Phys.org news

Phys.org / Laser beam flips a ferromagnet's polarity without heating the material

Researchers at the University of Basel and the ETH in Zurich have succeeded in changing the polarity of a special ferromagnet using a laser beam. In the future, this method could be used to create adaptable electronic circuits ...

16 hours ago in Physics
Phys.org / Cell surface glycoRNA clusters found to fine-tune growth factor signaling

The recent discovery of glycoRNAs on the cell surface upended the world of cell biology. These glycoRNAs were found to form highly organized clusters with cell surface RNA binding proteins (csRBPs), but their purpose remained ...

16 hours ago in Biology
Phys.org / Probing the jet base of M87's supermassive black hole

Some galaxies eject powerful streams of charged particles—jets—from their centers into space. The prominent jet of Messier 87 (M87) in the constellation Virgo is visible over distances of 3,000 light-years and can be ...

19 hours ago in Astronomy & Space
Phys.org / Cells' built-in capacity limit for copying DNA could impact cancer treatment

For almost 60 years, scientists have tried to understand why DNA doesn't replicate wildly and uncontrollably every time a cell divides, which happens constantly. Without this process, we would die. These essential, ongoing ...

16 hours ago in Biology
Phys.org / 443-million-year-old fossils reveal early vertebrate eyes

Scientists analyzing 443-million-year-old Scottish fossils have uncovered the early evidence that some of the first groups of vertebrates possessed surprisingly advanced eyes and traces of bone, reshaping our understanding ...

19 hours ago in Biology
Phys.org / AI bosses are creating a new problem for gig workers

For millions of gig workers driving for companies such as Uber Eats, DoorDash and Deliveroo, there is no human manager to call, no supervisor to appeal to and no office to walk into. Decisions about pay, performance, penalties ...

17 hours ago in Other Sciences
Phys.org / Ultrathin kagome metal hosts robust 3D flat electronic band state

A team of researchers at Monash University has uncovered a powerful new way to engineer exotic quantum states, revealing a robust and tunable three-dimensional flat electronic band in an ultrathin kagome metal, an achievement ...

17 hours ago in Physics
Phys.org / Land use acts as a 'silent amplifier' of extreme heat, AI-driven study reveals

A new study using Explainable Artificial Intelligence (XAI) has revealed land-use change—particularly deforestation and unplanned agricultural expansion—is dramatically intensifying heat waves across Africa, with findings ...

17 hours ago in Earth
Phys.org / Atlantic nurse sharks show faster growth patterns in Biscayne Bay than nearby Bimini, Bahamas

A new study from the University of Miami Rosenstiel School of Marine, Atmospheric, and Earth Science shows that juvenile Atlantic nurse sharks (Ginglymostoma cirratum) grow more rapidly as juveniles and reach smaller maximum ...

19 hours ago in Biology
Phys.org / Milky Way is embedded in a 'large-scale sheet' of dark matter, which explains motions of nearby galaxies

Computer simulations carried out by astronomers from the University of Groningen in collaboration with researchers from Germany, France and Sweden show that most of the (dark) matter beyond the Local Group of galaxies (which ...

Jan 27, 2026 in Astronomy & Space
Phys.org / Cuttlefish use polarized light to create a dramatic mating display invisible to humans

Many organisms leverage showy colors for attracting mates. Because color is a property of light (determined by its wavelength), it is easy for humans to see how these colors are used in animal courting rituals. Less obvious ...

Jan 27, 2026 in Biology
Phys.org / Higher water levels could turn cultivated peatland in the North into a CO₂ sink

In its natural state, peatland is one of the largest carbon stores in nature. This is because the soil is so waterlogged and low in oxygen that dead plant material breaks down very slowly. The plants do not fully decompose ...

Jan 27, 2026 in Earth