Phys.org news

Phys.org / Boat traffic alters marine megafauna behavior, stress and population trends, global analysis finds

A new study provides a comprehensive global synthesis of how vessel traffic affects large marine wildlife, including whales, dolphins, seals, manatees, sea turtles, sharks and rays. The study, "Charting the Course for Management: ...

Feb 25, 2026 in Biology
Phys.org / Land plants began reshaping Earth 455 million years ago, scientists discover

Pinpointing when early land plants colonized terrestrial environments and began influencing Earth's systems is a core question in the evolution of the Earth system. A research team led by Prof. Zhao Mingyu at the Institute ...

Feb 25, 2026 in Biology
Phys.org / The physics of sneaker squeaks: High-speed imaging shows how they arise from supersonic detachment pulses

Basketball shoes on a gym floor, bicycle brakes in need of a tune-up, or the squeal of tires are everyday examples of squeaking sounds. Such sounds have long been attributed to stick-slip friction, or a cycle of intermittent ...

Feb 25, 2026 in Physics
Phys.org / New michelin star jellyfish discovered in Japanese aquaria

Researchers have reported the discovery of a new species of jellyfish, Malagazzia michelin, marking only the second species of its genus ever found in Japanese waters. Led by Takato Izumi of Fukuyama University, the discovery ...

Feb 25, 2026 in Biology
Phys.org / Scientists discover 10 new species of Hawaiian moths

University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa researchers identified 10 new species and seven new groups (genera) of Hawaiian leaf-roller moths. While new species are frequently discovered, the description of a new genus of insects is ...

Feb 25, 2026 in Biology
Phys.org / Ion bombardment triggers a reliable quantum switch in tantalum disulfide crystals

When you toss a coin, you put it into a higher-energy state until it falls back down again. It can then end up in one of two possible states: heads or tails. No matter which state the coin was in before, after the toss both ...

Feb 25, 2026 in Physics
Phys.org / An endangered natural pharmacy hidden in coral: Hundreds of reef-dwelling microbes reveal untapped potential

Coral reefs are teeming with life: they are home to over a third of all marine animal and plant species on Earth, despite covering less than one percent of the ocean floor. However, this immense diversity is under threat ...

Feb 25, 2026 in Biology
Phys.org / First cases of highly pathogenic avian influenza in northern elephant seals confirmed in California

Seven weaned elephant seal pups in California's Año Nuevo State Park tested positive for highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) H5N1, the U.S. Department of Agriculture's National Veterinary Services Laboratory confirmed ...

Feb 25, 2026 in Biology
Phys.org / Mother's breasts may protect a newborn from the cold—a new perspective on breast evolution

Humans differ from other primates due to their relatively large, permanent breasts, and their development has so far not been conclusively explained. According to a study conducted at the University of Oulu, Finland, the ...

Feb 25, 2026 in Biology
Phys.org / Robot pollinator uses computer vision to shake flowers and boost indoor farm yields

Indoor farms, also known as vertical farms, are popular among agricultural researchers and are expanding across the agricultural industry. Some benefits they have over outdoor farms include the year-round production of food ...

Feb 25, 2026 in Biology
Phys.org / AI gets water right: How a hydration shield helps proteins keep their shape

A study published in the Journal of the American Chemical Society reports that artificial intelligence can enhance protein stability in an unexpected way—by engineering the water around a protein, not just the protein itself. ...

Feb 25, 2026 in Chemistry
Phys.org / Which cell measurements matter most? AI tool helps researchers see the bigger picture

Studying gene expression in a cancer patient's cells can help clinical biologists understand the cancer's origin and predict the success of different treatments. But cells are complex and contain many layers, so how the biologist ...

Feb 25, 2026 in Biology