Phys.org news

Phys.org / Ancient Korean DNA reveals marriages between closely related individuals

DNA studies of 1,500-year-old skeletons have revealed that ancient Koreans lived in tightly knit family networks where marrying close relatives was common in some cases, from powerful elites to individuals chosen for human ...

Apr 12, 2026
Phys.org / Space telescopes track nearby quasar's dramatic X-ray state transition

By analyzing the data from various space observatories, Chinese astronomers have inspected a nearby quasar designated SDSS J000532.84+200717.4. Results of the new study, published April 1 on the arXiv preprint server, shed ...

Apr 12, 2026
Phys.org / Advanced mirror technology now powers a breakthrough X-ray telescope

Scientists in Japan have developed a high-resolution X-ray telescope sharp enough to distinguish an object just 3.5 mm wide from one kilometer away, by combining precision mirror-making technology with space astronomy. To ...

Apr 12, 2026
Dialog / Scientists build arsenic-lined crystal pore framework to boost rhodium catalyst performance

Rhodium is one of the most powerful catalytic metals known to chemistry. Small amounts of it can drive reactions that produce millions of tons of useful chemicals every year. But getting rhodium to work well—quickly, selectively, ...

Apr 12, 2026
Phys.org / Electrode technology achieves 86% efficiency for converting CO₂ into plastic precursors

In the process of converting carbon dioxide into useful chemicals such as ethylene—a key precursor for plastics—a major challenge has been the flooding of electrodes, where electrolyte penetrates the electrode structure and ...

Apr 12, 2026
Phys.org / After Artemis II, NASA looks to SpaceX, Blue Origin for moon landings

With Artemis II successfully completing its historic lunar mission on Friday, NASA is banking on billionaires Jeff Bezos and Elon Musk for the next step: landing astronauts on the moon.

Apr 11, 2026
Phys.org / Astronomers find evidence for three subpopulations of merging black holes

Astronomers analyzing gravitational-wave data from the LIGO-Virgo-KAGRA Collaboration have reported that merging binary black holes fall into three distinct categories. The study shows that the three subpopulations have their ...

Apr 11, 2026
Phys.org / Hackers meet their match: New DNA encryption protects engineered cells from within

Engineered cells are a high-value genetic asset that is key to many fields, including biotechnology, medicine, aging, and stem cell research, with the global market projected to reach $8.0 trillion USD by 2035. Yet the only ...

Apr 11, 2026
Phys.org / High-resolution imaging captures cavity-induced density waves in a quantum gas

A new study, published in Physical Review Letters, reports that scientists have successfully imaged the formation of cavity-induced density waves induced by laser light in an ultracold quantum gas. Previously, only global ...

Apr 11, 2026
Phys.org / A nanoscale robotic cleaner can hunt, capture and remove bacteria

Tiny robots—around 50 times smaller than the diameter of a human hair—open up fascinating possibilities: they enable the controlled manipulation of objects far too small for human hands. This brings us closer to a long-standing ...

Apr 11, 2026
Phys.org / Flux pathway reveals why mussel-like liquid phase separation can happen in seconds

Have you ever wondered how mussels instantly glue themselves to rocks, allowing them to survive the crushing force of ocean waves? They complete this process in under 30 seconds. Yet, in a laboratory, replicating this process ...

Apr 11, 2026
Phys.org / 'Poor man's Majoranas' can be used as quantum spin probes

A Majorana fermion is a particle that would be identical to its antiparticle. Such an object has not yet been found. However, certain solid materials exhibit analogous behavior as if Majorana fermions were present through ...

Apr 11, 2026