Phys.org news

Phys.org / Tiger sharks gather to mate during Maui's whale season, finds research

A team of shark researchers from the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa has solved a long-standing mystery, identifying the first-ever documented mating hub for tiger sharks.

Jan 16, 2026 in Biology
Phys.org / When employees feel slighted, they work less, research reveals

A missed birthday. A forgotten anniversary. A milestone that goes unnoticed. These small slights from a manager may seem like no big deal, but new research from Wharton reveals that even the mildest of mistreatment at work ...

Jan 16, 2026 in Other Sciences
Phys.org / Tiny titans of recovery: Fossil burrows reveal resilient micro-ecosystem after global mass extinction

An international team of scientists from South Africa, Canada, France and the UK has uncovered fossil evidence of a tiny ecosystem that helped kick-start the recovery of Earth's oceans after a global mass extinction.

Jan 16, 2026 in Biology
Phys.org / Organic solvents enable chirality control in inorganic crystals

Chirality—often described as "handedness"—is a fundamental property of nature, underlying the behavior of molecules ranging from DNA to pharmaceuticals. While chemists have long known how to separate left- and right-handed ...

Jan 16, 2026 in Chemistry
Phys.org / Astronomer uses 'China Sky Eye' to reveal binary origin of fast radio bursts

An international team of astronomers, including researchers from the Department of Physics at The University of Hong Kong (HKU), has uncovered the first decisive evidence that at least some fast radio burst (FRB) sources—brief ...

Jan 16, 2026 in Astronomy & Space
Phys.org / Chiral nanowires can actively change electron spin direction

The phenomenon where electron spins align in a specific direction after passing through chiral materials is a cornerstone for future spin-based electronics. Yet, the precise process behind this effect has remained a mystery—until ...

Jan 16, 2026 in Nanotechnology
Phys.org / Honeycomb lattice sweetens quantum materials development

Researchers at the Department of Energy's Oak Ridge National Laboratory are pioneering the design and synthesis of quantum materials, which are central to discovery science involving synergies with quantum computation. These ...

Jan 16, 2026 in Physics
Phys.org / Revealing the cell's nanocourier at work

An international group of researchers led by Pompeu Fabra University has discovered the nanomachine that controls constitutive exocytosis: the uninterrupted delivery of spherical molecular packages to the cell surface. This ...

Jan 16, 2026 in Biology
Phys.org / Sharks are famous for fearsome teeth, but ocean acidification could make them weaker

Sharks are the most feared predators in the sea, and their survival hinges on fearsome teeth that regrow throughout their lives. But changes in the ocean's chemistry could put those weapons at risk.

Jan 16, 2026 in Biology
Phys.org / X-ray four-wave mixing captures elusive electron interactions inside atoms and molecules

Scientists at the X-ray free-electron laser SwissFEL have realized a long-pursued experimental goal in physics: to show how electrons dance together. The technique, known as X-ray four-wave mixing, opens a new way to see ...

Jan 16, 2026 in Physics
Phys.org / Nationwide racial bias shapes media reporting on gun violence, study suggests

Mass shootings in white-majority neighborhoods received roughly twice the news coverage of mass shootings in neighborhoods where a majority of residents were people of color, while coverage of police-involved shootings was ...

Jan 16, 2026 in Other Sciences
Phys.org / Biomass-derived furans offer sustainable alternative to petroleum in chemical production

A research project conducted by the Max-Planck-Institut für Kohlenforschung shows how biomass can be used as a raw material for chemical products instead of petroleum. The scientists have published their findings in the ...

Jan 16, 2026 in Chemistry