Phys.org news

Phys.org / Tiny fossils crack a Cretaceous cold case: Ocean acidification triggered one of the ocean's most severe extinctions

A 113-million-year-old marine murder mystery may finally be solved. Using chemical clues locked inside microscopic fossils, Northwestern University scientists found evidence that ocean acidification drove one of the largest ...

Jul 30, 2026
Phys.org / Flash droughts can pull 'alarming' amounts of moisture from the landscape and intensify wildfires

When catastrophic wildfires capture global headlines, such as the unprecedented blazes sweeping through southern Europe this summer or the devastating 2019–20 "Black Summer" in Australia, they are almost always preceded by ...

Jul 30, 2026
Phys.org / Ancient turtle hunting could inform modern conservation throughout southern Caribbean

Despite the promise of rebounding green sea turtle numbers, many sea turtle populations continue to flounder under the pressures of changing climates, overfishing and urbanization.

Jul 30, 2026
Phys.org / Buried Roman workshop reveals large-scale pottery trade beyond local markets

A few years ago, the first ceramic finds came to light during construction work in the Burg district of the municipality of Hannersdorf. Geomagnetic surveys in subsequent years provided evidence of numerous kilns thought ...

Jul 30, 2026
Phys.org / Neutron star collisions may forge gold more slowly than expected

Where do gold, platinum and uranium come from? This question has fascinated astrophysicists and nuclear physicists for decades. A research team from Technische Universität Darmstadt has now taken an important step toward ...

Jul 30, 2026
Phys.org / Light's hidden properties save quantum information from the chaos of bad weather

For years, researchers have tried to harness the "twist" of light to transmit data. This property describes how light spirals as it travels forward, and because it can be molded into a virtually infinite number of different ...

Jul 30, 2026
Phys.org / Listening to songbird dreams for clues to how sleeping brains learn

Entering and manipulating dreams may sound like science fiction, but for Freeman Hrabowski Scholar Walter Gonzalez, these scenarios aren't confined to the big screen.

Jul 30, 2026
Phys.org / Uncovering the structure of the poxvirus 'portal complex'

Poxviruses have a long history in human disease as well as medicine: The first-ever vaccine was developed to protect against smallpox, which has since been eradicated. Despite this, scientists still don't fully understand ...

Jul 30, 2026
Phys.org / Redistributing sunlight boosts algae biomass productivity sixfold

Algae are increasingly being explored as sustainable "living factories" that can convert sunlight and carbon dioxide into renewable fuels, plastics, pharmaceuticals and other valuable products.

Jul 30, 2026
Phys.org / Your shampoo routine could be driving household water waste, new study says

Everyday shower habits, such as applying shampoo or pausing the water while washing, are driving up water waste, argues a new study from the University of Surrey.

Jul 30, 2026
Phys.org / Amazonian 'zombie' fungus harbors a hidden stage inside forest mosses, new study reveals

A team led by researchers at the National Institute for Amazonian Research (INPA), in Manaus, has found evidence that the "zombie-ant" fungus (genus Ophiocordyceps), known worldwide for controlling ant behavior and forcing ...

Jul 30, 2026
Phys.org / Chicken kidney sponge could be 'outstanding' at cleaning up polluted ports

Ports rank among the most disturbed marine environments. Pollutants like trash, oil and toxins from antifouling paints tend to accumulate in enclosed harbors. Invasive species arriving in ballast water may displace native ...

Jul 30, 2026