Phys.org news

Phys.org / Genetic switch could help tomatoes produce fruit in cold weather

Every tomato begins with a flower. But before a fruit can grow, an intricate sequence of events must happen in perfect order. The flower's male and female organs must develop together, pollen must be released at exactly the ...

Aug 12, 2026
Phys.org / Spontaneous magnons synchronize with external signals at room temperature

Signals ride on waves of one kind or another: light, sound, radio. But new carriers are needed to relay information in next-generation devices. Disturbances or waves in magnetic materials called magnons could be an efficient ...

Aug 12, 2026
Phys.org / How drought is reshaping the spread of infectious diseases

From the American West to Europe, droughts are drying up rivers, fueling destructive fires and reshaping ecosystems. They are also changing the spread of infectious diseases, leading to surges in illnesses like cholera and ...

Aug 12, 2026
Phys.org / The internet can't get enough of cats, but cats might have had enough of the internet

According to new research, viewers often dismiss, trivialize or even romanticize signs of cat distress during "play" interactions, raising concerns for cat welfare.

Aug 12, 2026
Phys.org / Hybrid bioprinter creates capillary networks narrower than 10 micrometers

More than 100,000 people are awaiting an organ transplant in the United States, with a new candidate added to the list every 10 minutes. Even if the transplant is carried out successfully, recipients must take immunosuppressive ...

Aug 12, 2026
Phys.org / Wars between nations face persistent escalation risk, decades of conflict data suggest

Military leaders frequently underestimate how big the wars they engage in will get. Gen. Douglas MacArthur predicted U.S. troops could come home from the Korean War in time for Christmas, just months after the conflict started. ...

Aug 12, 2026
Phys.org / History, not age, determines the genomic importance of ancient trees

Ancient trees—those that are remarkably old for their species—are declining worldwide, raising concerns about the loss of the ecological and evolutionary history they represent. Their exceptional longevity has long encouraged ...

Aug 12, 2026
Phys.org / AI tool could help veterinarians track heart disease more precisely

For dogs with heart disease, a fraction of a centimeter can make a life-changing difference. Veterinarians often rely on chest radiographs to monitor subtle changes in heart size that help determine when treatment should ...

Aug 12, 2026
Phys.org / When male suitors abound, female treefrogs have trouble picking mates

Much like an indecisive single person on a dating app, female treefrogs struggle to pick the most desirable mates when they have too many options to choose from. According to a new study published Aug. 12 in the journal iScience, ...

Aug 12, 2026
Phys.org / Radiation vest tested on NASA moonshot can cut astronauts' exposure in solar storms, study suggests

A new study suggests a protective vest tested on a manikin during NASA's first Artemis moonshot could drastically cut the radiation exposure of lunar astronauts during severe solar storms.

Aug 12, 2026
Phys.org / Californians are twice as likely as Louisianans to be childfree—but demographics tell more of the story

Across the United States, the number of people who do not have and do not want to have children is growing. While they are twice as likely to live in California as Louisiana, individual demographic characteristics are the ...

Aug 12, 2026
Phys.org / Chemical fingerprints reveal hidden binary pasts of massive stars

More than 70% of massive stars are born in close binary systems, where gravitational tugs and mass transfer between companions dramatically alter their evolution. Yet once the interaction ends—whether through mass transfer, ...

Aug 12, 2026