Phys.org news

Phys.org / Manganese's emission lines shine a light on galactic evolution

In a new study, a team of astronomers has identified wavelengths of light that could be useful for tracing the chemical evolution of the universe. Using computational modeling to simulate how electrons interact with manganese ...

Aug 31, 2026
Phys.org / Organic crystal reveals how Joule heating stabilizes resistive switching

Metal-insulator transitions (MITs), in which a material changes from a metallic state with low resistivity to an insulating state because of a change in an external parameter, such as temperature, pressure or an electric ...

Aug 31, 2026
Phys.org / New gene activation tool may do what CRISPR cannot: Work inside the body

The ability to precisely adjust the expression of genes inside the human body—ramping up protective ones and tamping down harmful ones—holds enormous potential for treating and preventing disease. But the standard molecular ...

Aug 31, 2026
Phys.org / Loss of kelp forests reverberates down to the microbial level

As one moves north, Maine's kelp forests are being overtaken by dense mats of carpet-like turf algae. The steady decline of kelp and transition into this new state are altering the ecosystem all the way down to the microbial ...

Aug 31, 2026
Phys.org / Why some AI ads fail while others succeed

Artificial intelligence can create realistic depictions of just about anything, but that does not mean advertisers should lean on the technology, according to a study led by University of Mississippi professors.

Aug 31, 2026
Phys.org / Solar orbiter detects ion sorting at the solar wind's magnetic boundary

A Southwest Research Institute (SwRI) study of data from the European Space Agency's (ESA) Solar Orbiter gives the most detailed view of the heliospheric current sheet (HCS) to date. The HCS is a sprawling, undulating surface ...

Aug 31, 2026
Phys.org / No smartphone, no problem: Plants have their own built-in 'Season-Meter'

You may check your phone before deciding what to wear tomorrow. Plants do something similar: they carry an internal gadget called a "Season-Meter" that tracks temperatures over the preceding weeks or months to help determine ...

Aug 31, 2026
Phys.org / Tiny mirror that controls light in 3D could make microscopes smaller and faster

Researchers use tightly focused laser beams to image biological samples, shape materials with microscopic precision and generate displays. But using those beams in three dimensions requires more than sweeping light from side ...

Aug 31, 2026
Phys.org / Caught right-handed: Mystery of coiling snake embryos explained

An international team led by Canadian researchers has found evidence explaining why snake embryos form a curious spiral. This ability to coil as embryos enables snakes to hatch with the longest bodies of all vertebrates.

Aug 31, 2026
Phys.org / Protecting the peanut: Sensors help fend off fungus

Sweet, salty, crunchy or creamy—no matter how it's munched, the Virginia peanut has been a cash crop for the commonwealth for much of the past two centuries. But a fungal disease called Sclerotinia blight has decimated peanut ...

Aug 31, 2026
Phys.org / Beyond flood maps: Puerto Rico residents seek climate tools built around local needs

Resources such as sea level rise viewers, heat maps and flood prediction services are crucial tools in a changing climate. NASA Earth Observations (NASA EO) datasets provide important information on these and other natural ...

Aug 31, 2026
Phys.org / Extraordinary immune gene diversity in Atlantic herring exceeds that of other vertebrates, including humans

Atlantic herring travel in massive schools that can contain hundreds of millions—and sometimes even billions—of fish. While this abundance is characteristic of one of the most successful vertebrates on Earth, it also creates ...

Aug 31, 2026