Phys.org news

Phys.org / Earliest Americans specialized in megafauna hunting from Alaska to South America, analysis of 50 sites reveals

New research led by a University of Alaska Fairbanks archaeologist reveals that the earliest Native Americans had highly specialized diets, primarily hunting the largest animals on the landscape, and they targeted these megafauna ...

Jul 1, 2026
Phys.org / Fish in a polluted Mexican river may mate with the wrong species, leading to hybrid offspring

The byproducts of modern society appear to be messing with the love life of two tiny fish species that have long coexisted in Mexican rivers.

Jul 1, 2026
Phys.org / Single-atom catalyst turns lignin into valuable chemicals with near-complete conversion

Researchers at The University of Manchester and Hebei University of Technology have identified how a new class of catalyst can break down lignin into useful chemical building blocks, offering a more sustainable route to replace ...

Jul 1, 2026
Phys.org / Walkable, greener neighborhoods linked to better physical and mental health across the U.S.

A new big-data analysis of the U.S. pinpoints how urban design aids the health of city residents—especially when cities provide walking opportunities, greenery and mixed-use streets with a blend of commercial and residential ...

Jul 1, 2026
Phys.org / XMM-Newton and Chandra help revise distance to Milky Way's outer spiral arms

The European Space Agency's XMM-Newton and NASA's Chandra X-ray space telescopes have spotted the aftermath of three bright explosions echoing through the outer spiral arms of our galaxy, the Milky Way. By measuring the distance ...

Jul 1, 2026
Phys.org / Acceptor molecule upconverts low-energy green light to high-energy purple with high efficiency

Solar cells and photocatalysts can be surprisingly inefficient. Despite light consisting of many wavelengths, the range that even highly efficient devices use is limited. Other wavelengths, especially long wavelengths, simply ...

Jul 1, 2026
Phys.org / Sun-powered sponges may generate 11% of tropical coral reef productivity

In marine environments, sponges tend to eat other organisms to get their nutrients. But a study published in Functional Ecology by researchers at the University of Amsterdam's Institute for Biodiversity and Ecosystem Dynamics ...

Jul 1, 2026
Phys.org / Baker's yeast shows potential in treatment of persistent fungal infection

Millions of women worldwide suffer from vaginal yeast infections. These infections are most commonly caused by the fungus Candida albicans and can lead to symptoms ranging from itching and burning to recurrent inflammation. ...

Jul 1, 2026
Phys.org / Cosmic dust could play key role in cracking long-standing mystery of solar corona heating

A researcher at The University of Alabama in Huntsville (UAH), a part of The University of Alabama System, has published a new study in The Astrophysical Journal suggesting that tiny charged dust grains near the sun may significantly ...

Jul 1, 2026
Phys.org / Himalayan pangolin emerges as distinct species, confirmed with DNA from 19th-century specimen

The pangolin is a midsize mammal found only in Africa and Asia. The pangolins' scales make them unique, but these scales have become their undoing. Pangolins are poached for their scales, making them the most highly trafficked ...

Jul 1, 2026
Phys.org / Ancient gum disease may have helped reshape jaws before human brains expanded

Human evolution is generally explained through changes in brain size, locomotion or tool use, but new research from Wits University suggests that gum disease and changes in facial structure may have been important factors ...

Jul 1, 2026
Phys.org / World's first synthetic cell with a complete life cycle could revolutionize biological engineering

While many of life's mysteries remain unsolved, every biologist can describe the basic processes performed by a living organism, including energy use, reproduction, growth and development. While these characteristics can ...

Jul 1, 2026