Phys.org news

Phys.org / Single-shot imaging captures more information about ultrafast microscopic processes than previously possible

Researchers have developed a new imaging technique that captures more information about ultrafast processes in the microscopic world than was previously possible. The technique offers scientists a powerful new tool to observe ...

Apr 9, 2026
Phys.org / African swine fever: A novel model assesses transmission between domestic pigs and wild boar

African swine fever (ASF) is one of the most devastating diseases affecting domestic pigs and wild boars worldwide. Since its introduction into Europe, this deadly virus has spread widely, threatening pig production and causing ...

Apr 9, 2026
Phys.org / Hydroxyl radicals in UV-exposed water reveal surprising reaction pathway

How do radicals form in aqueous solutions when exposed to UV light? This question is important for health research and environmental protection. For example, with regard to the overfertilization of water bodies by intensive ...

Apr 9, 2026
Phys.org / How an internal plant 'thermostat' guides root growth in unpredictable temperatures

Plants can't move to escape the heat like humans can; they are forced to adapt. As temperatures fluctuate, one key survival strategy is the ability of roots to keep growing, allowing plants to access water and nutrients farther ...

Apr 9, 2026
Phys.org / Ancient Māori remains point to largely plant-based diets before colonization

New research led by the University of Otago—Ōtākou Whakaihu Waka, in close partnership with mana whenua, is shedding new light on Māori diet and burial practices in Aotearoa New Zealand prior to European colonization. The ...

Apr 9, 2026
Phys.org / High levels of forever chemicals found in Svalbard reindeer

Svalbard reindeer live in a place so remote they have actually evolved to become a subspecies. But that remoteness isn't enough to protect them from contaminants from the industrial world.

Apr 9, 2026
Phys.org / A smarter way to build vaccines: Scientists harness AI to target emerging alphaviruses

A team of scientists at The University of Texas Medical Branch (UTMB), led by Nikos Vasilakis, Ph.D., and Peter McCaffrey, MD, has developed a new computational pipeline that could dramatically accelerate the development ...

Apr 9, 2026
Phys.org / Houston, we have a problem ... with the toilet

After a successful trip around the moon, everything has been going smoothly on the Orion spacecraft's journey back to Earth—except for the $23 million toilet, which has gotten clogged.

Apr 9, 2026
Phys.org / Wildlife trade increases pathogen transmission: What 40 years of data say about spillover

Hedgehogs, elephants, pangolins, bears or fennec foxes: many wild species are sold as pets, hunting trophies, for traditional medicine, biomedical research, or for their meat or fur. These practices, whether legal or illegal, ...

Apr 9, 2026
Phys.org / New AI method flags fluid flow tipping points before simulations break down

David J. Silvester, a mathematics professor at the University of Manchester, has developed a novel machine-learning method to detect sudden changes in fluid behavior, improving speed and the cost of identifying these instabilities ...

Apr 9, 2026
Phys.org / Decoy molecules trick soil bacteria into attacking persistent pollutants without genetic engineering

In a study published in the Journal of Materials Chemistry A, Nagoya University researchers demonstrated that native soil bacteria, when treated with decoy molecules, can degrade non-native compounds, including persistent ...

Apr 9, 2026
Phys.org / Mathematical signature spots when competition is fair, winner-take-all, or too soft

A University of Houston researcher and his collaborators have developed a mathematical model that helps identify whether a competitive environment is healthy, stagnant or skewed. Published in the journal npj Complexity, the ...

Apr 9, 2026