to be preyed upon, and especially not by herbivores such as caterpillars. The slow-moving, leaf-eating larvae may only intend to consume plants, but sometimes tiny creatures making their homes under ...

Apr 8, 2026
Phys.org / Climate change may speed evolution through inherited gene regulation changes

A new paper in Molecular Biology and Evolution, finds that changes in animal development induced by climate shock persist generations after the initial event. The escalating effects of climate change are likely to, in effect, ...

Apr 8, 2026
Phys.org / Artemis II astronauts make long-distance call to the space station as they head home from the moon

Still aglow from their triumphant lunar flyby, the Artemis II astronauts made more history Tuesday: calling their friends aboard the International Space Station hundreds of thousands of miles away as they headed home from ...

Apr 8, 2026
Phys.org / Experiment indicates new type of mesic nuclei that could reveal how matter acquires mass

Nearly every object we interact with in our lives has a mass, but where does this mass come from? Modern physics says matter acquires its mass from interaction with a physical vacuum—it is not an empty space, but contains ...

Apr 7, 2026
Phys.org / How Jupiter cultivated more large moons than Saturn

The two largest planets in our solar system, Jupiter and Saturn, also have the largest satellite systems, or the most moons. At present, Jupiter's reported moon count stands at more than 100 moons, and along with its many ...

Apr 7, 2026