Phys.org news

Phys.org / AI mimics human-like intuition to explore and analyze chemical reactions

Chemical reactions are the breaking and forming of chemical bonds, which are fundamental to the creation of new technologies. Inevitably, discovering and developing new chemical reactions is a time-intensive process of trial ...

Dec 22, 2025 in Chemistry
Phys.org / Capturing the moment a cell shuts the door on free radicals

For the first time, researchers have been able to show how a cell closes the door to free radicals—small oxygen molecules that are sometimes needed, but that can also damage our cells. The study is published in Nature Communications ...

Dec 22, 2025 in Biology
Phys.org / Warming may make tropical cyclone 'seeds' riskier for Africa

An existing body of research indicates that climate change is making tropical cyclones wetter and more powerful. Now, a new study is indicating the same thing may be happening to the precursors of these storms: the wet weather ...

Dec 22, 2025 in Earth
Phys.org / Mixing incentives and penalties found key to cutting carbon emissions long term

A study from a team of researchers that includes faculty from the University of California San Diego and Princeton University shows how a mix of subsidies for clean energy and taxes on pollution can significantly reduce greenhouse ...

Dec 22, 2025 in Other Sciences
Dialog / Cosmic rays from a nearby supernova may help explain Earth-like planets

How common are Earth-like planets in the universe? When I started working on supernova explosions, I never imagined that my research would eventually lead me to ask a question about the origin of Earth-like planets. Yet that ...

Dec 21, 2025 in Astronomy & Space
Phys.org / Scientists who use AI tools are publishing more papers than ever before

Science is entering a massive publishing boom, in large part due to artificial intelligence. New research published in the journal Science has revealed that scientists who use large language models (LLMs) like ChatGPT are ...

Dec 21, 2025 in Other Sciences
Phys.org / Paraplegic engineer becomes the first wheelchair user to blast into space

A paraplegic engineer from Germany blasted off on a dream-come-true rocket ride with five other passengers Saturday, leaving her wheelchair behind to float in space while beholding Earth from on high.

Dec 21, 2025 in Astronomy & Space
Phys.org / Controlling exciton flow in moiré superlattices: New method leverages correlated electrons

Excitons are pairs of bound negatively charged electrons and positively charged holes that form in semiconductors, enabling the transport of energy in electronic devices. These pairs of charge carriers also emerge in transition ...

Dec 21, 2025 in Physics
Phys.org / SN 2022ngb is a faint and slow-evolving Type IIb supernova, observations reveal

An international team of astronomers has conducted optical and near-infrared observations of a supernova designated SN 2022ngb. As a result, it was found that SN 2022ngb is a faint and slow-evolving Type IIb supernova with ...

Dec 21, 2025 in Astronomy & Space
Phys.org / Muddy eruption at Yellowstone's Black Diamond Pool captured on video

"Kablooey!" That's the word U.S. Geological Survey volcanic experts used to describe a muddy eruption at Black Diamond Pool in Yellowstone National Park on Saturday morning.

Dec 21, 2025 in Earth
Phys.org / How a simple animal folds itself with origami-like precision

Studying one of the simplest animals, Stanford's Prakash Lab uncovered how it folds itself into complex shapes—revealing new insights into a fundamental cellular feature and the origins of tissue folding.

Dec 21, 2025 in Biology
Phys.org / Modifying chirality with electricity: Voltage-driven method enables reversible, tunable states

A way to electrically modify the chirality of organic–inorganic hybrid materials, in which chiral molecules adsorb onto inorganic surfaces, has been demonstrated by researchers at Science Tokyo. By using an electric double-layer ...

Dec 21, 2025 in Nanotechnology