Phys.org news

Phys.org / Oxygen vacancies unlock fast lithium-ion transport in battery material

Lithium titanate (LTO, Li4Ti5O12) is a well-established battery material that in its pristine state is a poor conductor of lithium ions. It develops high ionic conductivity only during charging, when additional lithium ions ...

Aug 20, 2026
Phys.org / A new kind of polymer with two faces and a twist control electron spin

Researchers from the University of Osaka have developed a new class of chiral semiconducting polymers that can generate highly spin-polarized electrical currents. The team's unique molecular design allows the polymers to ...

Aug 20, 2026
Phys.org / How well do past extinctions predict extinction risk today?

In the last few centuries, mammals and other animals have been going extinct at least 100 times faster than they did before humans arrived on the scene. So who will be next? Which species are most likely to survive, and which ...

Aug 20, 2026
Phys.org / Blocc chemistry could automate molecular discovery and democratize access to new materials

A paper published in the journal Science lays out a roadmap for broadening access to the process of discovering molecular tools that can benefit society, including medicines, materials and a wide range of everyday consumer ...

Aug 20, 2026
Phys.org / Global sand dunes map reveals clues to distant worlds, including Mars

A new study from Monash University has delivered the most complete and accurate digital map of Earth's windblown sand dunes to date. The research, published in Nature Communications, answers long-standing questions about ...

Aug 20, 2026
Phys.org / DNA's physical properties may shape which mutations evolution preserves

Nearly every cell in the human body contains essentially the same genetic information, yet different cells activate different genes. For regulatory proteins to reach these genes, DNA must be accessible. This accessibility ...

Aug 20, 2026
Phys.org / Area affected by wildfires in Europe could almost triple due to climate change

Increasingly hot, dry and windy conditions could substantially extend the area affected by wildfires across Europe, according to a new study led by the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research (PIK) with contributions ...

Aug 20, 2026
Phys.org / Children prefer fair punishment to unequal treatment, study finds

Consistent enforcement of rules is more important than the severity of the punishment itself, and children expect adults to treat every member of their group impartially and equally. Moreover, fair punishment brings emotional ...

Aug 20, 2026
Phys.org / Warming waters draw summer 'feeding frenzies' by whales off Greenland

The effects of global warming depend on species: The losers are legion, but a lucky few are winners. Now, researchers have shown that baleen whales are taking advantage of a newly opened-up fish bonanza in the Greenland Sea, ...

Aug 20, 2026
Phys.org / Uncovering the evolution of Edo-period Japanese ceramic jars with AI

Archaeological artifacts offer valuable insights into the history of past societies. They reveal not only technological developments but also the changing economic systems, cultural traditions and everyday practices of the ...

Aug 20, 2026
Phys.org / Why many birds add fresh plants to their nests remains unclear despite signs of healthier offspring

As they build their nests, many birds are known to interweave dried grasses and other materials with green plants, such as fresh leaves, grass stems, herbs and aromatic leaves. While this behavior is well documented, why ...

Aug 19, 2026
Phys.org / Universal pattern revealed in quantum matter

When different materials transition from one phase to another, such as water coming to a boil or a magnet losing its ability to attract metals, something remarkable can happen: They begin to behave identically, following ...

Aug 19, 2026