Phys.org news

Phys.org / Rye reference genome uncovers diversity that could strengthen wheat breeding

Rye is not only a hardy and high-yielding crop, but also possesses a valuable gene pool for wheat breeding. An international research team led by the IPK Leibniz Institute has significantly improved the foundations for research ...

Aug 19, 2026
Phys.org / Antarctica's brief rebound was caused by climate variability, not a 'new normal'

Between 2021 and 2023, Antarctica appeared to be growing. Heavy snowfall fueled by wetter weather caused parts of the continent to gain mass, leading some to question whether climate change is really causing the ice to melt. ...

Aug 19, 2026
Phys.org / A 100-year-old mystery in the cat kidney may be linked to scent communication

Many animals obtain information about others from scent marks left in the environment, including urine. Because these marks remain after the sender has left, they allow animals to communicate across space and time. But odor ...

Aug 19, 2026
Phys.org / Fastest known Milky Way star offers new test of supermassive black hole's spin

Astronomers have discovered the fastest known star in our galaxy, the Milky Way, orbiting the black hole at its center. The star, named S301, was detected with the European Southern Observatory's Very Large Telescope Interferometer ...

Aug 19, 2026
Phys.org / Microbial clocks can accurately estimate time since death across different climates

New research reveals that microbial clocks—forensic tools that track the succession and development of bacteria and fungi involved in decomposition after death—are highly accurate for estimating time since death, or postmortem ...

Aug 19, 2026
Phys.org / Peru's highest mountain confirms tropics were a major methane source before the industrial era

A new analysis of ice cores collected from the Andes in Peru has produced the first global record of historical tropical methane, filling a critical gap in our understanding of the origins of Earth's greenhouse gases.

Aug 19, 2026
Phys.org / Interacting with AI can make people act more like robots

As AI continues to develop at a rapid pace, social robots powered by AI are becoming more commonplace in customer service settings such as retail, hospitality, tourism and health care. But as these robots become smarter and ...

Aug 19, 2026
Phys.org / Genetic 'switches' could program 3D-printed bone tissue for blood vessel growth

An interdisciplinary team of engineers and chemists at Penn State has laid the groundwork for 3D printing spheroids—tiny clusters of living cells—capable of regenerating bone tissue in response to severe trauma or infections.

Aug 19, 2026
Phys.org / AI flood map reveals 11 million Americans may be omitted from official risk zones

Official flood maps shape disaster preparedness, insurance decisions and urban planning, but large parts of the United States remain unmapped or under-mapped. This means some communities may be left unaware of the risks they ...

Aug 19, 2026
Phys.org / Climate taxonomy tool turns risk assessments into practical adaptation guidance

As climate impacts such as heat waves, floods and fires intensify worldwide, there is an urgent demand for information on how to respond. IIASA researchers and partners have developed a new tool that meets that need, integrating ...

Aug 19, 2026
Phys.org / 3D map of cell signaling sites could help improve cancer treatment

Cell-communication molecules called kinases play a key role in the growth and spread of many cancers. But exactly which kinases are active in a particular cancer is not always clear—there are 1.8 million sites on human proteins ...

Aug 19, 2026
Phys.org / Novel insights into aerosol behavior could improve air-quality forecasting

New research from Purdue University demonstrates how organic aerosol molecules can influence one another's behavior in ways that existing atmospheric models do not fully capture.

Aug 19, 2026