Phys.org news

Phys.org / Fossils from embryo to adult suggest how an enigmatic, bird-like troodontid dinosaur grew

Analysis of fossilized remains from dinosaurs known as troodontids reveals how one species' hip and leg bones may have developed over its lifespan, from embryo to adult—with potential implications for resolving longstanding ...

Sep 9, 2026
Phys.org / OpenAI says 10,000 AI agents cracked one of math's hardest problems in 88 hours

OpenAI said Tuesday that one of its unreleased artificial intelligence models had solved a mathematical puzzle that has eluded mathematicians for generations, a claim that also drew a fight with rival researchers over credit.

Sep 9, 2026
Phys.org / Forever chemicals break apart into fluoride under UV treatment, revealing a cleanup roadmap

UC Riverside environmental engineers have identified key chemical reactions that occur when ultraviolet light is used to destroy "forever chemical" pollutants in water, providing a roadmap for developing more effective cleanup ...

Sep 9, 2026
Phys.org / AI reveals new class of cellular 'off switch' linked to cancer pathways

Cornell researchers have used artificial intelligence to uncover a previously unknown way cells control how proteins move inside them, a process essential for growth, communication and movement that is often disrupted in ...

Sep 9, 2026
Phys.org / Asian elephants can resist impulsive behavior, researchers find

Researchers at the CUNY Graduate Center and Hunter College have found that Asian elephants can suppress impulsive behaviors and adjust their actions when circumstances change—a cognitive ability that may help explain the ...

Sep 9, 2026
Phys.org / Molecular antennae make light-activated molecular switches more sensitive

From targeted cancer treatments to self-healing materials and microscopic robots, many emerging technologies depend on molecules that can be controlled with light. Researchers at Tohoku University have now developed a way ...

Sep 9, 2026
Phys.org / How we manage and engage with horses may shape their personality

A new study reveals that horse personality is not only a matter of genetics, age or breed but also systematically linked to how horses are housed, ridden and cared for, and to the quality of the relationship they share with ...

Sep 9, 2026
Phys.org / The Anthropocene was rejected as a geological epoch—but the idea is still changing how we see the world

The Anthropocene became part of the zeitgeist after Nobel laureate Paul Crutzen launched the idea in 2000. This is the notion that a crescendo of human impacts has recently propelled Earth out of the relatively stable climatic ...

Sep 9, 2026
Phys.org / Estuary water quality trends have $100M implications, researchers find

Estuaries across the United States are facing the same trends of warming waters, algal growth and declining oxygen concentrations that threaten water quality and fish populations, regardless of geographic location, according ...

Sep 9, 2026
Phys.org / Layer-based design offers new route to topological magnets

Topological quantum materials combine unusual electronic states with properties such as magnetism or superconductivity, offering possibilities for future electronics and quantum technologies. Researchers at Tohoku University ...

Sep 9, 2026
Phys.org / Families' interest in their kids' education is falling around the globe as scores drop, test shows

Families' interest in their kids' education is falling in many high-income countries as school systems struggle with plunging test scores, according to newly released results from a standardized test taken by 15-year-olds ...

Sep 9, 2026
Phys.org / A 'wholistic' view of cellular communication across an entire animal

It can't be heard, but different parts of the human body are in constant conversation, communicating to keep the entire system running efficiently. For biologists, being able to listen in on this discussion is a long-sought-after ...

Sep 9, 2026