Phys.org news

Phys.org / Ancient curse tablet bears rare Greek inscription with binding spell intended to harm enemies

Heidelberg University researchers have deciphered the inscription on an ancient curse tablet, which was once used to invoke deities and demons in order to harm an enemy. The "magical" artifact from the Roman province of Lower ...

Jun 17, 2026
Phys.org / Mountain lions have major ecological impact even in small preserves

Big cats have a big impact. A long-term study showed that when mountain lions began regular visits to a small suburban preserve about 45 miles (72 kilometers) south of San Francisco, they changed the behavior of many other ...

Jun 17, 2026
Phys.org / Drug-free nanoparticles stop tumor growth by transmitting biological messages to immune cells

A research team from the Technion's Wolfson Faculty of Chemical Engineering has developed an original technology for treating cancer using nanoparticles that carry no drugs at all and has demonstrated its effectiveness against ...

Jun 17, 2026
Phys.org / Helios quantum computer tops 99.9% fidelity rates for one- and two-qubit operations

A public-private partnership in the Mountain West announced new results today that mark steady progress toward the Department of Energy's goal of fault-tolerant quantum computing, systems large and reliable enough to solve ...

Jun 17, 2026
Phys.org / Floating litter extends over Chesapeake Bay, the largest estuary in the US

A study led by researchers from the Smithsonian Institution and the UB reveals that reducing single-use plastic is essential for protecting coastal ecosystems. Floating litter has also invaded Chesapeake Bay, the largest ...

Jun 17, 2026
Phys.org / Molecular fossils reveal secrets of Earth's recovery from ancient global warming event

Scientists have uncovered new evidence from one of Earth's most extreme ancient warming events, revealing how the climate may recover long after human-driven CO2 emissions cease.

Jun 17, 2026
Phys.org / Flipped quantum interference unlocks clearer gluon maps from near-miss nuclear encounters

Scientists studying particle collisions at the Relativistic Heavy Ion Collider (RHIC) usually capture what happens when atomic nuclei smash into one another at nearly the speed of light. But even when the nuclei don't collide, ...

Jun 17, 2026
Phys.org / A 19-year 'goldmine' of mountain cloud and rainwater samples provides fresh insights about air pollution

Rainfall history is just as critical to predicting air pollution as where the air came from, a team led by University of Michigan Engineering researchers, in collaboration with scientists at the Appalachian Mountain Club ...

Jun 17, 2026
Phys.org / Atlantic and Pacific may follow different rules on long-term warming, analysis shows

Florida State University researchers have identified key differences in the root causes of long-term sea-surface temperature changes across the Atlantic and Pacific oceans, a finding that could help guide future research ...

Jun 17, 2026
Phys.org / Hidden mitochondrial genes emerge as mealybugs encode two genes on one DNA stretch

What if a single sentence could carry two completely different meanings, one when read forward and another when read backward? In a new study, researchers at Arizona State University have discovered a biological version of ...

Jun 17, 2026
Phys.org / Supernova origins explored through primordial black holes

Dr. Shing-Chi Leung, assistant professor of physics at SUNY Polytechnic Institute, has published the article "Primordial Black Hole Triggered Type Ia Supernovae II: Comparison with Supernova Remnants and Galactic Chemical ...

Jun 17, 2026
Phys.org / Mars mission simulations reveal key to teamwork under pressure

Whether it's to the moon or Mars, a NASA mission requires some essential preparations: designing and developing the spacecraft, astronaut training and safety checks, clear goals, and strategies and procedures for maintaining ...

Jun 17, 2026