Phys.org news

Phys.org / Do hyenas eat livestock and rhinos? Behavioral biologists investigate a surprisingly charming population

For conservation and the management of human–wildlife conflicts, it is of great interest to know which species are eaten by carnivores. Scientists from the Ngorongoro Hyena Project at the Leibniz Institute for Zoo and Wildlife ...

Jun 24, 2026
Phys.org / Lavatory shaft reveals the cost of 17th‑century vanity in Germany

Four goose skulls were pulled from a former toilet shaft in Brandenburg, Germany, each of them riddled with strange holes. As it turns out, these holes were the telltale signs of fancy feathered crests, making them the first ...

Jun 23, 2026
Phys.org / How long can plants survive on Earth? New model suggests up to 2 billion more years

Vegetarians need not worry yet—plants will be on Earth for a long time to come. But not forever. The sun will ultimately determine the long-term existence of life on Earth. Its total energy output, called luminosity, has ...

Jun 23, 2026
Phys.org / White barn owls may use moonlight to startle prey

White barn owls are effective killing machines. They fly silently through the night air and swoop down on unsuspecting prey with their sharp talons. But they have something you would think goes against being a stealth predator: ...

Jun 23, 2026
Phys.org / Einstein Probe detects mysterious X-ray transient that doesn't fit any known class

Astronomers have reported the discovery of an unusual X-ray transient detected by the Einstein Probe that does not fit any known class of cosmic explosions. The paper presenting its multiwavelength analysis was published ...

Jun 23, 2026
Phys.org / Oldest known asteroid impact on Earth dated to 3 billion years

Curtin University researchers have determined the most precise age yet for the oldest known impact crater on Earth, providing new insight into how meteorite strikes shaped the planet during its earliest history.

Jun 23, 2026
Phys.org / Brain growth may explain why birds lay outsized eggs compared with dinosaurs

A new study has uncovered a fundamental link between brain size and offspring size, helping to solve a long-standing evolutionary puzzle: Why do birds lay such disproportionately large eggs?

Jun 23, 2026
Phys.org / Moose are native to Colorado, study shows

The modern Colorado moose is often considered just that: modern—brought to the state by wildlife officials in the late 1970s, preceded by very occasional reports of moose sightings in the 19th and early 20th centuries.

Jun 23, 2026
Phys.org / Physical pressure helps pathogenic P. aeruginosa survive antibiotic treatment

Pseudomonas aeruginosa is an opportunistic pathogen that can cause acute and chronic infections. Responsible for many hospital-acquired infections, it is also a major concern for people with cystic fibrosis, whose lungs are ...

Jun 23, 2026
Phys.org / Hidden seismicity patterns before large earthquakes uncovered

When and where the next large earthquake will strike remains one of the most difficult questions in geoscience. Researchers from the GFZ Helmholtz Center for Geosciences led by Dr. Sadegh Karimpouli and Prof. Dr. Patricia ...

Jun 23, 2026
Phys.org / Pterosaur wing tests suggest modern reconstructions miss major shape diversity

Pterosaurs, the first vertebrates to fly, would have had more diverse wing shapes than current scientific reconstructions suggest, according to new University of Bristol-led research. The study is published in the journal ...

Jun 23, 2026
Phys.org / People care more about being right than avoiding mistakes, study finds

Conventional wisdom says the best predictions are the ones that minimize mistakes, but new research suggests that is not necessarily how people see it. A study published in Management Science has found that when people make ...

Jun 23, 2026