Phys.org news

Phys.org / Language shapes visual processing in both human brains and AI models, study finds

Neuroscientists have been trying to understand how the brain processes visual information for over a century. The development of computational models inspired by the brain's layered organization, also known as deep neural ...

Jan 7, 2026 in Biology
Phys.org / 60,000-year-old traces of world's oldest arrow poison reveal early advanced hunting techniques

Researchers from South Africa and Sweden have found the oldest traces of arrow poison in the world to date. On 60,000-year-old quartz arrowheads from Umhlatuzana Rock Shelter in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa, researchers have ...

Jan 7, 2026 in Other Sciences
Phys.org / North Pacific winter storm tracks shifting poleward much faster than predicted

Alaska's glaciers are melting at an accelerating pace, losing roughly 60 billion tons of ice each year. About 4,000 kilometers to the south, in California and Nevada, records for heat and dryness are being shattered, creating ...

Jan 7, 2026 in Earth
Phys.org / New evidence for a particle system that 'remembers' its previous quantum states

In the future, quantum computers are anticipated to solve problems once thought unsolvable, from predicting the course of chemical reactions to producing highly reliable weather forecasts. For now, however, they remain extremely ...

Jan 7, 2026 in Physics
Phys.org / Vera C. Rubin Observatory spots record-breaking asteroid in pre-survey observations

Astronomers analyzing data from Vera C. Rubin Observatory have discovered the fastest-ever spinning asteroid with a diameter over half a kilometer—a feat uniquely enabled by Rubin. The study provides crucial information ...

Jan 7, 2026 in Astronomy & Space
Phys.org / Dogs' dinners can have greater climate impact than those of their owners

Dogs fed on premium, meat-rich pet food can have a bigger dietary carbon pawprint than their owners, according to the largest study into dog food's climate impact.

Jan 7, 2026 in Earth
Phys.org / Solar physicists discover long-hidden source of gamma rays unleashed by flares

Solar physicists say they have found a key source of intense gamma rays unleashed when Earth's nearest star produces its most violent eruptions.

Jan 7, 2026 in Astronomy & Space
Phys.org / Optics research uses dim light to produce bright LEDs

Researchers at Princeton and North Carolina State University have developed a technique that substantially improves the ability to convert low-energy light into a high-energy version. The method has immediate applications ...

Jan 7, 2026 in Physics
Phys.org / Snowflake-like emergence phenomenon discovered in metal nanocrystals

Whether they're tickling your nose, hugging your eyelashes or melting on your tongue, few winter wonders are as fascinating as snowflakes.

Jan 7, 2026 in Nanotechnology
Phys.org / Plasma rings around M dwarf stars offer new clues to planetary habitability

How does a star affect the makeup of its planets? And what does this mean for the habitability of distant worlds? Carnegie's Luke Bouma is exploring a new way to probe this critical question—using naturally occurring space ...

Jan 7, 2026 in Astronomy & Space
Phys.org / THz spectroscopy system bypasses long-standing tradeoff between spectral and spatial resolution

Terahertz (THz) radiation, which occupies the frequency band between microwaves and infrared light, is essential in many next-generation applications, including high-speed wireless communications, chemical sensing, and advanced ...

Jan 7, 2026 in Physics
Phys.org / Engineers create water-saving sand layer to improve plant resilience during drought

The Anasazi, a once-flourishing tribe in the American Southwest, lived on bounties of corn, squash and beans. In 1276 A.D., however, a long, unforgiving drought made agriculture untenable, forcing them to migrate away from ...

Jan 7, 2026 in Chemistry