Phys.org news

Phys.org / Antarctic change drives slowdown of global ocean circulation

New Antarctic research shows the deepest layer of the Southern Ocean is shrinking faster than scientists realized, with the rate of change accelerating over the past decade. This is of worldwide significance because as it ...

Jul 15, 2026
Phys.org / Risks of solar storms may be underestimated, warn researchers

The effects of extreme space weather may be larger than previously thought, research in the journal Nature reveals. The paper, titled "Regression to the mean can explain saturation of geomagnetic storms," is led by Dr. Nithin ...

Jul 15, 2026
Phys.org / NASA's Perseverance rover reads record of ancient Mars impacts

NASA's Perseverance Mars rover has uncovered evidence that a 245-foot-thick (75-meter-thick) stack of ancient rock on the rim of Jezero Crater was built by repeated asteroid impacts. Referred to as the "Broom Point member" ...

Jul 15, 2026
Phys.org / Birds respond differently to environmental change—and their traits explain why

A sweeping new Cal Poly study of North American birds reveals that environmental change does not affect all species equally and that a bird's traits can explain whether populations rise or fall as local conditions change.

Jul 15, 2026
Phys.org / Marsupial newborns get early arms as embryos bypass usual limb-building sequence

Scientists have discovered that marsupial forelimbs (arms) develop much earlier before birth than previously thought, providing new insights into evolutionary innovation and biology.

Jul 15, 2026
Phys.org / New species of monkey with unusual orange lips discovered in the Democratic Republic of Congo

Scientists have described a new species of colobus monkey in the forests of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), report John Hart at Lukuru Wildlife Research Foundation and colleagues in PLOS One. The first hint that a ...

Jul 15, 2026
Phys.org / Large precolonial villages in the Brazilian Cerrado practiced maize-based polyculture, evidence reveals

For decades, researchers have debated the subsistence strategies of precolonial societies in the Brazilian Cerrado (tropical savanna): Were they hunter-gatherers or intensive maize farmers, and in either case, how did they ...

Jul 15, 2026
Phys.org / Does teleworking reduce carbon emissions? It depends on how you do it

Teleworking—including working from home, coworking or working from other third places—can reduce carbon emissions by eliminating commutes. But if you're not careful, this benefit will be offset by the carbon cost of work-related ...

Jul 15, 2026
Phys.org / Epigenetic mechanism explains how some plants cope with salt stress

Due to artificial irrigation and rising temperatures, the concentration of salts (including sodium chloride, or "table salt") is increasing in soils worldwide. This is not only an environmental problem but also a challenge ...

Jul 15, 2026
Phys.org / Sensitive measurements uncover dual superconducting states in atom-thin NbSe₂ and TaS₂

A new study reveals that two widely studied ultrathin superconducting materials are more sophisticated than they appear. Although they seem to behave like simple superconductors with a single energy gap, they actually contain ...

Jul 15, 2026
Phys.org / Scientists explain how nucleolus sub-compartments drive ribosome assembly

The nucleolus is a liquid-like cellular organelle where protein factories called ribosomes are assembled. Researchers knew of three distinct compartments within the nucleolus, but how these compartments function to drive ...

Jul 15, 2026
Phys.org / Stealth anticancer nanoparticles made from mussel proteins that 'lie in wait and attack only cancer cells'

Pancreatic cancer is considered one of the deadliest cancers because it is often diagnosed late and is difficult to treat. However, a South Korean research team has developed "smart nanoparticles" that remain hidden in normal ...

Jul 15, 2026