Phys.org news

Phys.org / Iron Age massacre targeted women and children, new research reveals

New research has revealed that women and children were deliberately targeted in one of the largest prehistoric mass killings discovered in Europe. Archaeological investigations at the Gomolava burial sites in northern Serbia ...

Feb 23, 2026 in Other Sciences
Phys.org / Jupiter's Galilean moons may have gained life's building blocks at birth

Southwest Research Institute was part of an international team that demonstrated how complex organic molecules (COMs), key chemical precursors to life, could have been incorporated into Jupiter's Galilean moons during their ...

Feb 23, 2026 in Astronomy & Space
Phys.org / Sunlight-powered process turns plastic waste into acetic acid without added emissions

Researchers at the University of Waterloo have discovered a way to turn plastic waste into acetic acid, the main ingredient of vinegar, using sunlight. The breakthrough offers a promising new approach to reducing plastic ...

Feb 23, 2026 in Chemistry
Phys.org / A new form of aluminum unlocks sustainable and cheaper catalysts

A research team at King's College London has isolated a new form of aluminum—a highly abundant metal, that could provide a far cheaper and more sustainable alternative to commonly used rare earth metals. Dr. Clare Bakewell, ...

Feb 23, 2026 in Chemistry
Phys.org / Twisting optical fiber creates a robust new pathway for light

Light powers everything from communications to sensing, yet even tiny imperfections can scatter it and weaken signals. To address this, a team led by the University of Bath—working with the University of Cambridge and international ...

Feb 23, 2026 in Physics
Phys.org / Automated catalyst testing uses two coordinated robots, cutting 32 days of work to 17 hours

A technology has been developed that uses robots rather than humans to evaluate the performance of newly developed catalysts. By operating 45 times faster than manual work while also improving precision, it is expected to ...

Feb 23, 2026 in Chemistry
Phys.org / Quantum computers go high-dimensional with a four-state photon gate

The collaboration of TU Wien with research groups in China has resulted in a crucial building block for a new kind of quantum computer: The realization of a novel type of quantum logic gate makes it possible to carry out ...

Feb 23, 2026 in Physics
Phys.org / System isolates single extracellular vesicle surface proteins to map function

Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are tiny biological bubbles that carry nucleic acids and proteins between cells, playing an essential role in tissue repair, neuroprotection and immune health. By isolating the surface proteins ...

Feb 23, 2026 in Nanotechnology
Phys.org / Why the planet doesn't dry out all at once: Scientists solve a global climate puzzle

Researchers at the Indian Institute of Technology Gandhinagar (IITGN), in collaboration with international partners, have shown that ocean temperature patterns help limit the global spread of droughts. Published in Communications ...

Feb 23, 2026 in Earth
Phys.org / Alloy-engineered valleytronics: Microscopic mechanism gives scientists precise control over how excitons behave

Scientists have observed a new microscopic mechanism enabling precise control of the magneto-optical properties of excitons in alloys of two-dimensional semiconductors. This discovery opens up tangible prospects for technological ...

Feb 23, 2026 in Physics
Phys.org / Turning high-emissions waste into fertilizer: Catalyst boosts urea production by coupling CO₂ with nitrogen pollutants

UNSW engineers have tackled a longstanding problem at the heart of global agriculture: how to make urea for fertilizer without the intensity of emissions associated with fossil-fuel-powered factories. The solution is outlined ...

Feb 23, 2026 in Chemistry
Phys.org / Between the Pampa and Patagonia: New clues about how ancient hunter-gatherers fed themselves

An archaeological study reveals how ancient hunter-gatherer groups lived—and survived—more than a thousand years ago in the transition zone between the Pampas and Patagonia in Argentina. The research, carried out by Martínez ...

Feb 23, 2026 in Other Sciences