Phys.org news
Phys.org / Recent pandemic viruses jumped to humans without prior adaptation, study finds
A new University of California San Diego study published in Cell challenges a long-standing assumption about how animal viruses become capable of sparking human epidemics and pandemics. Using a phylogenetic, genome-wide analysis ...
Phys.org / 'Peculiar' crocodile ancestor started life on four legs before learning to walk on two
A "peculiar" ancient relative of the crocodile which experts believe began life on four legs before, in adulthood, it learned how to walk on just two has been revealed in a new study. Named Sonselasuchus cedrus, this archaic ...
Phys.org / How changes on the Y chromosome may make species reproductively incompatible
When closely related species mate, their offspring sometimes survive but cannot reproduce. This pattern often affects males first, with hybrid males frequently failing to produce functional sperm even when hybrid females ...
Phys.org / Antarctic sea ice rebounds in 2026, nearing average after four years
Antarctic sea ice coverage has likely rebounded this year, coming closer to its annual summer average after four years of extreme lows, US scientists said Monday.
Phys.org / Multi-wavelength observations track bright gamma-ray blazar's three-year cycle
By analyzing the data from various space observatories and ground-based telescopes, European astronomers have performed a multiwavelength study of a bright gamma-ray blazar known as S5 1044+71. The new study, published Feb. ...
Phys.org / Raccoons solve puzzles for the fun of it, new study finds
They raid compost bins, outsmart latches and sometimes look gleeful doing it. A new study in Animal Behaviour suggests raccoons may not just be opportunistic—they may be genuinely curious.
Phys.org / Deep ocean microbes may already be prepared to tackle climate change
Deep-sea waters are warming due to heat waves and climate change, and it could spell trouble for the oceans' delicate chemical and biological balance. However, a study published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences ...
Phys.org / Lost page of the Archimedes Palimpsest identified in Blois, central France
A page long believed to have been lost from the Archimedes Palimpsest, one of the most important surviving manuscripts of antiquity, has been identified at the Musée des Beaux-Arts in Blois, central France, by a CNRS researcher. ...
Phys.org / A brighter future may not suit everyone: Polar cod face difficulties due to warming
Under the Arctic sea ice, fish and plankton live in complete darkness, even in midsummer. Ice floes stop the sun's rays, especially if they are covered by snow. As the ocean heats up, the sea ice thaws, and new regions are ...
Phys.org / AI tool streamlines drug synthesis, dramatically reducing lab work and costs
Drug discovery is like molecular Tetris. Chemists snap atoms together, adjusting the pieces until everything fits, and suddenly, a molecule makes a promising new medicine. Normally, creating better molecules consumes huge ...
Phys.org / Evaluating landing sites for China's manned moon mission
Observations of the Rimae Bode region on the moon reveal five distinct types of terrain and identify several potential landing sites for China's first crewed mission, according to research titled "Geology of Rimae Bode region ...
Phys.org / CRISPR-based technique unlocks healing power of mitochondria for heart failure therapy
After a heart attack, the heart struggles to recoup and maintain energy. One-third of patients develop heart failure as a result—a condition that impacts 6.8 million Americans and carries a high lifetime risk, with 1 in ...
