Phys.org news

Phys.org / Physical laws explain why most flies evolved similar flight, with mosquitoes as outliers

A new study in PLOS Biology of 133 species of flies, mosquitoes and their relatives shows that most species fly in surprisingly similar ways. Physical and aerodynamic laws shape the evolution of their flight behavior more ...

Jul 10, 2026
Phys.org / Researchers link the mass extinction of once-dominant marine groups to intolerable heat, diminished oxygen in oceans

A new Stanford-led study offers the clearest picture yet of how some ocean life survived our planet's biggest mass extinction while most animals did not. About 252 million years ago, 96% of marine species and 70% of land ...

Jul 10, 2026
Phys.org / Math reveals how honeybee hives balance the 'daring few, patient many' strategy

How do bees make group decisions without a leader? Math experts have determined that the best strategy is for a few to assume the risk of foraging under all conditions while the majority stay safely back and forage only when ...

Jul 10, 2026
Phys.org / Geoscientists reveal how Earth's forces are shaping the 'Roof of the World'

Geoscientists at the University of Glasgow have helped reveal new evidence about the formation of one of the highest mountainous areas on Earth—the Tibetan Plateau. A study by an international team of Chinese and U.K. geoscientists ...

Jul 10, 2026
Phys.org / Ancient DNA challenges family assumptions in medieval Scandinavian graves

When archaeologists find adults and children buried together in medieval graves, it is often assumed that they were members of the same family. A new study from Stockholm University in Science Advances suggests otherwise.

Jul 10, 2026
Phys.org / Could exoplanets locked in eternal day and endless night support life?

Ever so slightly bigger than Earth, the exoplanet LHS 3844b orbits its parent star, LHS 3844, a red dwarf 48.5 light-years from our solar system. Its rotational speed mirrors its orbital speed. The result? One side of LHS ...

Jul 10, 2026
Phys.org / Researchers find simple solution for extending the lifespan of LEDs made from glowing quantum dots

A new study led by MIT researchers could drive the development of more energy-efficient digital displays—such as flat-screen TVs, augmented and virtual reality headsets, smartphone screens, medical imaging devices and even ...

Jul 10, 2026
Phys.org / Giant kangaroos survived until 6,500 years ago on the New Guinea coast

Roughly 50,000 years ago, a kangaroo unlike any alive today lived in the mountain rainforests of New Guinea.

Jul 10, 2026
Phys.org / NASA space telescope maps magnetic fields of 'Lighthouse' pulsar

For the first time, scientists have used NASA's IXPE (Imaging X-ray Polarimetry Explorer) to directly measure the magnetic fields of PSR J1101−6101, a pulsar located within what is often referred to as the Lighthouse Nebula. ...

Jul 10, 2026
Phys.org / China takes a page from SpaceX and recaptures the first stage of a rocket to reuse it

China successfully recaptured the first stage of a rocket after a launch on Friday in a breakthrough for the country's space program, state media said.

Jul 10, 2026
Phys.org / New test certifies quantum measurements that simpler methods cannot mimic

Proving that one quantum measurement is more powerful than another has long been difficult. Physicists from Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf, Lund University and the University of Innsbruck have now developed and demonstrated ...

Jul 10, 2026
Phys.org / New model maps solar storms across 1 million miles around Earth

A team at the Applied Physics Lab is working to understand the complex science behind predicting invisible threats that can quickly cripple electric grid infrastructure on Earth.

Jul 10, 2026