Phys.org news

Phys.org / Quantum circuits help AI overcome memory limitations with minimal new parameters

For millions of people, chatbots powered by large language models (LLMs) are now a key feature of everyday life. These AI systems are growing at a rapid pace, but scaling them up is becoming increasingly costly and resource-intensive.

Jun 7, 2026
Phys.org / Gold nanoparticles unlock vibrant structural colors across the visible spectrum

Colloidal photonic glasses offer an appealing way to produce vivid colors without any chemical dyes—but so far, a stubborn optical effect has long prevented them from generating a true red color. Now, Yuwon Jeon and colleagues ...

Jun 7, 2026
Phys.org / Epigenetic changes can be inherited without changing DNA in animals

Typically, the information encoded in DNA allows organisms to develop, function, and pass traits across generations. Yet DNA alone does not explain how genes are switched on and off in different cells and environments. This ...

Jun 7, 2026
Phys.org / Lunar orbiter concept could reveal five key elements across moon in two years

Researchers from Tokyo Metropolitan University have used simulations to show that a newly developed, compact X-ray telescope could be used to map the chemical composition of the entire lunar surface, a vital breakthrough ...

Jun 7, 2026
Phys.org / How gene swapping helped build the planet's decomposers

Decomposers are crucial for keeping Earth habitable, breaking down dead biomass and returning key nutrients, such as carbon, nitrogen and phosphorus, to the ecosystem. Most decomposers, including fungi, survive through osmotrophy—a ...

Jun 7, 2026
Phys.org / First nonrepeating biological clock discovered in C. elegans guides growth

Imagine a train parked at the station. Passengers climb aboard and find their seats. Conductors move up and down the aisles, checking tickets. But there's a problem—the engineer's watch is broken. As a result, the doors never ...

Jun 7, 2026
Phys.org / Continuous stirring made early life-like RNA systems more extinction-prone, experiment shows

Recent research showed that an artificially constructed self-replicating RNA system modeling primitive life at the origin of life evolved to become more prone to extinction under certain experimental conditions.

Jun 7, 2026
Phys.org / 'Flawless on the outside, flipped within': Detecting hidden defects in 2D dielectrics with light

A material may appear flawless on the surface yet fail to function properly. The cause lies in structural defects hidden within two-dimensional thin films, which are considered key materials for next-generation semiconductor ...

Jun 7, 2026
Phys.org / Terahertz biophotonics: Understanding the path towards practical applications for biological imaging

Biophotonics is a multidisciplinary field that involves the development and application of light-based technologies to study, monitor and treat biological systems. The ability to directly image cells and molecules has led ...

Jun 7, 2026
Phys.org / Machine learning uncovers 1,750 quakes tracing 250-kilometer edge of Alaska microplate

Thousands of small earthquakes, detected for the first time by a machine-learning process, reveal the distinct, razor-sharp edge of the Yakutat microplate as it subducts beneath the North American plate.

Jun 7, 2026
Phys.org / Hidden protein switch controls photosynthesis as light conditions change

Scientists have discovered a previously unknown regulatory mechanism in plant photosynthesis in the unicellular green alga Chlamydomonas reinhardtii. It helps plants adapt to changes in light conditions. The results, published ...

Jun 7, 2026
Phys.org / Predictive surrogates could cut quantum computing measurement overhead by more than 99.97%

Quantum computers, systems that process information leveraging quantum mechanical effects, have the potential of outperforming classical computers on some tasks. Despite their potential, the use of these systems remains very ...

Jun 6, 2026