Phys.org news

Phys.org / Machine learning identifies catalyst 'sweet spot' for greener urea from waste gases

Urea is an extremely important chemical, especially for fertilizers. But, making urea is energy intensive and relies heavily on fossil fuels. However, new findings from Griffith University and the Queensland University of ...

Apr 24, 2026
Phys.org / Light near surface of ultra-thin optical fibers can sort twisted nanoparticles

Many important objects in the world can be divided into two categories based on their chirality or handedness, including molecules important for life such as amino acids. Such chiral objects (formally defined as objects which ...

Apr 24, 2026
Phys.org / Bipartisan-cited science is rarely used by policymakers, study finds

Past research has shown that even though science is commonly viewed as essential for effective policymaking, Democrats and Republicans cite different scientific research when creating policy—even when addressing the same ...

Apr 24, 2026
Phys.org / How electron structure affects light responses in moiré materials

In materials science, if you can understand the "texture" of a material—how its internal patterns form and shift—you can begin to design how it behaves. That's the focus of the work of Zhenglu Li, assistant professor in the ...

Apr 24, 2026
Phys.org / Promising H5N1 vaccine protects dairy calves and mice against severe disease

Researchers at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln have developed a vaccine approach that shows promise in protecting against highly pathogenic bird flu, demonstrating strong efficacy in both mice and cattle. Avian influenza ...

Apr 24, 2026
Phys.org / Scientists map hidden magnetism on the sun's far side

For observers on Earth, the sun appears as a bright, familiar disk—but what we see is only half the story. Like the moon, one half of the sun is permanently hidden from our direct view: the far side beyond the visible solar ...

Apr 24, 2026
Phys.org / Beavers leave a trail as they head into the Arctic and reshape the landscape

A study has provided new evidence of beavers' expansion into the Canadian Arctic by dating the changes they have made to the tundra landscape as they spread northward. Published in the journal Ecosphere, the research combines ...

Apr 24, 2026
Phys.org / Some rays flash decoy eyes while others never do, as evolution's hidden trade-off comes into focus

From butterflies to peacocks, bold circular "eyespots" are among nature's most eye-catching patterns. But why do they appear in some animals and not others? A new study of skates and rays finally provides an answer—and it ...

Apr 24, 2026
Phys.org / Extra sets of chromosomes may help aggressive tumor cells spread, study finds

One of the biggest challenges in cancer research is understanding why some tumor cells become especially aggressive, invasive and resistant to treatment. Scientists have increasingly linked these dangerous traits to polyploid ...

Apr 24, 2026
Phys.org / Genomic tool untangles how microbes spread—even when they look almost identical

Researchers have developed a powerful new tool that can track how microbes spread between people with unprecedented precision, offering new ways to prevent infections and improve treatments in the future. The research, published ...

Apr 24, 2026
Phys.org / First gap-free peanut genomes reveal genes behind bigger seeds and better oils

An international team of researchers has produced complete, gap-free genome sequences for six peanut varieties, providing a comprehensive blueprint for future peanut breeding and improvement strategies.

Apr 24, 2026
Phys.org / A third of animal habitats on land could experience multiple extreme events by 2085, new study suggests

By 2085, 36% of species' current habitats on land could be exposed to multiple types of climate-driven extreme events such as heat waves, fire or floods if warming continues to rise into the latter half of the century. The ...

Apr 24, 2026