Phys.org news

Phys.org / New spider species in the Amazon mimics parasitic fungus

An international research team, including the Leibniz Institute for the Analysis of Biodiversity Change (LIB), has described a new species of spider from the Ecuadorian Amazon: Taczanowskia waska. The species is characterized ...

Apr 7, 2026
Phys.org / Early humans in South Africa were quarrying stone as far back as 220,000 years ago

As long as 220,000 years ago—far earlier than previously thought—people quarried rocks for their tools in places they specifically sought out. An international research team led by the University of Tübingen has demonstrated ...

Apr 7, 2026
Phys.org / More than a pretty picture, star-shaped nanomaterial changes energy storage

When created at the nanoscale, materials can resemble shapes like stars, rods or even pyramids. These particle shapes, also known as the morphologies of a solid, make for more than just interesting images under a microscope—they ...

Apr 7, 2026
Phys.org / This protein helps cancer cells survive treatment—and points to new treatments

Researchers at Umeå University have contributed new insights into how cancer cells protect themselves from cell death. The study provides a deeper understanding of how key proteins interact within the cell and could, in the ...

Apr 7, 2026
Phys.org / Who got the meat? What 10,000 years of European bones suggest about diet inequality

Access to nutritious food is a fundamental pillar of human success, but such access has been unequal throughout history. In pre-industrial European societies, meat was a highly sought-after food, and access to it was often ...

Apr 7, 2026
Phys.org / Light-driven method enables sustainable production of porous semiconducting polymers

Researchers at Koç University have developed a light-driven method to produce porous semiconducting polymers under ambient conditions without the need for metal catalysts. The study, led by Prof. Dr. Önder Metin from the ...

Apr 7, 2026
Phys.org / Researchers clarify how cells remove damaged endoplasmic reticulum

The cell's endoplasmic reticulum (ER) plays a central role in protein synthesis, folding, and calcium (Ca²⁺) storage. When damaged, ER-phagy (self-eating) removes affected ER regions via double-membrane vesicles called autophagosomes. ...

Apr 7, 2026
Phys.org / Parabolic flight test shows lasers can propel graphene aerogels in microgravity

Lasers could one day steer solar sails and adjust a satellite's position in outer space, thanks to graphene. An experiment on a gravity rollercoaster ride showed how this innovative material has the potential to revolutionize ...

Apr 7, 2026
Phys.org / Hot-dry extremes could hit 28% of humanity five times more often by end of century

In their current state, climate policies around the world could leave a significant chunk of the global population exposed to simultaneous extreme heat and drought over five times more often by the end of this century than ...

Apr 7, 2026
Phys.org / African frogs haven't forgotten the ice ages. Scientists can tell by where they live.

Why are frogs diverse in some parts of Africa's rainforests and less so in others? The patterns of cooling and glaciation during the last ice age would probably not have been your first answer or even your last-ditch guess, ...

Apr 7, 2026
Phys.org / When trees get 'sunburn': Study shows how young trees can handle the heat

Can our forests adapt to a hotter and drier future climate? Temperatures are predicted to rise up to 5°C compared to pre-industrial times. Forest management needs to adapt to these conditions, which requires a better understanding ...

Apr 7, 2026
Phys.org / Metamaterial chains learn new shapes by sharing data hinge to hinge

In a new Nature Physics publication, University of Amsterdam researchers introduce human-made materials that spring to life. These 'metamaterials' don't just learn to change shape, but can autonomously adapt their shape-changing ...

Apr 7, 2026