Phys.org news

Phys.org / Taimering mammoth was likely butchered by hunters and gatherers

The wooly mammoth from Taimering (Bavaria, Germany), discovered in 2020, was buried in a former Ice Age pond after its death. Pollen findings and radiocarbon dating confirm that the mammoth lived and died during the harsh ...

Jun 3, 2026
Phys.org / Armed with AI, study identifies prey from predator crunching sounds

Interactions between hard-shelled marine mollusks such as clams and snails and their predators play a critical but largely unseen role in shaping coastal ecosystems. These organisms help stabilize shorelines, filter water ...

Jun 3, 2026
Phys.org / Abortion restrictions associated with lower female medical school applicant numbers

States with restrictive abortion policies saw slower growth in the proportion of female medical school applicants following the 2022 reversal of Roe v. Wade, according to a new study published in the open-access journal PLOS ...

Jun 3, 2026
Phys.org / Ancient cave lion genomes reveal a distinct lineage

A new study on multiple genomes from the extinct cave lion has discovered that it represented a highly distinct evolutionary lineage, which separated from modern lions more than a million years ago. The results also show ...

Jun 3, 2026
Phys.org / Traditional, patriarchal Japanese terms for husband and wife may now be perceived as neutral

A new study suggests that, for modern Japanese speakers, two traditional, patriarchal words for "husband" ("shujin," literally meaning "master") and "wife" ("kanai," "inside-the-house") may be losing their original meanings, ...

Jun 3, 2026
Phys.org / Organized microbial guilds keep Earth's underground biosphere running, research reveals

By studying life deep inside a former gold mine, a Northwestern University-led team of scientists has uncovered evidence that Earth's hidden biosphere operates less like a random collection of microbes and more like an organized ...

Jun 3, 2026
Phys.org / Cleaner recycling method unlocks reusable plastics from mixed packaging

Scientists from Nanyang Technological University, Singapore (NTU Singapore) have developed a new method to recycle mixed plastic packaging without using harmful chemical solvents—an approach that could make one of the world's ...

Jun 3, 2026
Phys.org / Detailed molecular picture of tooth enamel reveals adaptations to diet

From chewing to chomping to grinding, teeth suffer from a lifetime of repeated mechanical stress. It makes sense, then, that enamel is one of the hardest natural materials.

Jun 3, 2026
Phys.org / Spider webs capture hidden fungal diversity in Thai rice fields

A new study published in the open-access Biodiversity Data Journal suggests that spider webs—particularly those incorporating environmental debris—can serve as natural, non-destructive collectors of fungal material in agricultural ...

Jun 3, 2026
Phys.org / Whiskey chemistry propels microscopic machines through liquid

Whisky-inspired chemicals could help power a new generation of microscopic machines, according to researchers who have discovered a way to make tiny particles "swim" through liquid using compounds linked to the production ...

Jun 3, 2026
Phys.org / Hail conditions on the move as winter crops face rising risk

A hailstorm can undo a season's work in minutes. It can strike quickly and unevenly, shredding wheat, bruising fruit, flattening crops—while also leaving neighboring paddocks untouched. In a new Nature Climate Change study, ...

Jun 3, 2026
Phys.org / Climate change may shift hailstorms toward Earth's poles—new study

Everyone has a storm story—whether it's that time you just escaped a downpour, or the hailstorm that wrote off your car. Even though hailstorms are relatively rare, they cause significant damage. Two new studies shed light ...

Jun 3, 2026