Phys.org news

Phys.org / When eyeing a predator, horses keep a poker face as their hearts race

Horses know a predator when they see one—even if it's only on a video screen while they're standing in a stall, with no sounds, smells or previous experience providing context for what they're viewing, a new study suggests.

Jul 15, 2026
Phys.org / New study pinpoints Europe's most critical wetlands for climate action

Wetlands have shaped human life in Europe since ancient times. These ecosystems provided essential resources and safe havens for plants and animals, and in many regions they also held spiritual and ritual significance. For ...

Jul 15, 2026
Phys.org / Bone 'fingerprints' unlock hidden stories of underwater caves

Bones preserved in underwater caves offer a rare and powerful window into the past—but until now, researchers have had limited tools to understand how the remains of extinct megafauna and other animals came to rest in their ...

Jul 15, 2026
Phys.org / Nanoscale gaps reveal new design rule for atom-thin chips and memory

Researchers at the College of Design and Engineering at the National University of Singapore have identified a key design principle for building reliable electronics from materials only one atomic layer thick, giving engineers ...

Jul 15, 2026
Phys.org / Sweeping analysis shows prestige, topic and location matter most to get research published

Scientists from prestigious universities and large research groups are significantly more likely to have their research published in general-interest, top-tier scientific journals. Meanwhile, authors based in China and those ...

Jul 15, 2026
Phys.org / Healthier, more sustainable diets could reshape global agriculture: New study shows by how much

There is a clear need to shift toward healthier and more sustainable food systems. According to the 2025 EAT-Lancet Commission Report, global adoption of a flexitarian Planetary Health Diet could prevent around 15 million ...

Jul 15, 2026
Phys.org / Medaka males can mate 27 times daily, but sperm performance drops fast

Oryzias latipes, commonly known as medaka, is a small fish measuring about 2–3 cm (0.8–1.2 inches) in length that exhibits highly active spawning behavior during the breeding season. Previous research by an Osaka Metropolitan ...

Jul 15, 2026
Phys.org / Desert dust in Europe is increasing with implications for health and solar energy installations

While particulate matter air pollution from human activity in transportation, households and industry is decreasing in Europe, thanks to strict regulations, another source is developing in the opposite direction: desert dust.

Jul 15, 2026
Phys.org / Not the greatest glider: First study puts Australia's biggest glider to the test

Australia's largest gliding marsupial may not be the country's best glider after all, according to new research from The Australian National University (ANU) that challenges a decades-old belief about how far southern greater ...

Jul 15, 2026
Phys.org / Oxygenic photosynthesis works with one photosystem, overturning 50-year textbook rule

LMU researchers demonstrate that oxygenic photosynthesis can occur with only a single photosystem, overturning a fundamental principle of biology.

Jul 15, 2026
Phys.org / Seals filter sound through blood-filled tissue to hear underwater, study reveals

The secret of how seals can hear in air and water has been revealed, thanks to pioneering research led by Natural History Museum scientists.

Jul 15, 2026
Phys.org / Elephants turn footsteps into messages through ground and skull vibrations

Elephants can communicate with other elephants across distances of up to five kilometers (3 miles) by producing sounds that travel through the air. However, they have a second way of sending signals: seismic waves traveling ...

Jul 15, 2026