Phys.org news

Phys.org / 'Designer' superconducting diamond: Researchers uncover path to multi-modality quantum chips

Diamond is extremely valuable to science and technology not for its sparkle but for its extreme hardness, high thermal conductivity, transparency to a large fraction of the light spectrum, and a host of other exceptional ...

May 22, 2026
Phys.org / Novel porous gel changes color, shrinks and hardens when it detects target molecules

Researchers at Kyoto University and Tohoku University have developed a new porous polymer gel that selectively recognizes specific molecules (referred to as "guests" in the study) through coordination chemistry and converts ...

May 22, 2026
Phys.org / Something coming: what scientists know about a potential 'super' El Nino

Forecasters say a potentially "super" El Niño is rapidly taking shape in the Pacific—but whether it evolves into a history-making event could hinge on fickle winds and other volatile atmospheric shifts.

May 22, 2026
Phys.org / Scientists discover thriving hard-substrate fauna in Oceania's deep sea

In the crushing darkness of the hadal zone—deep ocean trenches plunging 6,000 m to nearly 11,000 m—scientists have uncovered a hidden community. A study published in Science on May 14 reports the discovery of a protist-dominated ...

May 22, 2026
Phys.org / Nickelate reveals nodeless gap, providing key clue to high-temperature superconductivity

The mechanism of high-temperature (TC) superconductivity is a key challenge in condensed matter physics. Recently, Chinese scientists made significant progress in the study of high-TC nickelate superconductors.

May 22, 2026
Phys.org / Atlas reveals rocks with rare earth element potential, helping pinpoint new deposits

A new atlas charts the global distribution of unusual, critical-metal-bearing igneous rocks, finding that they often form near the thick and ancient cores of the world's major continents. Researchers from Cambridge's Department ...

May 22, 2026
Phys.org / Key switch controlling soil fungi symbiosis could solve a longstanding agricultural problem

Over the course of evolution, plants have developed an elegant strategy to counteract a lack of phosphate in the soil—they form symbiotic relationships with soil fungi. These mycorrhizal fungi efficiently supply their plant ...

May 22, 2026
Phys.org / Some technologies use accelerated natural processes to capture carbon, but can they store it durably?

Natural geological processes have been regulating Earth's climate for millions of years. Accelerated versions of these processes are now being promoted as technologies to draw down carbon from the atmosphere—and some are ...

May 22, 2026
Phys.org / Understanding the mechanisms of collective cell movement

Like schools of fish and flocks of birds, our cells can also migrate collectively in coordination with their neighbors. This harmonious movement of cells occurs during embryonic development, wound healing, and cancer metastasis. ...

May 22, 2026
Phys.org / Making biomolecules glow: New dye solves imaging interference problem

Biomolecules, also known as organic molecules, include sugars, proteins and lipids and are the building blocks of all life. They play a role in the structure and metabolism of all living organisms. To make them visible under ...

May 22, 2026
Phys.org / Stressed crystal creates nanoscale patterns on chip materials at room temperature

A new chip-making technique exploits a material's crystal structure to create nanoscale patterns at room temperature directly onto hard materials used in devices, including silica. The method could make it easier to pattern ...

May 22, 2026
Phys.org / Student talent drives simpler method for programming artificial muscles in soft robots

An interdisciplinary student research team at the University of Waterloo has achieved an advance in materials science with the creation of a tissue-like hydrogel for artificial muscles to make soft robots move.

May 22, 2026