Phys.org news

Phys.org / Record stretching of metallic bond reveals quantum conductance in gold atomic chains

Researchers from the Institute of Metal Research (IMR) of the Chinese Academy of Sciences have stretched a chain of gold atoms by a record-breaking 46%, providing direct evidence of how fundamental metal bonds behave under ...

Jan 28, 2026 in Nanotechnology
Phys.org / New light-based platform sets the stage for future quantum supercomputers

A light has emerged at the end of the tunnel in the long pursuit of developing quantum computers, which are expected to radically reduce the time needed to perform some complex calculations from thousands of years down to ...

Jan 28, 2026 in Physics
Phys.org / Proton-trapping MNene transforms ammonia production for food security and economic growth

With a new electrochemical synthesis via an electrochemical nitrogen reduction reaction (NRR), achieving carbon-free ammonia production is closer to reality through work from Drs. Abdoulaye Djire and Perla Balbuena, chemical ...

Jan 28, 2026 in Chemistry
Phys.org / Probing the jet base of M87's supermassive black hole

Some galaxies eject powerful streams of charged particles—jets—from their centers into space. The prominent jet of Messier 87 (M87) in the constellation Virgo is visible over distances of 3,000 light-years and can be ...

Jan 28, 2026 in Astronomy & Space
Phys.org / Microplastics found in a third of surveyed fish off the coasts of remote Pacific Islands

A third of fish living in the remote coastal waters of the Pacific Island Countries and Territories are contaminated with microplastics, with especially high rates in Fiji, according to an analysis published in PLOS One by ...

Jan 28, 2026 in Earth
Phys.org / Unprecedented 3D views of sensory cells accelerate hearing research

The cochlea is the spiral-shaped structure within the inner ear responsible for our sense of hearing. To fully understand hearing functions and open the door to new hearing loss treatments, scientists require intricately ...

Jan 28, 2026 in Biology
Phys.org / 443-million-year-old fossils reveal early vertebrate eyes

Scientists analyzing 443-million-year-old Scottish fossils have uncovered the early evidence that some of the first groups of vertebrates possessed surprisingly advanced eyes and traces of bone, reshaping our understanding ...

Jan 28, 2026 in Biology
Phys.org / Alfvén waves act as the power source behind Earth's auroral displays, research reveals

The dazzling lights of the aurora are created when high-energy particles from space collide with Earth's atmosphere. While scientists have long understood this process, one big mystery remained: What powers the electric fields ...

Jan 28, 2026 in Astronomy & Space
Phys.org / Residents from strongly blue or red counties favor like-minded destinations for everyday travel, analysis finds

A new analysis of 471 U.S. counties has found that, for everyday travel, people from counties with particularly strong political leanings—whether liberal or conservative—are more likely to visit like-minded destinations. ...

Jan 28, 2026 in Other Sciences
Phys.org / Capturing the moment of organelle handoff inside living cells

For the first time, researchers have directly visualized how newly formed cellular organelles leave the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) and transition onto microtubule tracks inside living cells. This new finding reveals that ...

Jan 28, 2026 in Nanotechnology
Phys.org / Hearing tests uncover unexpected humpback sensitivity to high-frequency noise

University of Queensland hearing tests conducted across kilometers of ocean off the Australian coast show humpback whales react to higher frequency sounds than expected. Associate Professor Rebecca Dunlop from UQ's School ...

Jan 28, 2026 in Biology
Phys.org / How iron-sulfur nanolayers are formed: X-ray methods enable real-time view

Researchers at the University of Hamburg, the University of Toulouse, and the DESY and ESRF research institutes have observed for the first time in real time how iron-sulfur nanostructures form in solutions. Using time-resolved ...

Jan 28, 2026 in Nanotechnology