Phys.org news

Dialog / Using amino acids as fuels to make conductive graphene

Graphene has drawn attention as a scientific curiosity owing to its record conductivities, strength and thermal properties. But now, it's starting to make its way into a number of real-world applications, from batteries to ...

Jan 24, 2026 in Nanotechnology
Phys.org / Adoption of electric vehicles tied to real-world reductions in air pollution

When California neighborhoods increased their number of zero-emissions vehicles (ZEV) between 2019 and 2023, they also experienced a reduction in air pollution. For every 200 vehicles added, nitrogen dioxide (NO₂) levels ...

Jan 23, 2026 in Earth
Phys.org / PFAS contamination in Pawcatuck River traced back to old textile mill ponds

A study led by University of Rhode Island Graduate School of Oceanography alumnus Jarod Snook, Ph.D., identified a long-term source of PFAS, or "forever chemicals," entering the Pawcatuck River from two historically contaminated ...

Jan 23, 2026 in Earth
Phys.org / Conservation may not be enough to sustain water supplies, researchers find

As temperatures rise and water supplies drop, public policy could bolster municipal water provisions under pressure. But one policy prescription—pushing conservation—will likely be insufficient as a standalone fix to ...

Jan 23, 2026 in Earth
Phys.org / Florida reefs offer multimillion-dollar flood protection—if they survive

It's no secret that Florida's iconic coral reefs are in trouble. Repeated body blows from hurricanes, pollution, disease, climate change—and a near-knockout punch from a 2023 marine heat wave—has effectively wiped several ...

Jan 23, 2026 in Earth
Phys.org / Particle permutation task can be tackled by quantum but not classical computers, study finds

Quantum computers, systems that process information leveraging quantum mechanical effects, are expected to outperform classical computers on some complex tasks. Over the past few decades, many physicists and quantum engineers ...

Jan 23, 2026 in Physics
Phys.org / Most men do not subscribe to toxic masculinity traits, study finds

A growing niche space, the manosphere, has been taking shape in today's online forums and social media, preaching an aggressive definition of what it means to be a man. It promotes traits such as misogyny, dominance, and ...

Jan 23, 2026 in Other Sciences
Phys.org / Astrophysicists discover largest sulfur-containing molecular compound in space

Researchers at the Max Planck Institute for Extraterrestrial Physics (MPE), in collaboration with astrophysicists from the Centro de Astrobiología (CAB), CSIC-INTA, have identified the largest sulfur-bearing molecule ever ...

Jan 23, 2026 in Astronomy & Space
Phys.org / Ultra-thin wireless retinal implant offers hope for safely restoring vision signals

An international research team led by Prof. Dr. Sedat Nizamoğlu from the Department of Electrical and Electronics Engineering at Koç University has developed a next-generation, safe, and wireless stimulation technology ...

Jan 23, 2026 in Nanotechnology
Phys.org / Breakthroughs for preventing pistachio hull split

When pistachio hulls split before the nuts are harvested, insects and fungi can get inside, damaging the nut, costing farmers money and contaminating the nuts. About 4% of the overall crop experiences hull split, but some ...

Jan 23, 2026 in Biology
Phys.org / Discovery reveals how acetylation controls key enzyme linked to cancer growth

Researchers from the University of Seville have participated in research to identify the molecular details of the regulation of an enzyme essential for sugar metabolism and closely linked to cell proliferation and growth: ...

Jan 23, 2026 in Biology
Phys.org / Halley's Comet wrongly named: 11th-century English monk predates British astronomer

The British astronomer and mathematician Edmond Halley was not, after all, the first to understand the cycle of the comet that now bears his name. This is shown by research conducted by, among others, Professor Simon Portegies ...

Jan 23, 2026 in Astronomy & Space