Phys.org news

Phys.org / Protein 'dark energy' provides insight into form vs. function in structure

Astronomers use the term dark energy to refer to energy in the universe that is unaccounted for by ordinary matter but necessary to explain cosmology. Astronomy, however, isn't the only field with missing energy. Rice University ...

Jan 27, 2026 in Biology
Phys.org / Artificial nighttime lighting is suppressing moth activity, new research shows

Moths move significantly less when exposed to artificial nighttime light, new research shows. Moths' attraction to artificial light, such as streetlights, is common knowledge and has been much studied. But, as many people ...

Jan 27, 2026 in Biology
Phys.org / AI unlocks hundreds of cosmic anomalies in Hubble archive

A team of astronomers has employed a cutting-edge, artificial intelligence–assisted technique to uncover rare astronomical phenomena within archived data from NASA's Hubble Space Telescope. The team analyzed nearly 100 ...

Jan 27, 2026 in Astronomy & Space
Phys.org / Finnish birdwatchers' app data fuel world's most accurate model for predicting bird occurrence

New cutting-edge research, led by Academy Professor Otso Ovaskainen of the University of Jyväskylä and David Dunson at Duke University, combines citizen bird observations with artificial intelligence and the computing power ...

Jan 27, 2026 in Biology
Phys.org / Did You Feel It? Expanding use of an earthquake crowdsourcing tool

The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) crowdsourcing platform Did You Feel It? (DYFI) rapidly transforms people's earthquake shaking intensity experiences into detailed maps of damage extent. While the tool's reach is global, ...

Jan 27, 2026 in Earth
Phys.org / Study shows the hominid population of Sima de los Huesos had a varied diet

Researchers at the Centro Nacional de Investigación sobre la Evolución Humana (CENIEH) have led a study, recently published in the Journal of Human Evolution, on the diet of individuals at the Sima de los Huesos site (Sierra ...

Jan 27, 2026 in Biology
Phys.org / Data-driven 3D chromosome model reveals structural and dynamic features of DNA

Chromosomes are masters of organization. These long strings of DNA fold down into an ensemble of compact structures that keep needed parts of the genome accessible while tucking away those that aren't used as often. Understanding ...

Jan 27, 2026 in Biology
Phys.org / Oddball flower challenges long-held rule about how new plant species evolve

Lipstick vines get their name from their bright red, tube-shaped flowers. But one member of this group of plants has lost its lipstick-like appearance—its flowers are shorter, wider, and yellowish green in color. It also ...

Jan 27, 2026 in Biology
Phys.org / Marine volcanic plateaus tied to at least 4 Triassic extinction events

Mass extinctions are extremely catastrophic events on Earth. Throughout Earth's evolutionary history, numerous mass extinctions have occurred, with five major mass extinctions being particularly representative. These extinctions ...

Jan 27, 2026 in Earth
Phys.org / Red flowers have a 'magic trait' to attract birds and keep bees away

For flowering plants, reproduction is a question of the birds and the bees. Attracting the right pollinator can be a matter of survival—and new research shows how flowers do it is more intriguing than anyone realized, and ...

Jan 27, 2026 in Biology
Phys.org / 'Spectral slimming' yields ultranarrow plasmons in single metal nanoparticles

Researchers have developed a new strategy to overcome a long-standing limitation in plasmonic loss by reshaping light–matter interactions through substrate engineering.

Jan 27, 2026 in Physics
Phys.org / Streaks on Mercury show that it is not a 'dead planet'

Although Mercury was geologically active in its early days, today its surface appears almost completely static. This is why it is often perceived as a dead and dry planet. A new study led by Dr. Valentin Bickel from the Center ...

Jan 27, 2026 in Astronomy & Space