Phys.org news

Phys.org / Solar energy transforms polystyrene waste into valuable chemicals using sulfur

Turning waste into wealth may no longer be just a marketing slogan, as a team of researchers in China has found an eco-friendly way to do exactly that. The abundant sunlight our planet receives was put to use for transforming ...

Mar 17, 2026
Phys.org / Nanoengineered spintronic device can store data in four different ways

Over the past decades, electronics engineers have been trying to develop increasingly smaller devices that can store information reliably, even when they are not powered on. A promising type of non-volatile memory device ...

Mar 17, 2026
Phys.org / Using cow dung for sustainable carbon dioxide capture

Climate change is one of the most pressing global challenges in the present times. Increasing carbon dioxide (CO2) concentrations in the atmosphere are a major factor contributing to this phenomenon. Activities such as the ...

Mar 17, 2026
Phys.org / Scientists create a new state of matter at room temperature using light and nanostructures

Researchers at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) have created a new and unusual state of matter—known as a supersolid—by engineering how light and matter interact inside a nanoscale device. The work, published in ...

Mar 17, 2026
Phys.org / Scientists discover new heavy proton-like particle at CERN

Scientists from the University of Manchester have played a leading role in the discovery of a new subatomic particle at CERN's Large Hadron Collider (LHC). The particle, known as the Ξcc⁺ (Xi‑cc‑plus), is a new type ...

Mar 17, 2026
Phys.org / Carbon nanotube 'black paint' absorbs terahertz radiation to cut 6G interference

Skoltech researchers and their colleagues from KTH Royal Institute of Technology, Sweden, have created an important building block for future 6G communication technology, which will make wireless data transfer at superior ...

Mar 17, 2026
Phys.org / How humans took over the planet: The role of cultural evolution

Humans really do rule the world. We took over fast and far, more than any other wild vertebrates. We inhabit nearly every corner of the world, and can thrive in deserts, tropical rainforests and even extremely cold climates. ...

Mar 17, 2026
Dialog / What happens to cigarette butts after 10 years in the environment

Cigarette butts are the most common form of litter worldwide. Trillions are discarded every year in cities, parks, beaches, along railway tracks and roadside environments. Despite their small size, these remnants of smoked ...

Mar 17, 2026
Phys.org / Light-activated material offers new approach to carbon dioxide conversion

Scientists have developed a new material that can use sunlight and water to convert carbon dioxide (CO₂) into carbon monoxide (CO)—a key building block for making fuels, plastics, pharmaceuticals and other everyday chemicals. ...

Mar 17, 2026
Phys.org / Proof-of-concept quantum battery shows faster charging as it gets larger

Australian scientists have made a significant leap forward in energy storage technology with the world's first proof-of-concept quantum battery. Similar to conventional batteries, this quantum version charges, stores and ...

Mar 17, 2026
Phys.org / Bell-bottoms today, miniskirts tomorrow: Math reveals fashion's 20-year cycle

Fashion insiders and beauty magazines have long cited the "20-year-rule"—the idea that clothing trends often resurface every two decades. According to Northwestern University scientists, that observation isn't just anecdotal. ...

Mar 17, 2026
Phys.org / Bow and arrow arrived about 1,400 years ago across western North America, study finds

A study clarifies the date of an important technological milestone: the adoption of the bow and arrow in western North America. The replacement of older weapons by bows and arrows occurred independently in several prehistoric ...

Mar 17, 2026