Phys.org news

Phys.org / NA62 Collaboration refines measurement of rare particle decay

The NA62 Collaboration has dramatically reduced the uncertainty in its measurement of an extremely rare particle decay, in results just presented at the 2026 La Thuile conference.

Mar 4, 2026
Phys.org / How pro- and anti-gun PAC contributions after school shootings effectively neutralize each other

Polls consistently show overwhelming support for measures like universal background checks and raising the minimum age for gun purchases. But Congress rarely acts. A new study published in Proceedings of the National Academy ...

Mar 4, 2026
Phys.org / Drill core reveals asynchronous land–ocean responses to ancient ocean anoxia

Earth experienced a period of intense, large-scale volcanism during the early Aptian. Around that time, it also experienced widespread ocean deoxygenation during the Oceanic Anoxic Event 1a (OAE1a) as well as the onset of ...

Mar 4, 2026
Phys.org / Nanoparticle vaccine approach takes on a new target: Hepatitis C virus

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infects an estimated 50 million people worldwide, according to the World Health Organization, and remains a leading cause of cirrhosis and liver cancer. While antiviral drugs can cure most infections, ...

Mar 4, 2026
Phys.org / Satellite study of 2.2 million thunderstorms shows how to predict their formation

People may be frustrated by the lack of detail when weather forecasters say, "There will be thunderstorms popping up, but we don't know where." Now a key finding in a study by the UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology (UKCEH), ...

Mar 4, 2026
Phys.org / Study reveals reported crop yield gains from breeding may be overstated

A new study suggests that decades of reported gains in crop yields from plant breeding may be significantly overstated, challenging a common method used worldwide to measure genetic progress. The international research team ...

Mar 4, 2026
Phys.org / Salmonids reveal the cold truth about human impacts on Fennoscandian lakes

A large-scale study led by the University of Jyväskylä revealed that human activity is consistently changing the ecosystems of Northern European lakes. The study shows that hydropower and human activity in catchment areas ...

Mar 4, 2026
Phys.org / Black soldier fly larvae show promise for safe organic waste removal

People and animals create lots of waste that is usually sent to landfills, incinerated, or stored in engineered ponds such as manure lagoons. Now, researchers report a potential removal method using insects, specifically ...

Mar 4, 2026
Phys.org / Nitrous oxide, a product of fertilizer use, may harm some soil bacteria

Plant growth is supported by millions of tiny soil microbes competing and cooperating with each other as they perform important roles at the plant root, including improving access to nutrients and protecting against pathogens. ...

Mar 4, 2026
Phys.org / New 4D-STEM method isolates atomic structures from clustered nanocrystals

Scientists at the Department of Energy's Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (Berkeley Lab) have developed a new way to determine atomic structures from nanocrystals previously considered unusable, a breakthrough that could ...

Mar 4, 2026
Phys.org / Left-handed people may have a psychological edge in competition

Left-handers are more competitive than right-handers, according to a new study published in the journal Scientific Reports. The findings may help explain why left-handedness has persisted throughout evolution despite the ...

Mar 3, 2026
Phys.org / Study finds 77% of US national parks are highly vulnerable to climate change

National parks in the United States represent a treasure trove of natural, historical, and recreational landscapes, but their health is at risk. A comprehensive new study on the climate-change vulnerability of national parks, ...

Mar 3, 2026