Phys.org news

Phys.org / A possible ice-cold Earth discovered in the archives of the retired Kepler Space Telescope

Scientists continue to mine data gathered by NASA's Kepler Space Telescope, retired in 2018, and continue to turn up surprises. A new paper reveals the latest: a possible rocky planet slightly larger than Earth, orbiting ...

Jan 28, 2026 in Astronomy & Space
Phys.org / Massive runaway stars in the Milky Way: Observational study explores origins and ejection process

Researchers from the Institute of Cosmos Sciences of the University of Barcelona (ICCUB) and the Institute of Space Studies of Catalonia (IEEC), in collaboration with the Institute of Astrophysics of the Canary Islands (IAC), ...

Jan 28, 2026 in Astronomy & Space
Phys.org / Surprising green ice on Lake Lipno: Cyanobacteria bloom in mid-winter

An unusual natural phenomenon appeared on Lake Lipno in South Bohemia, the Czech Republic, at the end of 2025. Large amounts of accumulated cyanobacteria in the water caused the ice to turn green. The phenomenon was thoroughly ...

Jan 28, 2026 in Biology
Phys.org / Novel 'XFELO' laser system produces razor-sharp X-ray light

A team of engineers and scientists has shown for the first time that a hard-X-ray cavity can provide net X-ray gain, with X-ray pulses being circulated between crystal mirrors and amplified in the process, much like happens ...

Jan 28, 2026 in Physics
Phys.org / Hearing angry or happy human voices is linked to changes in dogs' balance

In a small study, dogs experienced both stabilization and destabilization of their balance upon hearing angry or happy human voices, but angry voices were linked to the biggest destabilizing effects. Nadja Affenzeller and ...

Jan 28, 2026 in Biology
Phys.org / Pesticides significantly affect soil life and biodiversity, study finds

Seventy percent of soils in Europe are contaminated with pesticides. A Europe-wide study co-led by researchers of the University of Zurich now shows that their effects on soil life are substantial, as pesticides suppress ...

Jan 28, 2026 in Biology
Phys.org / A protein thought to play a supporting role in DNA replication actually facilitates the whole process

Every time a cell divides, it must copy its entire genome so that each daughter cell inherits a complete set of DNA. During that process, enzymes known as polymerases race along the DNA to copy its code and build new strands. ...

Jan 28, 2026 in Biology
Phys.org / Chip-sized optical amplifier can intensify light 100-fold with minimal energy

Light does a lot of work in the modern world, enabling all types of information technology, from TVs to satellites to fiber-optic cables that carry the internet across oceans. Stanford physicists recently found a way to make ...

Jan 28, 2026 in Physics
Phys.org / Rare fossils reveal 91 new species that survived ancient mass extinction

Almost a hundred new animal species that survived a mass extinction event half a billion years ago have been discovered in a small quarry in China, scientists revealed Wednesday.

Jan 28, 2026 in Biology
Phys.org / AI model forecasts severe thunderstorms 4 hours ahead with higher accuracy

In a critical advance for climate resilience, researchers from The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST) have developed an AI model that can predict dangerous convective storms—including Black Rainstorms, ...

Jan 28, 2026 in Earth
Phys.org / Great white sharks grow a whole new kind of tooth for slicing bone as they age

A great white shark is a masterwork of evolutionary engineering. These beautiful predators glide effortlessly through the water, each slow, deliberate sweep of the powerful tail driving a body specialized for stealth, speed ...

Jan 28, 2026 in Biology
Phys.org / Small-scale farmers produce more of the rich world's food than previously thought

Who grows our food? This seemingly simple question is getting harder to answer in a world where our food crosses borders to get to our plate.

Jan 28, 2026 in Biology