en-us Science X internet news portal provides the latest news on science including: Physics, Nanotechnology, Life Sciences, Space Science, Earth Science, Environment, Health and Medicine. Most antibiotics used clinically are based on natural compounds produced by bacteria and other microorganisms. At the Helmholtz Institute for Pharmaceutical Research Saarland (HIPS), researchers are using soil-dwelling myxobacteria as a source of new active ingredients. They are able to discover new active compounds primarily in bacteria that have not yet been extensively studied. https://phys.org/news/2026-08-soil-myxobacteria-reveal-classes-bioactive.html Wed, 12 Aug 2026 17:10:01 EDT news705771001 Last year, we described Agrilo, an affordable "colorimetric" soil-testing system developed through research at MacEwan University. Using a smartphone camera to interpret color changes, Agrilo measures soil nutrients and can provide farmers with timely guidance to support fertilizer decisions. https://phys.org/news/2026-08-soil-global-virtual-reality-farmers.html Wed, 12 Aug 2026 17:00:06 EDT news705770821 To date, close to 30,000 satellites have been launched into Earth's orbit, leading to mounting concerns over the debris created when they collide. In a new analysis posted to the preprint server arXiv, Hugh Lewis of the University of Birmingham shows that satellite constellations can grow so large that they cross a critical size beyond which they generate unstable, runaway amounts of debris. The findings point to an urgent need for tougher rules on which satellites are allowed into orbit in the first place. https://phys.org/news/2026-08-satellite-constellations-spiraling-space-debris.html Wed, 12 Aug 2026 15:00:08 EDT news705747610 Every tomato begins with a flower. But before a fruit can grow, an intricate sequence of events must happen in perfect order. The flower's male and female organs must develop together, pollen must be released at exactly the right time, and fertilization must occur. https://phys.org/news/2026-08-genetic-tomatoes-fruit-cold-weather.html Wed, 12 Aug 2026 16:10:01 EDT news705767641 Researchers from the RIKEN Center for Sustainable Resource Science (CSRS) and RIKEN Pioneering Research Institute (PRI) in Japan, together with collaborators from the University of Münster, Germany, have developed a new hydrogel that offers significant advantages over others currently on the market in the field of biomaterials. https://phys.org/news/2026-08-synthetic-peptide-electrically-polarized-hydrogel.html Wed, 12 Aug 2026 16:00:07 EDT news705755101 Artificial intelligence is proving to be transformative in its ability to work with language and images. Now, with a growing push to apply AI to scientific discovery, Caltech's Anima Anandkumar says there is a crucial ingredient missing from most AI models: the ability to understand the physical world. Take, for example, weather models, says Anandkumar, Caltech's Bren Professor of Computing and Mathematical Sciences. If you want an AI model to predict weather, it must understand chaotic physical systems, like how the atmosphere changes around the planet and over time. https://techxplore.com/news/2026-08-ai-architectures-scientific-problems.html Wed, 12 Aug 2026 16:00:01 EDT news705768961 A widely cited Nature cover article from 2023 claimed that scientific innovation has significantly declined in recent decades. This finding was based on a citation analysis of large sets of metadata concerning scientific papers and patents. Researchers from Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB) and KU Leuven have found that incomplete reference data account for most of the alleged decline in scientific disruption. Their article is also published in the journal Nature. https://phys.org/news/2026-08-science-disruptive-years-delay.html Wed, 12 Aug 2026 15:50:01 EDT news705765301 Researchers are developing biotechnological processes that enable microbes to produce proteins and vitamins for human consumption using basic chemical ingredients, such as carbon dioxide, hydrogen and oxygen—entirely bypassing livestock farming and agriculture. Because these methods also require energy input, they are popularly called "power-to-protein" and "power-to-vitamin" processes. https://phys.org/news/2026-08-microbes-protein-vitamin-b9-commercially.html Wed, 12 Aug 2026 15:40:07 EDT news705754983 Scientists from Brazil and other countries have discovered a new species of frog in the flooded forests of the western Amazon. They named it Adenomera varcena. This finding significantly advances our understanding of Amazonian biodiversity and cryptic diversity, or cases in which two or more animals appear identical but are actually different species. To distinguish this species, the researchers analyzed details such as the frog's call and DNA. https://phys.org/news/2026-08-frog-species-amazon-forests.html Wed, 12 Aug 2026 15:10:04 EDT news705765001 Ancient trees—those that are remarkably old for their species—are declining worldwide, raising concerns about the loss of the ecological and evolutionary history they represent. Their exceptional longevity has long encouraged the idea that they act as genetic reservoirs, preserving variation that may have been lost from younger populations. But does great age itself make an ancient tree genetically unique? https://phys.org/news/2026-08-history-age-genomic-importance-ancient.html Wed, 12 Aug 2026 15:20:07 EDT news705754082 Many people think of negotiation as something reserved for salary talks, car purchases, or business deals: infrequent, high-stake encounters most people would rather avoid. A new study shows that this assumption is misleading. Negotiation is, in fact, a routine part of everyday life, occurring in roughly one in three social interactions, and it is more often collaborative than adversarial. https://phys.org/news/2026-08-routine-daily-life-rare-high.html Wed, 12 Aug 2026 16:00:09 EDT news705767401 A new study suggests a protective vest tested on a manikin during NASA's first Artemis moonshot could drastically cut the radiation exposure of lunar astronauts during severe solar storms. https://phys.org/news/2026-08-vest-nasa-moonshot-astronauts-exposure.html Wed, 12 Aug 2026 14:35:26 EDT news705764085 AI data centers get a bad rap, not least because of concerns that they drive climate change by consuming massive amounts of electricity. But one potentially larger impact of AI on global carbon emissions may be that it's helping the fossil fuel industry become more productive. That's the main finding of a paper published in the journal npj Climate Action that looked at how boosting productivity across both clean and dirty energy sources affects net CO2 emissions. https://techxplore.com/news/2026-08-ai-boost-carbon-emissions.html Wed, 12 Aug 2026 12:40:06 EDT news705755250 An international team of astronomers led by the Max Planck Institute for Extraterrestrial Physics has identified three actively accreting supermassive black holes in the galaxy J0148-4214. Matter is falling into the black holes from accretion disks surrounding them. https://phys.org/news/2026-08-supermassive-black-holes-galaxy.html Wed, 12 Aug 2026 09:40:14 EDT news705743283 Across the United States, the number of people who do not have and do not want to have children is growing. While they are twice as likely to live in California as Louisiana, individual demographic characteristics are the strongest predictors of who is childfree, according to a study published in PLOS One by Zachary Neal and Jennifer Watling Neal from Michigan State University, U.S. https://phys.org/news/2026-08-californians-louisianans-childfree-demographics-story.html Wed, 12 Aug 2026 14:00:09 EDT news705688082 For thousands of years, the Anindilyakwa people have lived in deep connection with the waters surrounding Groote Eylandt, a remote island in the Gulf of Carpentaria. https://phys.org/news/2026-08-rangers-scientists-vulnerable-reefs-remote.html Wed, 12 Aug 2026 14:00:01 EDT news705671161 More than 100,000 people are awaiting an organ transplant in the United States, with a new candidate added to the list every 10 minutes. Even if the transplant is carried out successfully, recipients must take immunosuppressive medications, elevating their risk of broader infections, and adhere to a strict lifestyle for the rest of their lives—all while facing the possibility that their body could reject the donated organ at any time. https://phys.org/news/2026-08-hybrid-bioprinter-capillary-networks-narrower.html Wed, 12 Aug 2026 13:40:06 EDT news705752101 In 2005, a research team led by University of Zurich economics professor Ernst Fehr published a study in the journal Nature that provided evidence for the first time that intranasally administered oxytocin can increase trusting behavior in humans. Oxytocin is a hormone and neurotransmitter produced naturally in the body that influences social interactions, among other things. https://phys.org/news/2026-08-oxytocin-nudges-distrustful-men-invest.html Wed, 12 Aug 2026 13:20:07 EDT news705748802 One of nature's greatest spectacles—a rare total solar eclipse—cast its shadow on Wednesday, briefly turning day into night in Russia's remote Arctic north and western Iceland before heading toward mainland Europe. https://phys.org/news/2026-08-skies-darken-solar-eclipse-south.html Wed, 12 Aug 2026 14:55:47 EDT news705765321 Researchers at the Surrey Space Centre (SCC) found that extreme space weather events can significantly increase radiation exposure at typical flight altitudes of 8–14 km (5–9 miles) and trigger faults in aircraft electronics—posing a challenge for flight safety. https://techxplore.com/news/2026-08-extreme-space-weather-disrupt-flights.html Wed, 12 Aug 2026 13:40:02 EDT news705755642 Students who attended public school pre-K performed better academically through high school than those in family-based child care, according to new research from Florida International University. https://phys.org/news/2026-08-year-pre-impacts-child-academic.html Wed, 12 Aug 2026 13:00:05 EDT news705748412 Magnesium supplements are gaining popularity to treat conditions such as insomnia, migraines and constipation. Most magnesium salts are extracted from rocks by crushing and heating them, which requires a lot of energy. Now, researchers reporting in ACS Energy Letters have developed bismuth electrodes that selectively pull magnesium ions from seawater, another abundant source of the element. They say their electrochemical approach could be more sustainable and less expensive than current methods. https://techxplore.com/news/2026-08-electrochemical-method-seawater-source-magnesium.html Wed, 12 Aug 2026 13:00:03 EDT news705753901 Gas turbine engines, like those powering passenger planes, operate under extreme conditions during everyday use. These engines regularly reach temperatures well over 800°C (1,470°F), which creates challenges for long-term durability and efficiency. https://techxplore.com/news/2026-08-coating-gas-turbines-reliable-longer.html Wed, 12 Aug 2026 13:20:06 EDT news705754682 A new semiconductor integration platform developed at the Institute of Science Tokyo combines advanced chip packaging with high-density interconnects and improved thermal management. This combination of three complementary technologies helps overcome the key challenges in building high-performance artificial intelligence (AI) hardware. https://techxplore.com/news/2026-08-chip-wafer-platform-generation-ai.html Wed, 12 Aug 2026 12:20:04 EDT news705751921 A new physics-based analytical model can accurately predict ferroelectric behavior under real-world, complex voltages, according to a study led by University of Michigan Engineering. The model bridges the longstanding gap between fundamental switching physics and practical device engineering. https://techxplore.com/news/2026-08-bridges-ferroelectric-physics-circuit.html Wed, 12 Aug 2026 12:40:09 EDT news705753481 In a rare study of snakes as nest predators, scientists found nesting birds were loath to strike rattlesnakes even though they likely had no previous experience with vipers. https://phys.org/news/2026-08-unfamiliar-rattlesnakes-blackbirds-defending.html Wed, 12 Aug 2026 10:40:03 EDT news705745921 Researchers at the University of Stuttgart and the Max Planck Institute for Solid State Research have developed tiny rolls that can be unrolled and rolled up in a controlled manner using a magnet. The model for this was the proboscis of butterflies. These smart materials enable the development of more efficient drive technologies for micro- and soft robotics, a field of research of great economic importance. The results have been published in the journal Advanced Materials. https://techxplore.com/news/2026-08-butterfly-ceramic-microscrolls-unroll-magnets.html Wed, 12 Aug 2026 11:20:07 EDT news705751501 Tropical forests store enormous amounts of carbon and harbor most of the world's terrestrial biodiversity, but scientists fear that increasingly severe droughts threaten their ability to survive and continue absorbing carbon from the atmosphere. A new study published in Nature offers unexpected hope, however, and shows that tropical trees may be more adaptable to drought than scientists had previously believed. https://phys.org/news/2026-08-tropical-trees-unexpected-drought-puerto.html Wed, 12 Aug 2026 11:00:10 EDT news705656761 For the first time, researchers have developed a technology that could enable 6G antennas to be mass-produced on wafers in much the same way as semiconductor devices. https://techxplore.com/news/2026-08-platform-6g-antennas.html Wed, 12 Aug 2026 12:00:06 EDT news705751802 Much like an indecisive single person on a dating app, female treefrogs struggle to pick the most desirable mates when they have too many options to choose from. According to a new study published Aug. 12 in the journal iScience, when female Cope's gray treefrogs gather around ponds during mating season to listen to large groups of males chirping in noisy "choruses," they struggle to pick the most desirable male. The researchers call this phenomenon "choice overload," and it may affect the way species evolve over time. https://phys.org/news/2026-08-male-suitors-abound-female-treefrogs.html Wed, 12 Aug 2026 11:00:01 EDT news705588684 According to new research, viewers often dismiss, trivialize or even romanticize signs of cat distress during "play" interactions, raising concerns for cat welfare. https://phys.org/news/2026-08-internet-cats.html Wed, 12 Aug 2026 10:20:06 EDT news705745323 For the first time, researchers have demonstrated that the "ability to forget" can serve as a new computational function for artificial intelligence. https://techxplore.com/news/2026-08-ai-semiconductor-resets.html Wed, 12 Aug 2026 11:40:05 EDT news705751681 Smartwatches, phones and even some drones rely on lightweight, rechargeable energy storage systems. Once those devices wear out, many end up as electronic waste. Now, researchers reporting in ACS Energy Letters have developed a compact supercapacitor that can be quickly disassembled into reusable components. They used the devices to power a glider's propeller and then took apart one supercapacitor and sequentially reused parts in two new ones that performed as well as the original device. https://techxplore.com/news/2026-08-energy-storage-device-recycled.html Wed, 12 Aug 2026 09:40:06 EDT news705745561 Anyone who has struggled through a poor phone call knows the frustration of missing half a conversation. Now researchers at Queen Mary University of London, led by Paul Anthony Haigh, have developed an artificial intelligence system designed to solve an equivalent problem in high-speed optical communications. https://techxplore.com/news/2026-08-ai-tomorrow-wireless-networks-clearer.html Wed, 12 Aug 2026 14:00:03 EDT news705759541 Modern biomedicine increasingly relies on enormous amounts of image data. Although computers can do part of the analysis work, biologists often still need to look through the images themselves. This takes time. https://phys.org/news/2026-08-software-tool-pixasonics-biomedical-images.html Wed, 12 Aug 2026 12:40:07 EDT news705755341 Most people underestimate how much light a pair of sunglasses blocks out. A typical dark pair removes around 80% to 90% of the visible light reaching the eye. https://phys.org/news/2026-08-enjoy-solar-eclipse-safely.html Wed, 12 Aug 2026 11:41:08 EDT news705753619 Google on Wednesday unveiled its latest lineup of Pixel phones, with slimmer cameras that include more a powerful zoom and artificial intelligence features designed to help users accomplish things with fewer taps and swipes. https://techxplore.com/news/2026-08-google-unveils-latest-pixel-slimmer.html Wed, 12 Aug 2026 14:32:58 EDT news705763918 Fourth-year veterinary students matched—and experienced clinicians outperformed—an AI-enabled digital stethoscope in diagnosing heart murmurs and arrhythmias in cats and dogs, according to a new study from North Carolina State University. The study emphasizes the importance of human expertise when using AI-assisted technology, particularly with instruments designed for "universal" usage. The research is published in the Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association. https://phys.org/news/2026-08-human-clinicians-outperform-ai-stethoscope.html Wed, 12 Aug 2026 12:20:09 EDT news705753527 The decades-old scientific quest to create brand-new proteins has been turbocharged in the era of artificial intelligence. https://phys.org/news/2026-08-qa-deploying-ai-proteins-nature.html Wed, 12 Aug 2026 13:40:04 EDT news705756123 In extreme environments, habitats are built for survival. Submarines, Antarctic bases and post-disaster dwellings are designed to prioritize health and safety. This is especially the case for habitats in space, where room is limited, contact with Earth is remote and hazards are numerous. https://phys.org/news/2026-08-space-habitat-residents-mental-health.html Wed, 12 Aug 2026 05:00:04 EDT news705673502 The Amish, a Christian denomination and a three-century-old ethnic group of German migrants known for its strict lifestyle standards, are one of the fastest-growing minority populations in the U.S. For more than a century, the number of Amish people—whose American lineage traces back to Pennsylvania in the early 1700s and the Midwest by the mid-1800s—has grown rapidly, from several thousand in 1910 to 250,000 a century later. https://phys.org/news/2026-08-qa-amish-population-fast-america.html Wed, 12 Aug 2026 09:20:05 EDT news705735736 A major review of current mitigation strategies to prevent bird and bat collisions with wind turbines concludes that future wildlife-safe wind energy will depend on smarter, combined approaches that balance biodiversity protection with renewable energy production. https://techxplore.com/news/2026-08-farms-smarter-site-specific-strategies.html Wed, 12 Aug 2026 07:40:01 EDT news705735917 You walk in a park. Children are playing, people are walking their dogs, and then you hear someone say, "Who's my little sweetie?" You turn around expecting to see a stroller. But someone is sitting beside a dog, speaking in the same voice they would use with a baby. https://phys.org/news/2026-08-humans-baby-voice-pets.html Wed, 12 Aug 2026 09:00:05 EDT news705735555 As the world searches for sources of low-emission energy, researchers at Edith Cowan University (ECU) have uncovered a potential clean energy game-changer beneath Western Australia's red soil. The new study has revealed a way to generate naturally occurring hydrogen that ECU experts say could help power Australia's future—and create a major export industry. https://techxplore.com/news/2026-08-green-hydrogen-goldmine-discovery-hidden.html Wed, 12 Aug 2026 09:40:08 EDT news705746161 The surface of the moon is a bleak and forbidding place that could be hiding a lot of water ice within its dusty landscape. However, most possible ice deposits don't just stand out in an image. Scientists need specialized mapping to find those deposits, so they have devised another way to find the moon's frosty hidden reserves. They use seismic waves from moonquakes as locator beacons. https://phys.org/news/2026-08-moonquakes-reveal-lunar-ice-future.html Wed, 12 Aug 2026 08:40:05 EDT news705735495 The Western U.S. is experiencing periods of increasingly intense drought, and higher temperatures are exacerbating the issue by drawing even more moisture from plants and soils into the atmosphere. The results can be seen in the ever-expanding wildfire footprint, with many of the region's largest recorded wildfires occurring over the past decade. One DRI scientist is innovating a new way to monitor water stress in trees—one that may help monitor wildfire risk across the region. https://phys.org/news/2026-08-trees-sway-communicate-stress.html Wed, 12 Aug 2026 08:10:02 EDT news705729878 The Multimedia Laboratory (MMLab) at The University of Hong Kong (HKU) has spearheaded the development of "RoboDojo," a unified benchmarking platform designed to evaluate robotic manipulation across simulated and physical environments. Co-initiated by Professor Ping Luo, associate director (AI Research and Tech Transfer) of the HKU School of Computing and Data Science (CDS), and his Ph.D. student Tianxing Chen, the project was developed in collaboration with researchers from nearly 20 leading global universities, including the University of California, Berkeley, and Tsinghua University. The paper is posted to the arXiv preprint server. https://techxplore.com/news/2026-08-scientists-robodojo-platform-embodied-ai.html Wed, 12 Aug 2026 08:40:02 EDT news705741631 Cement is one of the most in-demand building materials of our time. Every year, around 4 billion tonnes are produced. Cement production is energy-intensive, and greenhouse gases are emitted during the process—particularly during the thermal decomposition of limestone, the most important natural raw material for cement. https://techxplore.com/news/2026-08-cement-atmosphere.html Wed, 12 Aug 2026 08:13:37 EDT news705741200 A new study from Northwestern's Kellogg School of Management found that research proposals showing stronger signs of AI-assisted writing were four percentage points more likely to receive funding from the National Institutes of Health (NIH). https://phys.org/news/2026-08-ai-grant-narrowing-ideas.html Tue, 11 Aug 2026 19:20:03 EDT news705679801 Millions of Europeans will contemplate the sky in awe on Wednesday as a rare total solar eclipse crosses part of the continent and plunges a swath of Spain into eerie daytime darkness. https://phys.org/news/2026-08-total-solar-eclipse-spellbind-europe.html Wed, 12 Aug 2026 04:40:01 EDT news705724806 Invented languages tend to be the stuff of fantasy or science fiction worlds. But as a child, you may have made one up yourself. https://phys.org/news/2026-08-elvish-klingon-pig-latin-languages.html Wed, 12 Aug 2026 03:40:01 EDT news705670809 Fluorescent protein imaging is an indispensable tool in life science research, enabling visualization of protein movement and localization, gene expression, signaling pathways, protein-protein interactions and more. For simultaneous analysis of multiple proteins (i.e., multiplex imaging), a variety of fluorescent proteins that emit different colors (blue, green, yellow and red) have been developed. https://phys.org/news/2026-08-fluorescence-lifetime-imaging-distinguishes-multiple.html Tue, 11 Aug 2026 18:40:05 EDT news705679441 Sorry, North America. After winning the cosmic lottery with a pair of coast-to-coast total solar eclipses, now it's Europe's turn. https://phys.org/news/2026-08-solar-eclipse-north-america-sliver.html Wed, 12 Aug 2026 03:37:15 EDT news705724600 In the Midwestern summer, humans and plants have to breathe through the heat and humidity. Researchers hope that a retooled crop plant—one with an improved ventilation system within its leaves—could thrive while avoiding drought stress by reducing "crop sweat." Thanks to next-generation imaging technology powered by Argonne National Laboratory's particle collider beamline, a team of scientists now has precise schematics of the leaf's interior and can refine approaches to breeding hardier crop plants. https://phys.org/news/2026-08-ray-analysis-reveals-life-advancing.html Tue, 11 Aug 2026 17:50:01 EDT news705684001 Scientists have shown that genomics can help identify which wild populations are most vulnerable to climate change—offering practical guidance for conserving threatened species before declines become irreversible. https://phys.org/news/2026-08-genomics-endangered-fish-populations-vulnerable.html Tue, 11 Aug 2026 20:20:01 EDT news705684362 Skin appearance plays an important role in the perception of age, health and attractiveness. Of course, skin appearance is affected by actual skin condition, but previous research has also found that it is affected by adjacent surfaces (e.g., eyebrows, eyes and lips). https://phys.org/news/2026-08-beauty-contrast-hair-background-skin.html Tue, 11 Aug 2026 20:00:01 EDT news705684181 A growing body of research suggests that listening to music has a positive impact on our health and well-being. We use music in at least seven different ways to regulate our emotions, including for entertainment, comfort or reflection. And it's not just feel-good tracks; we also turn to music to sit with feelings of grief, sadness or frustration. https://phys.org/news/2026-08-lyrics-deeply-years.html Tue, 11 Aug 2026 19:00:06 EDT news705681961 When social media arrived on the scene, there were high hopes that they would improve—or even "democratize"—communication about climate change by, for instance, lowering access barriers, creating a more direct channel between science and the public, and giving more voices from civil society a chance to exchange ideas and views on the issue, goals and solutions. https://phys.org/news/2026-08-climate-debate-dominated-voices-social.html Tue, 11 Aug 2026 18:20:07 EDT news705679141 Karevo's AI-powered optical recognition system can sort up to 10 tons of potatoes per hour with 95% accuracy. The founder's journey took him from a potato farm to the Technical University of Munich (TUM) and ultimately to his own startup. https://phys.org/news/2026-08-potatoes-ai.html Tue, 11 Aug 2026 18:00:07 EDT news705678966 The widespread use of conversational platforms such as ChatGPT and Gemini is raising important new ethical, anthropological and legal questions regarding the potential risks, misuses and shortcomings of artificial intelligence (AI). In discussing their personal experiences, some people have shared that they formed emotional attachments to AI agents or even felt that they had formed romantic relationships with them. https://techxplore.com/news/2026-08-people-ai-agents.html Tue, 11 Aug 2026 08:00:02 EDT news705585110 Every morning, groups of birds start singing and chirping around the same time, typically when the sun starts rising. While zoologists have been studying this collective bird behavior, called the dawn chorus, for decades, the factors driving it remain poorly understood. https://phys.org/news/2026-08-mathematical-birds-synchronized-dawn-chorus.html Tue, 11 Aug 2026 12:00:05 EDT news705658583 Research has long shown that exercise benefits both physical and mental health. Now, a new study from researchers at BYU suggests that it may also strengthen marriages, especially when couples exercise together. https://phys.org/news/2026-08-happier-marriage-simple-habit.html Tue, 11 Aug 2026 08:40:02 EDT news705651182 Using the NASA/ESA/CSA James Webb Space Telescope, an international team of astronomers has discovered that dust and water can form and survive surprisingly close to the supermassive black hole at the center of the Milky Way galaxy. The observations reveal that the evolved star IRS 3 continues to enrich its surroundings with newly formed material despite the intense radiation environment around Sagittarius A*. https://phys.org/news/2026-08-webb-reveals-oxygen-rich-surviving.html Tue, 11 Aug 2026 13:00:02 EDT news705665284 When MIT historian Tristan Brown first examined a Chinese tea chest label displayed as a relic of the Boston Tea Party, he had no reason to doubt its story. https://phys.org/news/2026-08-chinese-boston-tea-party-reveals.html Tue, 11 Aug 2026 16:30:02 EDT news705680941 Researchers at the Department of Energy's (DOE) Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) and the University of Tennessee (UT), Knoxville, have made an advance by using a natural substance from fungi called chitin to create hydrogels that are significantly stronger and tougher. This new material could lead to safer medical devices, longer-lasting coatings and other innovations that improve everyday technology and health care. https://phys.org/news/2026-08-fungal-chitin-route-tougher-hydrogels.html Tue, 11 Aug 2026 17:00:05 EDT news705670982 Scientists from the Centre for Crop and Food Innovation (CCFI) at Murdoch University have participated in a landmark proof-of-concept research project demonstrating how pangenome-guided breeding strategies can reunite two traits that usually involve trade-offs: stress tolerance and yield. https://phys.org/news/2026-08-himalayan-grain-potential-pangenome-higher.html Tue, 11 Aug 2026 17:30:01 EDT news705683822 The trail of likes, shares and downloads we leave across the internet could help predict successful innovations years in advance, Cornell researchers showed by curating two datasets that allowed them to compare early engagement with future impact. https://techxplore.com/news/2026-08-today-downloads-tomorrow-scientific-impact.html Tue, 11 Aug 2026 12:00:02 EDT news705668341 Nearly 30 years ago, a simple question sent University of Washington researchers into the Puget Sound lowlands to look for birds. With Seattle's population swelling and housing developments pushing into once-forested suburbs, researchers wanted to know how land conversion was affecting birds and whether the type of development mattered. https://phys.org/news/2026-08-decade-seattle-suburbs-sensitive-bird.html Tue, 11 Aug 2026 16:10:01 EDT news705680222 Researchers have developed a full-color near-eye display that uses three stacked holographic gratings, each engineered to direct red, green or blue light. The new design could help advance compact, energy-efficient augmented reality (AR) glasses for use in a variety of professional and consumer applications. https://techxplore.com/news/2026-08-holographic-layers-red-green-blue.html Tue, 11 Aug 2026 16:00:06 EDT news705682502 Reproduction is central to the survival of all living organisms. Over millions of years, animal species on Earth have evolved a remarkable variety of mating strategies, ranging from physical fights with competitors to mesmerizing color changes, songs that attract mates and rhythmic movements that resemble dancing. https://phys.org/news/2026-08-male-anglerfish-parasitically-fuse-females.html Mon, 10 Aug 2026 14:20:01 EDT news705585515 A vaccine only protects a whole community if enough people get it, including those who would stay safe anyway once their neighbors are covered. The same tension runs through climate action and social movements: The shared payoff arrives only when enough people pitch in. https://phys.org/news/2026-08-based-rewards-cooperation-free-riders.html Tue, 11 Aug 2026 17:00:03 EDT news705681417 In a world first, scientists led by a team from Stanford University have created 16 viable viruses that do not exist in nature and were designed by AI. Their experiment, which is published in Science, could help in the fight against superbugs by allowing researchers to design customized viruses to kill drug-resistant bacteria. Thomas Inglesby and Moritz S. Hanke have published a Perspective piece on the work and its implications in the same edition of the journal. https://phys.org/news/2026-08-sixteen-ai-viruses-route-drug.html Mon, 10 Aug 2026 07:00:01 EDT news705314814 Platypuses rescued during a severe drought quickly returned to their old routines after being released back into the wild, suggesting emergency rescues can help protect vulnerable populations. https://phys.org/news/2026-08-platypuses-quickly-months-captivity.html Tue, 11 Aug 2026 11:20:03 EDT news705663603 Artificial intelligence models are jacks of many trades, including writing, generating images, and creating 3D models. But they aren't as helpful when it comes to testing robots or designs for vehicles in diverse environments, since they don't understand physics as well as they do pixels or text. https://techxplore.com/news/2026-08-physics-ai-simulate-wider-range.html Tue, 11 Aug 2026 09:00:01 EDT news705656882 One of the most promising technologies is perovskite solar cells. They are highly efficient at converting sunlight into electricity, can be manufactured as thin and flexible devices, and require less energy and lower production costs than conventional silicon modules. However, their commercial adoption has long been limited by a fundamental challenge—insufficient long-term stability when exposed to moisture, heat and oxygen. https://techxplore.com/news/2026-08-neutral-salt-layer-perovskite-solar.html Tue, 11 Aug 2026 09:20:01 EDT news705657121 In the coastal forests of a tropical Japanese island near Okinawa grows an inconspicuous plant that is easy to mistake for a mushroom. It is a non-green parasite that feeds on the roots of other plants and produces up to 1 million tiny seeds, each covered in a minuscule, dry fruit. The seeds, in particular, present a mystery to scientists: How do they get dispersed? https://phys.org/news/2026-08-secret-gardeners-parasitic.html Tue, 11 Aug 2026 06:00:01 EDT news705585324 Baker's yeast is one of biotechnology's most important microorganisms. It has long been used to leaven bread and ferment beer. More recently, advances in synthetic biology have enabled engineered yeast to convert sugar into a wide range of products, including medicines, fuels and industrial chemicals. Yet even well-engineered yeast cells can be difficult to control in a precise and timely way. https://phys.org/news/2026-08-yeast-biofactories-programmable-precise.html Tue, 11 Aug 2026 09:00:03 EDT news705657302 In his 1927 paper, "A law of comparative judgment," the American psychologist L. L. Thurstone proposed that when people select one option among multiple alternatives, they are picking the one that has the highest value to them, even though they cannot assign a particular number to that choice. https://phys.org/news/2026-08-people-pays-power.html Mon, 10 Aug 2026 18:00:02 EDT news705595141 The ability to change focus instantly is something most people take for granted. Every day, our eyes effortlessly switch between reading a book, recognizing a face across the room or watching a bird fly overhead. Replicating that remarkable technological flexibility, however, has proved far more difficult. https://techxplore.com/news/2026-08-graphene-powered-soft-lens-pave.html Mon, 10 Aug 2026 16:20:01 EDT news705596001 A single leaf may look like a simple patch of green, but to the microscopic life that inhabits it, it is a vast landscape divided into different worlds. https://phys.org/news/2026-08-oak-harbor-distinct-microbial-worlds.html Mon, 10 Aug 2026 19:00:03 EDT news705596461 Subscriber Identity Modules (SIMs), secure elements used to connect devices to a mobile network, can pose severe security risks when compromised. A malicious SIM could allow attackers to gather information about a device, interfere with its connectivity and serve as an entry point for further cyberattacks. https://techxplore.com/news/2026-08-malicious-sim-cards-hijack-smartphones.html Mon, 10 Aug 2026 03:00:02 EDT news705321541 A new study has found that sexual role identities among men who have sex with men vary systematically by age and geographic region. https://phys.org/news/2026-08-sexual-role-identities-gay-bisexual.html Tue, 11 Aug 2026 15:00:01 EDT news705670540 Human service organizations play an important role in connecting people to housing, health care, food access and other essential services. Yet forecasting community needs can be difficult in times of rapid change or crisis because of limited resources and restricted access to data. For instance, during the COVID-19 pandemic, concerns about a potential surge in evictions exposed gaps in the data used to assess housing instability. https://phys.org/news/2026-08-early-housing-evictions.html Tue, 11 Aug 2026 16:40:02 EDT news705678633 Scientists—and dog lovers—have long known that dogs are remarkably good at interpreting our laughs, frowns and tears. But the biology behind this ability has remained largely unexplored until now. In a study published in the journal iScience on Aug. 7, researchers peered inside the brains of dogs as they viewed images of various human expressions. The brain scans revealed that dogs process smiles in a unique brain region and, for the first time, provided evidence that dogs can distinguish between negative facial expressions, including anger, sadness and fear. https://phys.org/news/2026-08-mri-dogs-distinguish-human-sadness.html Mon, 10 Aug 2026 11:00:07 EDT news705246541 Most batteries spend more than 70% of their lifetime at rest. Yet few studies have examined calendar aging, which is how a battery degrades when it is neither charging nor being used. https://techxplore.com/news/2026-08-aim-battery-aging-idle.html Mon, 10 Aug 2026 17:40:05 EDT news705601261 For more than two decades, Charis E. Kubrin has followed the data wherever it leads. As UC Irvine Chancellor's Professor of Criminology, Law and Society, she has built a career studying one of America's most politically charged questions: Does immigration drive crime? https://phys.org/news/2026-08-large-scale-link-crime-unauthorized.html Tue, 11 Aug 2026 07:40:01 EDT news705643501 Sodium-ion batteries (SIBs) are increasingly popular alternatives to lithium-ion batteries. Sodium (Na) is much more abundant in Earth's crust than lithium, creating an opportunity for lower costs. In addition, SIBs offer enhanced safety and low-temperature performance. Indeed, SIBs are already being commercialized for applications ranging from portable electronics to electric vehicles. https://techxplore.com/news/2026-08-scandium-durability-sodium-ion-battery.html Tue, 11 Aug 2026 15:00:09 EDT news705678661 Chinese scientists have developed a method that could facilitate the large-scale production of high-efficiency perovskite solar cells. The method employs a multidentate anchoring molecule-assisted co-deposition strategy to improve the fabrication of self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) through blade coating—a technique that applies a thin film to a substrate with a blade and is suitable for large-scale manufacturing. https://techxplore.com/news/2026-08-blade-coating-strategy-advances-scalable.html Tue, 11 Aug 2026 15:40:02 EDT news705680821 The past decade has brought a wave of legal reforms around same-sex relationships across Asia: India struck down its colonial-era ban in 2018; Taiwan legalized same-sex marriage in 2019; Singapore repealed Section 377A, with the change taking effect in 2023; and Thailand's marriage equality law came into effect in 2025. https://phys.org/news/2026-08-legal-reforms-shift-discourse-social.html Tue, 11 Aug 2026 16:20:01 EDT news705678481 Every year, millions of migratory birds travel between different geographical regions on Earth to find food, escape cold weather or reach safe environments to raise chicks. To determine which direction to fly, these birds rely on various types of sensory cues and information, including the magnetic field surrounding our planet, known as the geomagnetic field. https://phys.org/news/2026-08-pulsed-radiofrequency-magnetic-fields-disorient.html Sat, 08 Aug 2026 12:40:01 EDT news705314676 Scientists have described a new species of lizard from the high mountain forests of western Thailand and have given it a name straight out of an American fantasy drama television series: Acanthosaura syrax, named after Syrax, the dragon ridden by Queen Rhaenyra Targaryen in "House of the Dragon." https://phys.org/news/2026-08-species-mountain-horned-dragon-thailand.html Mon, 10 Aug 2026 10:40:04 EDT news705575461 In recent years, computer scientists have developed a wide range of artificial intelligence (AI) models that can rapidly recognize patterns in data, generate content and solve other computational problems. Many of these AI systems are based on deep neural networks (DNNs), brain-inspired computational models that can make predictions based on specific data, or LLMs, models that can process human language, answer queries and generate text. https://techxplore.com/news/2026-07-ai-framework-rooted-cognitive-science.html Sat, 08 Aug 2026 09:40:02 EDT news704472357 The scramble for protective glasses has reached fever pitch across Europe ahead of Wednesday's rare total solar eclipse, as pharmacies, opticians and other shops struggled to keep them in stock. https://phys.org/news/2026-08-solar-eclipse-scramble-glasses-europe.html Tue, 11 Aug 2026 13:00:04 EDT news705664107 Researchers at Aalto University, together with international partners, have developed the most accurate model yet of how humans read. The new model uses reinforcement learning, a type of AI used in robotics, to explain—and recreate—the choices readers make as they move through text. https://techxplore.com/news/2026-08-ai-captures-humans-paving-personalized.html Mon, 10 Aug 2026 17:00:11 EDT news705599283 Imagine that you share a ride to work with the same colleague most mornings. As it passes by a license plate reader, the camera records the car, which can be linked through vehicle records to its registered owner. Beside it, another sensor detects signals broadcast by devices traveling nearby, such as your phone and your colleague's smartwatch. https://techxplore.com/news/2026-08-tech-tracking-plate-readers-associating.html Tue, 11 Aug 2026 13:00:08 EDT news705670643 Photosynthetic microorganisms can use light energy to convert carbon dioxide into useful compounds under mild, environmentally compatible conditions. However, many current photosynthetic production systems rely on cells growing freely in large volumes of liquid. This creates a substantial demand for water and requires extensive mixing to keep the cells evenly distributed and exposed to light, increasing the resource and energy requirements of the process. https://phys.org/news/2026-08-photosynthetic-microorganisms-renewable-chemical-production.html Mon, 10 Aug 2026 17:40:01 EDT news705593461 From spears and the invention of the wheel to smartphones and robots, human societies have been building and using tools from the beginning. Human tool use has helped conquer new environments, increase communication and ultimately alter the course of human evolution. https://phys.org/news/2026-08-dolphins-tools-fish-mothers.html Tue, 11 Aug 2026 11:20:01 EDT news705662221 The electric grid has never mattered more—or faced more pressure. As transportation, buildings and industry electrify, ever more of modern life runs through the same network of wires. At the same time, the grid is being reshaped from both ends. https://techxplore.com/news/2026-08-vision-reality-neural-solver-power.html Tue, 11 Aug 2026 14:40:03 EDT news705677101 People from different cultural backgrounds are tickled in remarkably similar ways. They laugh, resist and are usually tickled by family members or friends. They are also ticklish in the same body regions. These are among the findings of a study published recently in Nature Human Behaviour by Ziliang Xiong and Konstantina Kilteni of the Donders Institute at Radboud University in collaboration with Karolinska Institutet. https://phys.org/news/2026-08-ticklish-cultures-complex.html Mon, 10 Aug 2026 13:40:01 EDT news705587401 It can be a little hard to believe it's back-to-school season already. And while there are still some long, relaxed days of summer ahead, it's also the time when families begin to plan for the coming school year. School clothes and notebooks are just around the corner. https://phys.org/news/2026-08-health-healthy-happy-school-kids.html Tue, 11 Aug 2026 14:20:02 EDT news705666722 While the link between financial stability and mental health is well-established, a new University College Dublin (UCD) study reveals a major blind spot in current research: an overreliance on self-reported surveys rather than objective financial data. The joint review published in Frontiers in Public Health by UCD School of Computer Science and UCD School of Psychology evaluated 43 studies on financial habits and mental illness, uncovering significant gaps. https://phys.org/news/2026-08-banking-apps-mental-health.html Tue, 11 Aug 2026 13:20:03 EDT news705665409 Researchers from the National University of Singapore (NUS) College of Design and Engineering (CDE), led by Professor Heng Chye Kiang (NUS Department of Architecture), have developed a computational framework for reconstructing the genealogy of vernacular architecture. https://techxplore.com/news/2026-08-ai-method-reconstructs-architectural-lineages.html Tue, 11 Aug 2026 13:20:09 EDT news705672361 Why do we breeze through some sentences in a book or article but have to reread others to comprehend their meaning? A team of linguists and data scientists has found a partial answer in AI—some of this processing parallels that of neural-network-based large language models (LLMs). However, other aspects of why we read this way cannot be explained by these technologies, revealing where human and AI language processing diverge and maintaining the mystery of some stages of the reading process. https://techxplore.com/news/2026-08-labor-words-ai-partial.html Mon, 10 Aug 2026 13:40:10 EDT news705585670 Engineers have developed a strain of a common bacterial species that can feed exclusively on the three major sugars present in corn stalks. While the new multiple-sugar-consuming strain of the bacterium Pseudomonas putida is interesting in its own right, a new paper published in Nature Communications on July 29, 2026, outlines the broader implications of this project for the future of biomanufacturing. https://phys.org/news/2026-08-corn-stalk-sugars-bacterial-strain.html Mon, 10 Aug 2026 10:20:04 EDT news705573361 Recent advances in miniaturized and portable electronics, particularly wearable and flexible devices, have increased the demand for self-powered sensing technologies. Among these, triboelectric nanogenerators (TENGs) have received considerable attention for developing highly sensitive tactile sensors. https://techxplore.com/news/2026-08-electronic-skin-enables-tunable-proximity.html Mon, 10 Aug 2026 12:20:03 EDT news705580442 Adolescence is a key stage of development, characterized by heightened emotional vulnerability. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), one in seven young people ages 10–19 lives with a mental health condition. In this context, developing social and emotional skills offers a promising way to support both academic success and young people's ability to cope with the challenges of adolescence, particularly for those who are most vulnerable. Identifying approaches that are both effective and well suited to this age group is therefore an important priority. https://phys.org/news/2026-08-theater-meditation-games-anxious-teens.html Tue, 11 Aug 2026 10:20:06 EDT news705658683 Cornell researchers are using artificial intelligence to speed the search for better battery materials while using a creative approach to chemistry to expand the design space for electrolytes, unlocking new possibilities for safer, higher-performing energy storage. https://techxplore.com/news/2026-08-ai-electrolyte-paths-batteries.html Mon, 10 Aug 2026 11:00:09 EDT news705577981 Most current space activities operate close to Earth in what is called near–Earth orbit. However, as more satellites and other infrastructure begin to extend beyond that region, maintaining situational awareness of those objects will be crucial. https://phys.org/news/2026-08-smarter-track-satellites-earth-orbit.html Tue, 11 Aug 2026 09:00:05 EDT news705657422 A McGill University study recommends that cold-climate cities increase their electric bus fleets and expand charging capacity so vehicles can be charged slowly, a process that draws less power from the grid than fast charging. https://techxplore.com/news/2026-08-electric-buses-cold-climates-optimizing.html Tue, 11 Aug 2026 11:40:09 EDT news705664562 The good news is that the majority of Australian students have again reached proficiency standards in reading and writing literacy—marking almost 20 years of consistent achievement. These results suggest two-thirds of Australian students meet the reading standard, listed as "strong" or "exceeding proficiency level." https://phys.org/news/2026-08-australian-students-misinformation.html Tue, 11 Aug 2026 11:40:07 EDT news705665364 Australia's growing mountain of solar panel waste could become far more valuable, with University of Newcastle researchers taking a major step toward making solar panel recycling economically sustainable. The team has successfully scaled up a process that recovers valuable silver from end-of-life solar panels, demonstrating almost 100% silver recovery during the world's first continuous pilot-scale flotation trial for solar-panel recycling. https://techxplore.com/news/2026-08-flotation-recovers-silver-solar-panel.html Tue, 11 Aug 2026 09:40:05 EDT news705658641 A study of Bradfield City's First Building green roof confirms that combining native rooftop gardens with solar panels reduces urban heat, increases renewable energy generation and supports local biodiversity. https://techxplore.com/news/2026-08-biosolar-roof-standard-climate-resilient.html Tue, 11 Aug 2026 10:20:08 EDT news705661802 There are increasing calls for tighter legislation and restrictions on social media use, particularly for children and young people. Evidence shows potential harms coexist on social media platforms alongside opportunities for crisis support and connection. https://techxplore.com/news/2026-08-social-media-content-safe-spaces.html Tue, 11 Aug 2026 12:35:16 EDT news705670487 Fever is one of the best-known mechanisms by which animals combat infectious diseases. Sick animals can increase their body temperature in two ways: through physiological regulation, by altering internal metabolic processes, or through behavioral changes, such as seeking warmer environments. Ectothermic animals, including amphibians, fish and reptiles, generally rely only on the latter strategy. However, fever is not always the most effective response against every pathogen. https://phys.org/news/2026-08-fever-isnt-infected-tadpoles-cool.html Mon, 10 Aug 2026 14:00:08 EDT news705587942 A nuclear plant in northern France shut down three reactors after a swarm of jellyfish clogged pumps used to cool the units, energy group EDF said Tuesday. https://techxplore.com/news/2026-08-jellyfish-shutdown-reactors-french-nuclear.html Tue, 11 Aug 2026 11:00:03 EDT news705664309 A flowering plant has been confirmed as a new carnivorous lineage, according to research published in Nature Communications. The findings show that Saxifraga candelabrum can attract, trap, digest and absorb nitrogen from insects, supporting a prediction made by Charles Darwin more than 150 years ago. https://phys.org/news/2026-08-sticky-alpine-darwin-year-carnivorous.html Tue, 04 Aug 2026 15:40:06 EDT news705067922 The Perseid summer light show is back—and viewing conditions are especially promising for the Northern Hemisphere. https://phys.org/news/2026-08-perseid-meteor-shower-summer-dazzle.html Sun, 09 Aug 2026 14:52:39 EDT news705505929 Songbirds, birds belonging to the Passeriformes order, are best known for their ability to produce complex musical sounds. Yet some songbird species also have another remarkable skill: They can easily remove the tough layer covering seeds (i.e., the husk) before swallowing their nutritious interiors. https://phys.org/news/2026-08-songbirds-sharper-de-husk-seeds.html Thu, 06 Aug 2026 08:00:04 EDT news705148144 Every day, billions of people scroll through social media posts, online reviews and news feeds filled with emotional content—from glowing five-star reviews to rage-inducing social media rants. Those emotions can quietly shape what people buy, what they believe and how they act. https://phys.org/news/2026-08-framework-emotions-behavior-online.html Tue, 11 Aug 2026 09:20:10 EDT news705657722 The first — and only — person to break the sound barrier in a car hits the track in Utah this week with new wheels and his eye on another record. https://techxplore.com/news/2026-08-driver-broke-barrier-utah.html Tue, 11 Aug 2026 07:00:06 EDT news705634576 The multiplication of matrices and higher-dimensional arrays called tensors lies at the heart of modern computing. Matrix or tensor multiplication is, in fact, the most common operation carried out in artificial intelligence applications, as well as in scientific simulations and computer graphics. High-performance computers, especially those equipped with graphics processing units (GPUs), are designed to work with so-called dense matrices or tensors—those that have relatively few zero elements. https://techxplore.com/news/2026-08-coding-technique-needless-gpu-tasks.html Mon, 10 Aug 2026 16:40:05 EDT news705596761 Ever wonder who you mimic in a line of people heading for an exit? In an emergency, do you trail the person right ahead, or do you watch what everyone else does? It's a question with surprising implications for how we understand human behavior under pressure. https://sciencex.com/news/2026-07-virtual-exposes-hidden-people-identical.html Thu, 06 Aug 2026 07:00:01 EDT news703144384 Common carp are among the world's most widely farmed freshwater fish, providing food and livelihoods for millions of people. But across fish farms and freshwater ecosystems, they face a formidable threat: a highly contagious virus capable of causing devastating outbreaks and wiping out entire populations in a matter of days. https://phys.org/news/2026-08-common-carp-blunt-koi-herpesvirus.html Mon, 10 Aug 2026 17:40:03 EDT news705594421 Large language models (LLMs), the computational models that underpin conversational agents such as Gemini and ChatGPT, are now widely used by people worldwide to rapidly find information, summarize documents and generate texts for specific purposes. Some computer scientists are now combining two or more of these models to create multi-agent systems, which prompt multiple artificial intelligence (AI) agents to interact, cooperate and/or compete with the goal of completing specific tasks. https://techxplore.com/news/2026-08-hidden-goals-undermine-ai-teamwork.html Thu, 06 Aug 2026 09:10:01 EDT news705224292 A new Australian study has found that feeding zoo-housed lions whole-animal carcasses on a feast-and-fast schedule encourages behaviors more closely aligned with those seen in the wild. https://phys.org/news/2026-08-zoo-housed-lions-wild-style.html Thu, 06 Aug 2026 11:40:20 EDT news705229921 Meat eaters view plant-based meat as riskier and offering less value than conventional meat, regardless of how it is marketed, according to new Adelaide University research. https://phys.org/news/2026-08-beef-based-meat.html Mon, 10 Aug 2026 09:00:01 EDT news705567542 Narcissism is associated with selfishness and other negative traits like a grandiose sense of self-importance, a constant need for admiration and a lack of empathy for others. So it may not be surprising that narcissists tend to have a hard time with behaviors associated with better mental health and healthy relationships, like forgiveness. But a new study, published in the Journal of Behavior Therapy and Experimental Psychiatry, explores how people with a particular type of narcissism automatically respond to interpersonal offenses by measuring their tendencies to seek revenge, avoid the person who offended them or act in a benevolent manner. https://phys.org/news/2026-08-women-narcissistic-tendencies-struggle.html Tue, 04 Aug 2026 12:40:06 EDT news705060038 In the early hours of Wednesday morning, Aug. 5, the upper stage of a Falcon 9 rocket crashed into the moon in an uncontrolled collision. https://phys.org/news/2026-08-rocket-debris-moon-threaten-future.html Mon, 10 Aug 2026 17:20:09 EDT news705594061 When people work in pairs or teams, they can often solve a wider range of problems, completing some tasks faster and more efficiently than they would alone. To assist users similarly to how other humans would, robots should be able to rapidly interpret human behaviors and commands, using their predictions to plan and precisely execute helpful actions. https://techxplore.com/news/2026-08-human-aware-robots-partners-strain.html Wed, 05 Aug 2026 08:00:02 EDT news705056917 People gave the highest ratings to AI-generated stories they were told had been written by humans and were unable to tell the difference between human- and AI-created stories, according to new research published in Judgement and Decision Making. The study, led by researchers at Villanova University, U.S., adds to the growing body of evidence that many people's ability to spot AI-generated content is limited. https://techxplore.com/news/2026-08-people-stories-written-ai-told.html Tue, 04 Aug 2026 19:10:03 EDT news704970841 Rice University engineers have developed a new strategy for controlling how therapeutic peptides are released from gelatin-based materials, a step that could make the small but powerful molecules more useful in tissue engineering and drug delivery. https://phys.org/news/2026-08-based-strategy-delivery-therapeutic-peptides.html Sun, 09 Aug 2026 07:20:01 EDT news705327575 From reaching for a cup of coffee to tying your shoelaces, gravity shapes nearly all human movement. So how do our bodies react when that familiar force begins to change? Texas A&M University researchers are exploring the answer through a multiphase project supported by NASA. https://phys.org/news/2026-08-gravity-people-simpler-movement-patterns.html Sat, 08 Aug 2026 09:20:01 EDT news705377293 Do you ever see comments on social media that seem way off-topic but still manage to wrench the discussion around to divisive political debate? https://phys.org/news/2026-08-ai-disinformation-harder-weve.html Mon, 10 Aug 2026 17:00:01 EDT news705593941 Social cohesion is the glue that holds society together. Now, those bonds are breaking, and polarization has been growing for years. Educational programs aimed at strengthening social cohesion by promoting greater tolerance often focus on social differences, such as ethnicity, religion or nationality. Yet are such programs effective? A German–American team of researchers involving the University of Konstanz recommends the opposite approach: Instead of focusing on differences, such programs should center on universal human values. https://phys.org/news/2026-08-common-ground-curriculum-boosts-tolerance.html Mon, 10 Aug 2026 19:00:01 EDT news705595981 Decades of selective breeding and intensive agricultural practices have reshaped cattle genetics—often at the expense of valuable diversity preserved in traditional herds—according to new research from Aberystwyth University. https://phys.org/news/2026-08-traditional-cattle-herds-diversity.html Mon, 10 Aug 2026 07:20:02 EDT news705560407 Meat is a rare and highly prized resource for wild Guinea baboons (Papio papio). Yet, contrary to long-standing assumptions based on human hunter–gatherer societies, a new study by the German Primate Center—Leibniz-Institute for Primate Research (DPZ) reveals that female Guinea baboons do not preferentially choose males who are more skilled at acquiring meat as their mates. https://phys.org/news/2026-08-meat-doesnt-female-guinea-baboons.html Mon, 10 Aug 2026 16:20:04 EDT news705588771 As AI-powered large language models, or LLMs, grow in power and sophistication, where will their architects turn when someday—as experts predict—algorithms outgrow the limits of general human knowledge and begin craving information possessed by only the world's most elite thinkers and creators? https://techxplore.com/news/2026-08-human-knowledge-exhausted-ai.html Mon, 10 Aug 2026 11:40:08 EDT news705579661 All living organisms need vitamin B12 to form red blood cells and DNA, as well as to build and support brain and nerve cells. But it's hard to come by: Humans don't make it. Animals don't make it. Plants don't make it. In fact, this essential nutrient is made exclusively by certain bacteria and archaea. https://phys.org/news/2026-08-phages-essential-vitamin-b12-gut.html Fri, 07 Aug 2026 13:40:06 EDT news705320644 In the last decade, scientists have shown that fusion energy can work as a physical process. Next question: Can it work economically? A study co-authored by MIT professors Dennis Whyte and Andrew W. Lo proposes a framework for understanding what's needed to make fusion energy commercially viable in the marketplace. The method considers the physical inputs needed to sustain controlled fusion energy production, as well as the cost of building power plants that can compete in energy markets. https://techxplore.com/news/2026-08-economic-realities-fusion-power-framework.html Mon, 10 Aug 2026 16:00:04 EDT news705595681 Are some interventions designed to induce gratitude more effectively than others? In which countries and cultures do they work best to improve mood, strengthen bonds between people and promote social reciprocity? A study aimed at answering these questions—conducted in 34 countries with more than 10,000 participants—had its results published in PNAS. In Brazil, the project received the help of researchers and 598 volunteers who responded to intervention prompts via an online tool. https://phys.org/news/2026-08-mega-impact-gratitude-interventions.html Sat, 08 Aug 2026 07:20:03 EDT news705314828 A global analysis of range-shift records for 1,758 butterfly species—10% of known butterfly species—found that 80% had expanded their range and that 79% of all recorded range shifts were linked to climate change and extreme weather events. The new study, published in Nature Ecology & Evolution, also reports range contractions for 27% of species, and 22% of species showed a change in elevation. Because many species exhibited multiple types of range shifts, the percentages for expansions, contractions and elevation changes are above 100%. https://phys.org/news/2026-08-butterfly-ranges-shift-worldwide-climate.html Sat, 08 Aug 2026 13:40:04 EDT news705152045 While asking questions to ChatGPT and similar tools to generate images has become part of daily life, behind this convenience lies the massive power consumption of huge data centers. https://techxplore.com/news/2026-08-neuromorphic-ai-technique-usher-era.html Mon, 10 Aug 2026 16:00:01 EDT news705595621 Robots are gradually making their way into a variety of settings, ranging from households to public spaces, offices, factories and health care facilities. Despite their potential, however, many existing robots do not perform as well in dynamic and unpredictable real-world environments as they do during controlled laboratory tests. https://techxplore.com/news/2026-08-rl-framework-robots-refine-tasks.html Tue, 04 Aug 2026 10:00:01 EDT news705055560 Roads, dams and other infrastructure built to make life easier for people have unintentionally made survival harder for another form of life—critically endangered European eels. https://phys.org/news/2026-08-roads-european-eels-scientists-strategy.html Mon, 10 Aug 2026 13:20:07 EDT news705581462 Scientists have made a surprising finding about how an asexually reproducing stick insect has evolved. Research led by Dr. Darren Parker, lecturer in evolutionary biology at Bangor University, studied the genes of several species of Timema (a type of stick insect), which have not engaged in sexual reproduction for 1 million years—the longest known asexual period for any insect. https://phys.org/news/2026-08-million-years-sex-erase-insects.html Fri, 07 Aug 2026 19:00:02 EDT news705330364 An international team of researchers has uncovered a previously undetected structure in the birdsong of Bengalese finches that has the same statistical patterns found in human languages. https://phys.org/news/2026-08-birdsong-whale-song-patterns-similar.html Fri, 07 Aug 2026 14:00:05 EDT news705227461 Livestock farming requires valuable land to grow fodder, uses vast amounts of freshwater and contributes to global warming through methane and nitrous oxide emissions. And, for many consumers it is important to prevent animal suffering. For these reasons, the global market for meat alternatives is currently worth €6.7 billion to €8.1 billion per year and is projected to grow 8.1% to 12.3% each year over the next decade. https://phys.org/news/2026-08-powerhouses-fake-meat-muscle-protein.html Thu, 06 Aug 2026 00:00:01 EDT news705158701 The child who plays alone during recess may be perfectly content doing so, according to a new study from the University of Georgia. https://phys.org/news/2026-08-unsocial-kids-happier.html Mon, 10 Aug 2026 12:20:01 EDT news705579901 Rodney Luster, Ph.D., University research chair and chair of the Center for Leadership and Entrepreneurial Research (CLER) in the University of Phoenix College of Doctoral Studies, presented pilot research examining the potential use of generative artificial intelligence to support structured empathy practice at the 2026 American Psychological Association annual convention. https://phys.org/news/2026-08-ai-persona-boosts-empathy-scores.html Mon, 10 Aug 2026 14:20:05 EDT news705584102 An international study finds that older adults who have strong beliefs about how other seniors should behave also report having more memory problems themselves. The study suggests a relationship between "ageist attitudes" and memory. https://phys.org/news/2026-08-international-links-ageist-attitudes-memory.html Mon, 10 Aug 2026 12:40:05 EDT news705581401