Phys.org news

Phys.org / Astronomers build molecular cloud atlas for nearby Andromeda galaxy

Astronomers from Cardiff University, UK, have employed the Combined Array for Research in Millimeter-wave Astronomy (CARMA) to explore the nearby Andromeda galaxy. Results of the observational campaign, published December ...

Jan 6, 2026 in Astronomy & Space
Phys.org / Why we trust romantic partners rather than AI when making big financial decisions

Artificial intelligence programs are not only helping us tackle complex challenges like diagnosing diseases and predicting weather patterns, but also assisting with more mundane matters such as correcting grammar and planning ...

Jan 6, 2026 in Other Sciences
Phys.org / Blazar Ton 599's complex variability investigated by long-term observations

Using the Whole Earth Blazar Telescope (WEBT), an international team of astronomers have performed long-term photometric observations of a luminous blazar known as Ton 599. Results of the observations, published in the Astronomy ...

Jan 6, 2026 in Astronomy & Space
Phys.org / The book only gets 3 stars... but is considered great literature

A new study from Aarhus University shows that star ratings of books are not always accurate. Average ratings on Goodreads can hide both literary classics and highly divided reading experiences—and can therefore be a misleading ...

Jan 6, 2026 in Other Sciences
Phys.org / AMOC collapse simulations reveal what could happen to the ocean's carbon

The Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation (AMOC) is the system of currents responsible for shuttling warm water northward and colder, denser water to the south. This "conveyor belt" process helps redistribute heat, ...

Jan 6, 2026 in Earth
Phys.org / New framework unifies space and time in quantum systems

Quantum mechanics and relativity are the two pillars of modern physics. However, for over a century, their treatment of space and time has remained fundamentally disconnected. Relativity unifies space and time into a single ...

Jan 6, 2026 in Physics
Phys.org / New census of sun's neighbors reveals best potential real estate for life

A new study led by a Georgia State University astronomy graduate student is a major step forward in the search for stars that could host Earth-like planets that may prove to be good havens for life to develop. Sebastián ...

Jan 6, 2026 in Astronomy & Space
Phys.org / Twitter data reveals partisan divide in understanding why pollen season's getting worse

Two things are clear from a University of Michigan analysis of nearly 200,000 Twitter posts between 2012 and 2022. One, people are really good at identifying peak pollen season: The largest volume of tweets about pollen often ...

Jan 6, 2026 in Other Sciences
Phys.org / Black hole shreds distant 'super sun,' unleashing a spectacular event known as the Whippet

A black hole has shredded a massive star like it was "preparing a snack for lunch," according to a team of scientists at the American Astronomical Society's annual meeting (5–8 January).

Jan 6, 2026 in Astronomy & Space
Phys.org / Catalyst behavior that could cut emissions and stabilize supply of everyday materials revealed

A Rice University-led team has unveiled how tiny molecular structures on industrial catalysts behave during the manufacture of vinyl acetate monomer (VAM), a core ingredient in adhesives, paints, coatings, packaging, textiles ...

Jan 6, 2026 in Chemistry
Phys.org / Webb telescope sheds light on ancient 'monster stars' that may reveal the birth of black holes

Using data from NASA's James Webb Space Telescope, astronomers from the Center for Astrophysics | Harvard & Smithsonian (CfA) have revealed the universe's most mysterious distant objects, known as little red dots, may actually ...

Jan 6, 2026 in Astronomy & Space
Phys.org / Webb finds early-universe analog's unexpected talent for making dust

Using NASA's James Webb Space Telescope, astronomers have spotted two rare kinds of dust in the dwarf galaxy Sextans A, one of the most chemically primitive galaxies near the Milky Way.

Jan 6, 2026 in Astronomy & Space