Phys.org news

Phys.org / Lunar spacecraft exhaust could obscure clues to origins of life

Over half of the exhaust methane from lunar spacecraft could end up contaminating areas of the moon that might otherwise yield clues about the origins of Earthly life, according to a recent study. The pollution could unfold ...

Jan 7, 2026 in Astronomy & Space
Phys.org / The Milky Way's black hole is hiding an explosive past, evidence suggests

Our galaxy's supermassive black hole is famous for being one of the dimmest in the universe. Evidence from a new space telescope shows that might not always have been the case.

Jan 7, 2026 in Astronomy & Space
Phys.org / New tool narrows the search for ideal metal organic frameworks

Princeton researchers have developed a new tool to speed the discovery of advanced materials known as metal organic frameworks (MOFs).

Jan 7, 2026 in Chemistry
Phys.org / Nature-inspired computers are shockingly good at math

Neuromorphic computers, inspired by the architecture of the human brain, are proving surprisingly adept at solving complex mathematical problems that underpin scientific and engineering challenges.

Jan 7, 2026 in Other Sciences
Phys.org / Earth's early sponges were soft: Scientists close fossil record gap

Sponges are among Earth's most ancient animals, but exactly when they evolved has long puzzled scientists. Genetic information from living sponges, as well as chemical signals from ancient rocks, suggest that sponges evolved ...

Jan 7, 2026 in Biology
Phys.org / A Namib desert beetle runs to stay cool: How scientists solved the puzzle of this unique and speedy species

The Namib desert of south-western Africa can be extremely hot—the surface temperature can be over 50°C. But a surprising number of around 200 beetle species live on its bare, inhospitable-looking sand dunes.

Jan 7, 2026 in Biology
Phys.org / Overlooked molecule points to new treatments for drug-resistant fungal infections

Fungal infections kill millions of people each year, and modern medicine is struggling to keep up. But researchers at McMaster University have identified a molecule that may help turn the tide—butyrolactol A, a chemical ...

Jan 7, 2026 in Biology
Phys.org / Supernova remnant video from NASA's Chandra is decades in making

A new video shows the evolution of Kepler's Supernova Remnant using data from NASA's Chandra X-ray Observatory captured over more than two and a half decades.

Jan 7, 2026 in Astronomy & Space
Phys.org / Marine geoscientists link warming with ancient ocean 'salty blob'

Climate change has many culprits, from agriculture to transportation to energy production. Now, add another: the deep ocean salty blob.

Jan 7, 2026 in Earth
Phys.org / Four baby planets show how super-Earths and sub-Neptunes form

Thanks to the discovery of thousands of exoplanets to date, we know that planets bigger than Earth but smaller than Neptune orbit most stars. Oddly, our sun lacks such a planet. That's been a source of frustration for planetary ...

Jan 7, 2026 in Astronomy & Space
Phys.org / Small-scale rainforest clearing drives majority of carbon loss, study finds

Think of the destruction of Earth's rainforests and a familiar image may come to mind: fires or chainsaws tearing through enormous swaths of the Amazon, releasing masses of planet-warming carbon dioxide.

Jan 7, 2026 in Earth
Phys.org / Urban atmosphere acts as primary reservoir of microplastics, researchers find

Over the past two decades, microplastics (MPs) and nanoplastics (NPs) have been recognized as emerging pollutants, detected across every environmental compartment of Earth's system—the atmosphere, hydrosphere, lithosphere, ...

Jan 7, 2026 in Earth