Phys.org news
Phys.org / Hyena clan rank metrics need to be trait specific to fully explain hierarchies, scientists argue
Spotted hyenas live in hierarchically organized groups (clans). An individual's dominance over another determines priority access to resources such as food or mating partners, and thus reproductive success. However, the rank ...
Phys.org / Cells trap heat in ways standard fluid physics cannot explain, study finds
Living cells cool much slower than our current understanding of heat conduction can explain, according to new research from the University of Tokyo. Researchers have used two techniques—high-speed temperature mapping and ...
Phys.org / Astronomers discover how to estimate masses of newborn planets using dust rings
A team of astronomers, led by University of Warwick in collaboration with researchers at MIT and McMaster, have developed a novel method to use the properties of dust rings around stars to estimate the masses of newborn planets. ...
Phys.org / A new approach to urban planning with less car traffic and lower carbon emissions
Urban planning needs to tackle greenhouse gas emissions—and an important way to achieve this is by reducing the number and length of car commutes. This can be achieved primarily by ensuring that homes are located close to ...
Phys.org / Plants select growth strategies by 'spying' on their neighbors' scents
New research reveals that plants have the ability to detect their neighbors' growth rates through aromatic cues called volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and subsequently adjust how much energy they invest into their own growth ...
Phys.org / A severed piece of sea cucumber refused to die, and what happened next could transform medicine
From the revived corpse of Frankenstein's monster to the disembodied hand, "Thing," in the Addams Family, reanimated tissue is one of the most enduring images in science fiction. It turns out, that image has some basis in ...
Phys.org / A giant warm wave is crossing the Pacific, signaling an El Niño that could alter weather worldwide this year
Waves of higher, warmer water move eastward across the Pacific Ocean a few months before an El Niño emerges. Several have shown up in 2026 satellite data.
Phys.org / Memory-preserving transistors could bypass the Boltzmann limit
Researchers have created a new theoretical framework that shows how memory-preserving "memtransistors" could overcome the intrinsic limits in efficiency faced by conventional semiconductor transistors, imposed by the laws ...
Phys.org / Rare observations reveal an X9 solar flare before it erupts
Solar flares are powerful bursts of radiation from the sun's surface, which can wreak havoc on Earth's power grids, damage orbiting satellites, and pose serious radiation risks to astronauts. Yet despite decades of study, ...
Phys.org / Outdoor lights may keep mosquitoes biting and breeding deeper into autumn
In some parts of the world, autumn brings welcome relief from mosquitoes, such as the Northern house mosquito (Culex pipiens). As the days grow shorter, the waning light is a signal for them to enter a winter state of dormancy ...
Phys.org / Newly discovered 'thunder' of Atlantic sturgeons inspires awe
When a team of researchers recorded a low thundering underneath the surface of the Hudson River, they thought they were hearing the muffled rumble of trains. A closer look and listen led to a much more interesting discovery: ...
Phys.org / Fake predator eyes scare off seabirds until they learn they're not real
In Danish fisheries, fish-eating seabirds are a menace. They often swoop down and feed on fish trapped in nets, which can hit profits and also sometimes lead to the accidental death of the birds. So scientists deployed an ...
