Phys.org news

Phys.org / Redistributing sunlight boosts algae biomass productivity sixfold

Algae are increasingly being explored as sustainable "living factories" that can convert sunlight and carbon dioxide into renewable fuels, plastics, pharmaceuticals and other valuable products.

Jul 30, 2026
Phys.org / Cesium atoms and quantum dots generate indistinguishable photons for modular quantum networks

Large-scale quantum communication networks require both reliable quantum memories and coherent single-photon sources that can exchange quantum information efficiently. A coherent source of single photons with narrow linewidth, ...

Jul 30, 2026
Phys.org / Neutron star collisions may forge gold more slowly than expected

Where do gold, platinum and uranium come from? This question has fascinated astrophysicists and nuclear physicists for decades. A research team from Technische Universität Darmstadt has now taken an important step toward ...

Jul 30, 2026
Phys.org / Neptune's inner moons may be shattered remains of ancient icy worlds

In 1989, the Voyager 2 mission discovered six new moons orbiting Neptune, including five tiny ones that orbit just outside the planet's main rings. Because of their small sizes and locations, these satellites have been difficult ...

Jul 30, 2026
Phys.org / Light's hidden properties save quantum information from the chaos of bad weather

For years, researchers have tried to harness the "twist" of light to transmit data. This property describes how light spirals as it travels forward, and because it can be molded into a virtually infinite number of different ...

Jul 30, 2026
Phys.org / ATPγS recycling opens cheaper pathways to increased drug stability

Pharmaceutical drugs often rely on chemical compounds found in the body. Take phosphate, a common compound cells use as a chemical switch. In a process called phosphorylation, cells can add a phosphate to a molecule and turn ...

Jul 30, 2026
Phys.org / Climate change increases wildfire risks in Yosemite and other national parks

New UC Berkeley-led research indicates that continued climate change could severely increase wildfire above natural levels in Yosemite, Sequoia, Kings Canyon and Lassen Volcanic national parks.

Jul 30, 2026
Phys.org / Amazonian 'zombie' fungus harbors a hidden stage inside forest mosses, new study reveals

A team led by researchers at the National Institute for Amazonian Research (INPA), in Manaus, has found evidence that the "zombie-ant" fungus (genus Ophiocordyceps), known worldwide for controlling ant behavior and forcing ...

Jul 30, 2026
Phys.org / Listening to songbird dreams for clues to how sleeping brains learn

Entering and manipulating dreams may sound like science fiction, but for Freeman Hrabowski Scholar Walter Gonzalez, these scenarios aren't confined to the big screen.

Jul 30, 2026
Phys.org / Your shampoo routine could be driving household water waste, new study says

Everyday shower habits, such as applying shampoo or pausing the water while washing, are driving up water waste, argues a new study from the University of Surrey.

Jul 30, 2026
Phys.org / Tiny sugar chains act as brakes to control calcium and sodium flow in lysosomes

Lysosomes are small compartments inside cells that break down and recycle biological materials. Once regarded mainly as cellular waste-disposal centers, lysosomes are now understood to be important signaling hubs for calcium ...

Jul 30, 2026
Phys.org / Ancient turtle hunting could inform modern conservation throughout southern Caribbean

Despite the promise of rebounding green sea turtle numbers, many sea turtle populations continue to flounder under the pressures of changing climates, overfishing and urbanization.

Jul 30, 2026