Phys.org news

Phys.org / Cosmic radiation brought to light: Researchers measure ionization in dark cloud for the first time

Where starlight doesn't reach, new things are born: For the first time, an international research team has directly measured the effect of cosmic radiation in a cold molecular cloud. The observation shows how charged high-energy ...

Feb 3, 2026 in Astronomy & Space
Phys.org / AI systems could identify math anxiety from student inputs and change feedback

Math anxiety is a significant challenge for students worldwide. While personalized support is widely recognized as the most effective way to address it, many teachers struggle to deliver this level of support at scale within ...

Feb 3, 2026 in Other Sciences
Phys.org / Agave or bust! Mexican long-nosed bats head farther north in search of sweet nectar

Mexican long-nosed bats have a taste for agave, their tongues designed to lap up the famous desert plant's nectar during nightly flights. It's not just a means of satisfying taste buds. It's a matter of fueling up for an ...

Feb 3, 2026 in Biology
Phys.org / Two huge hot blobs of rock influence Earth's magnetic field, study reveals

Exploring Earth's deep interior is a far bigger challenge than exploring the solar system. While we have traveled 25 billion km into space, the deepest we have ever gone below our feet is just over 12 km. Consequently, little ...

Feb 3, 2026 in Astronomy & Space
Phys.org / Ultra-thin metasurface chip turns invisible infrared light into steerable visible beams

The invention of tiny devices capable of precisely controlling the direction and behavior of light is essential to the development of advanced technologies. Researchers at the Advanced Science Research Center at the CUNY ...

Feb 3, 2026 in Physics
Phys.org / New mineral sunscreen reduces white cast by using tetrapod-shaped zinc oxide

UCLA researchers have developed a mineral sunscreen formulation that significantly reduces the white, chalky cast that keeps many people from wearing sun protection daily. For decades, dermatologists have urged people to ...

Feb 3, 2026 in Chemistry
Phys.org / Maps offer neighborhood-level insight into American migration

California's most devastating wildfire—the 2018 Camp Fire, which killed 85 and destroyed nearly 19,000 structures—forced nearly half of all residents living within designated fire perimeters to relocate within a year.

Feb 3, 2026 in Other Sciences
Phys.org / We ate space mushrooms and survived to tell the tale

The mushrooms spread out on the chopping board seemed normal enough. They were rich and dense, and had a strong earthy aroma. In the saucepan, they melted—along with the cheese—to form a creamy pasta sauce.

Feb 3, 2026 in Astronomy & Space
Phys.org / Are cats 'vegan' meat eaters? Why isotopic signatures of feline fur could trick us into thinking that way

Cats—unlike humans—are true carnivores: they must eat meat to survive because their bodies can't draw some essential nutrients from plants. By looking at tissues, researchers can get a good understanding of what foods ...

Feb 3, 2026 in Biology
Phys.org / Tiny radio transmitters reveal a hidden survival tactic in birds

In Sturt National Park, near Tibooburra in central Australia where temperatures can range from freezing to nearly 50°C, there lives a small bird with a white back, forked tail and—as we've just discovered—a very clever ...

Feb 3, 2026 in Biology
Phys.org / High-tech scans of an enigmatic 400-million-year-old lungfish reveal new details

New pieces have been added to the puzzle of the evolution of some of the oldest fish that lived on Earth more than 400 million years ago. In two separate studies, experts in Australia and China have found new clues about ...

Feb 3, 2026 in Biology
Phys.org / A hearing test for the world's rarest sea turtle: Understanding its vulnerability to human-caused noise

Kemp's ridley sea turtles are among the most endangered species of sea turtles in the world. They reside along the east and Gulf coasts of North America, alongside some of the world's most active shipping lanes. While the ...

Feb 3, 2026 in Biology