Phys.org news

Phys.org / How the Ampelomeryx grew: Discovering the life history of a giraffe relative that lived in Catalonia

A research team from the Institut Català de Paleontologia Miquel Crusafont (ICP-CERCA) has led the paleohistological study of Ampelomeryx ginsburgi, a giraffomorph ruminant from the Middle Miocene recovered at the Els Casots ...

Apr 29, 2026
Phys.org / How rocks trap CO₂ faster: Water-driven pathway could speed long-term carbon storage

Rocks can bind carbon dioxide—and much faster than previously thought. For a long time, it was assumed that the transformation of CO2 into carbonate rock depends on very slow, time-consuming processes. According to that view, ...

Apr 29, 2026
Phys.org / Tiny flexible lasers enable force sensing inside living cells

Researchers have developed tiny flexible lasers that can be used to measure forces inside living cells. The new lasers could help illuminate various biological processes, including those involved in early development and ...

Apr 29, 2026
Phys.org / AI discovery reveals DNA isn't locked away in cells after all

Every cell in the human body squeezes over six feet of DNA into a minuscule speck invisible to the naked eye—like compressing a whole house into a single sugar cube. In order to fit in a cell and remain organized, DNA is ...

Apr 29, 2026
Phys.org / Nanofiltration for cleaner water is stopping one of farming's most persistent chemicals from slipping through

Water is fundamental to all life—contaminants are harmful to humans and the environment. Herbicides used in agriculture to control weeds present a particular challenge here. The most widely used herbicide in the world is ...

Apr 29, 2026
Phys.org / Beer waste may become sunscreen ingredient after spent hops show promising UV protection

Research conducted at the University of São Paulo (USP) in Brazil revealed that hops (Humulus lupulus L.) industrial waste from the brewing industry is a viable option for sunscreen formulation production. The multidisciplinary ...

Apr 29, 2026
Phys.org / After Rome: Genomic insights from southern Germany reveal the formation of Central European societies

Many of today's villages and towns in Central Europe trace their origins to settlements that emerged after the collapse of the Western Roman Empire, often on former Roman territory or in the immediate vicinity of the Limes, ...

Apr 29, 2026
Phys.org / Online game uncovers why tiger stripes work best in sunshine and tall grass

Scientists have used an online game to discover the secrets of animal camouflage—such as why tigers have stripes. The study, by the universities of Exeter and Bristol, reveals that high-contrast markings like tiger stripes ...

Apr 29, 2026
Phys.org / Atomic-column imaging uncovers hidden magnetic structures in antiferromagnets

Antiferromagnetic materials, with antiparallel atomic spins and zero net magnetization, are fast and resistant to external magnetic interference, making them ideal for high-speed, high-density spintronic devices. However, ...

Apr 29, 2026
Phys.org / AI classifier flags bird flu genomes more likely to spread in mammals

A research team from the LKS Faculty of Medicine at the University of Hong Kong (HKUMed) has developed a machine-learning classifier capable of analyzing the genomes of influenza A viruses (IAVs) to accurately predict their ...

Apr 29, 2026
Phys.org / Neolithic fur production: A 7,000-year-old pit with beaver remains discovered near Alsleben

In advance of the construction of the SuedOstLink high-voltage direct current transmission line, archaeological investigations were carried out in the Salzland district by the State Office for Heritage Management and Archaeology ...

Apr 29, 2026
Phys.org / No brain required: This is how the single-celled Stentor learns

Scientists have known for more than a century that a single-celled organism with no nerve cells—much less a brain—can behave in ways that resemble learning. But those observations only went so far. How the organism did that ...

Apr 29, 2026