Phys.org news

Phys.org / Vincent van Gogh's 'The Starry Night' is not a masterpiece when it comes to flow physics, researchers say

The Dutch master Vincent van Gogh may have painted one of Western history's most enduring works, but "The Starry Night" is not a masterpiece of flow physics—despite recent attention to its captivating swirls, according ...

Apr 1, 2025 in Physics
Phys.org / Illuminating single atoms for sustainable propylene production

More than 150 million metric tons of propylene are produced annually, making it one of the most widespread chemicals used in the chemical industry.

Apr 1, 2025 in Chemistry
Phys.org / Can brain activity reveal your political party while grocery shopping?

A new study reveals that how your brain reacts to food purchasing decisions can be used to determine your political affiliation with almost 80% accuracy.

Apr 1, 2025 in Other Sciences
Phys.org / Doubling down on metasurfaces: Bilayer device can control many forms of polarized light

Almost a decade ago, Harvard engineers unveiled the world's first visible-spectrum metasurfaces—ultra-thin, flat devices patterned with nanoscale structures that could precisely control the behavior of light. A powerful ...

Apr 1, 2025 in Nanotechnology
Phys.org / Enhanced westerly winds lead to increased ocean heat transport to the East Antarctic Ice Sheet, study finds

A research group led by Associate Professor Kohei Mizobata, Tokyo University of Marine Science and Technology, including researchers from the National Institute of Polar Research, the Japan Agency for Marine-Earth Science ...

Apr 1, 2025 in Earth
Phys.org / How physical forces shape plants from the inside out to generate their complex 3D shapes

Plants don't just grow, they build. From towering trees to delicate flowers, complex plant shapes are sculpted with remarkable precision. Now a study by biologists and biophysicists at Université de Montréal reveals how ...

Apr 1, 2025 in Biology
Dialog / Magnesium becomes a possible superconductor near the 2D limit

Magnesium is a common chemical element, an alkaline earth metal, which is highly chemically reactive and is very light (even lighter than aluminum). Magnesium is abundant in plants and minerals and plays a role in human physiology ...

Apr 1, 2025 in Physics
Phys.org / Tree rings from Canada's Gaspésie mountains reveal effects of global warming dating back almost a century

A study of tree rings in the Gaspesie's Sainte-Anne River area reveals that snowpacks have been declining noticeably in the region's mountains for nearly nine decades. The researchers say the phenomenon is directly linked ...

Apr 1, 2025 in Earth
Phys.org / Giving up on photosynthesis: How a borrowed bacterial gene allows some marine diatoms to live on a seaweed diet

A group of diatom species belonging to the Nitzschia genus gave up on photosynthesis and now get their carbon straight from their environment, thanks to a bacterial gene picked up by an ancestor. Gregory Jedd of Temasek Life ...

Apr 1, 2025 in Biology
Phys.org / Liquid-bodied robot enables precise eradication of implant-related biofilm infections

An international research team led by the Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK) has achieved a breakthrough in the field of medical microrobots by developing the world's first antibiofilm liquid-bodied magnetic-controlled ...

Apr 1, 2025 in Nanotechnology
Phys.org / A validated model can predict the growth of Listeria in artisanal fresh cheeses

Listeriosis is one of the main zoonotic food-borne diseases, and although the number of cases is relatively low, its high mortality makes it a major public health problem. For the bacterium to cause disease, it is not enough ...

Apr 1, 2025 in Biology
Dialog / Sustainable biomanufacturing: Key to India's green transition

In the battle against climate change, the role of chemistry and the chemical industry is often overlooked. As India accelerates its industrial growth, it must embrace sustainable biomanufacturing and green chemistry not just ...

Apr 1, 2025 in Chemistry