The moon's largest impact crater scattered something priceless—and Artemis may be heading straight into it

A new study, published in Science Advances, has refined some important details about the moon's largest and oldest impact crater, which stretches more than 1,200 miles (2,000 km) on the far side of the moon. The new details can help guide some of the planning for NASA's upcoming Artemis mission to the moon, which is planned for 2028.

source https://phys.org/news/2026-05-moon-largest-impact-crater-priceless.html

Why plant extinctions may rise by 2100 even if species keep shifting ranges

No matter how fast a species under threat can move, escape can only be successful if the new destination can meet its needs. An ecological modeling study from the University of California, Davis, found that 7% to 16% of global plant species studied are expected to lose more than 90% of their range, facing high risk of extinction by 2100 under current climate change projections.

source https://phys.org/news/2026-05-extinctions-species-shifting-ranges.html

Introducing ecotech, nature's innovation accelerator

An international research team has developed a roadmap for an emerging field of technology called ecotech, which aims to create scalable solutions to urgent environmental, social and economic challenges. The team describes this field, providing a comprehensive framework for its adoption and expansion, in the journal Science Advances.

source https://phys.org/news/2026-05-ecotech-nature.html

It's complicated: New research reveals more about the social networks of baboons and African monkeys

Like people, nonhuman primates live in groups that vary in size and shape depending on the species. Some primate groups are small and simple; others are large and more layered. Over the decades, primatologists have observed that baboons and other closely related monkeys, the African papionins, typically live in two types of social groups: single-level and multi-level societies.

source https://phys.org/news/2026-05-complicated-reveals-social-networks-baboons.html

The COVID‑19 pandemic exposed the load mothers carry—a burden that's still being ignored today

The COVID-19 pandemic exacerbated and brought into focus the ongoing disproportionate burden on mothers when it comes to household logistics, child care and financial inequity. It also revealed just how deeply embedded and structurally reinforced that burden is.

source https://phys.org/news/2026-05-covid19-pandemic-exposed-mothers-burden.html

SRH Coach Vettori Dissects Problem After KKR Loss, Namedrops Kishan, Klaasen

Sunrisers Hyderabad coach Daniel Vettori on Sunday said losing wickets at crucial times hampered their strategies against Kolkata Knight Riders in an IPL 2026 match on Sunday.

source https://sports.ndtv.com/cricket/srh-coach-daniel-vettori-dissects-problem-after-kkr-loss-namedrops-ishan-kishan-heinrich-klaasen-11443630

Study warns cost-cutting use of generative AI could increase cyber-attack risks

Newly published research from a leading computer scientist warns that the use of generative AI to design, train, or perform steps within a machine learning system could increase serious risks. Michael Lones, professor at Heriot-Watt University's School of Mathematical and Computer Sciences, has argued in a new paper that generative AI could expose organizations and the public to unintended harm.

source https://phys.org/news/2026-04-generative-ai-cyber.html

Assam Opposition Dismisses Exit Poll Predictions Ahead Of Counting Of Votes

With the counting of votes for the Assam Assembly elections just days away, the Congress-led opposition alliance on Saturday projected confidence in securing power in the state, brushing aside exit...

source https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/assam-opposition-dismisses-exit-poll-predictions-says-alliance-set-to-form-government-11440724

Gold digging is not exclusive to women: New study uncovers common attributes

Gold digging is often seen as a female behavior focused on exploiting wealthier partners for material gain, but science suggests this stereotype may be too narrow. Past studies have shown both men and women value resources in partners, but not much research has delved into the specifics regarding gold digging versus general resource preference in partners.

source https://phys.org/news/2026-05-gold-exclusive-women-uncovers-common.html

Green alley effectiveness depends on design and purpose, study finds

Green alleys—residential laneways redesigned to enhance residents' quality of life, boost social cohesion and improve biodiversity—are gaining traction in cities across North America. But as the concept spreads, it remains loosely defined: what exactly counts as a green alley, and what benefits can it provide?

source https://phys.org/news/2026-04-green-alley-effectiveness-purpose.html

How photosynthetic bacteria pass light along: Two major energy pathways identified

RIKEN researchers have found out how light energy harvested by pigments besides chlorophyll is transferred to the molecular site where photosynthesis occurs in cyanobacteria. The work is published in the journal Plant and Cell Physiology.

source https://phys.org/news/2026-05-photosynthetic-bacteria-major-energy-pathways.html

Hidden 3D atomic structure of relaxor ferroelectrics revealed for first time

Materials called relaxor ferroelectrics have been used for decades in technologies like ultrasounds, microphones, and sonar systems. Their unique properties come from their atomic structure, but that structure has stubbornly eluded direct measurement.

source https://phys.org/news/2026-04-hidden-3d-atomic-relaxor-ferroelectrics.html

Environmental DNA in NYC's East River reveals clues about nearby human and animal residents

Sequencing environmental DNA—or eDNA—from the East River in New York City can effectively monitor human diets and local wildlife, as well as the river's fish populations, report Mark Stoeckle and Jesse Ausubel of The Rockefeller University, U.S., in a study published in the open-access journal PLOS One.

source https://phys.org/news/2026-04-environmental-dna-nyc-east-river.html

Invisible fertility crisis: Chemicals and climate change threaten reproduction across species

The rise in infertility is not limited to humans, as environmental stressors are quietly undermining the reproductive potential of different forms of life. A recent review published in npj Emerging Contaminants investigated how today's environmental challenges are shaping the reproductive capacity of both humans and animals.

source https://phys.org/news/2026-04-invisible-fertility-crisis-chemicals-climate.html

"There Is A Telephone": Trump Again Asks Iran To Call US For Negotiations

Trump cancelled a trip by his envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner to Pakistan on Saturday

source https://www.ndtv.com/world-news/us-iran-talks-donald-trump-abbas-araghchi-jared-kushner-steve-witkoff-there-is-a-telephone-trump-again-asks-iran-to-call-us-for-negotiations-11412537

When the rain comes, some NYC subway riders stay home. Scientists are now mapping exactly who, and where

On a sweltering August afternoon or in the teeth of a winter storm, New York City subway riders make a quiet calculation: Is the trip worth it? A new study published in npj Sustainable Mobility and Transport takes a detailed look at how those decisions show up in ridership patterns across the system, and how they vary from station to station.

source https://phys.org/news/2026-04-nyc-subway-riders-stay-home.html

Before dinosaurs vanished, a hamster-sized mammal was already shaping what survived next on the Pacific Coast

Mammals and dinosaurs coexisted on Earth until a catastrophic event 66 million years ago killed 75% of life on the planet. Despite the devastation, some animals survived, including rodent-like mammals in the Cimolodon genus. These creatures are part of the multituberculates, a group that arose during the Jurassic Period and survived over 100 million years before going extinct. Studying these animals helps researchers better understand how mammals survived the mass extinction event and then diversified into the variety of mammals around today.

source https://phys.org/news/2026-04-dinosaurs-hamster-sized-mammal-survived.html

Inside the competition for capital at some of the world's biggest banks

As the U.S. economy becomes more consolidated, the strategic decisions of senior leaders at leading companies carry ever-greater weight. A lot is riding on how these companies are run, yet in most cases, their day-to-day decision-making remains obscure. But the banking industry is an exception. As Barbara Su, assistant professor of accounting at Costello College of Business at George Mason University, notes, "Because the banking industry is heavily regulated, it allows us to have access to subsidiary banks' financial information. We can observe how much money parent companies take from each subsidiary, as well as the internal capital allocation between subsidiaries by headquarters."

source https://phys.org/news/2026-04-competition-capital-world-biggest-banks.html

Archaeological digs in Amazon provide clues about Indigenous inhabitants before colonization

Paving roads in the Amazon rainforest has long brought deforestation that threatens the people who live there. The same roadwork, however, has also allowed archaeologists to get glimpses of the region's past long before Europeans arrived to reshape it.

source https://phys.org/news/2026-04-archaeological-amazon-clues-indigenous-inhabitants.html

Astronomers reveal spectacular birthplace of cosmic buckyballs

Fifteen years after Western astronomers first discovered "buckyballs" in space (soccer ball-shaped molecules that resemble a hollow sphere), they're back with stunning images and rich data generated using the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST)—the most powerful space telescope ever built. The team led by Jan Cami, a physics and astronomy professor, first detected buckyballs using NASA's Spitzer Space Telescope in 2010. The fantastic find came from the planetary nebula Tc 1, formed from a dying star more than 10,000 light-years away in the constellation Ara.

source https://phys.org/news/2026-04-astronomers-reveal-spectacular-birthplace-cosmic.html

Better-fed calves are more motivated to play, pioneering study shows

New research has revealed dairy calves that are fed less complete tasks faster and remember more in pursuit of milk, but miss out on play. Calves that were given more food were more inclined to play. The study, led by the University of Bristol and published in Scientific Reports, sheds new light on how hungry animals sacrifice play and put finding food first.

source https://phys.org/news/2026-04-fed-calves-play.html

Rediscovered tracksite reveals large dinosaurs ranged as far as northern Mongolia 120 million years ago

An international research team has rediscovered a dinosaur tracksite in the Saijrakh area of northern Mongolia. The site was originally reported about 70 years ago but had since been lost due to a lack of detailed documentation and follow-up investigation. The team conducted the first comprehensive study of the site.

source https://phys.org/news/2026-04-rediscovered-tracksite-reveals-large-dinosaurs.html

Years On The Run, How Europe's Most Wanted Gang Leader Was Finally Tracked

Kinahan, 48, is expected to face charges in Ireland connected to a long-running feud between the Kinahan cartel and the Hutch gang.

source https://www.ndtv.com/world-news/years-on-the-run-how-europes-most-wanted-gang-leader-was-finally-tracked-11380512

How tiny voids could make fusion targets more stable under powerful shockwaves

Picture two materials sandwiched together. The boundary between them may appear flat, but, in reality, it is full of tiny bumps and dents. Suddenly, the materials are hit with a shockwave. If that wave hits a bump in the material interface, it slows down. If it hits a dent, it accelerates forward. This imbalance creates fast, narrow jets of material—called the Richtmyer-Meshkov (RM) instability.

source https://phys.org/news/2026-04-tiny-voids-fusion-stable-powerful.html

Raven personalities shape survival as human pressure grows at the Dead Sea

Along the stark and shimmering coastline of the Dead Sea, where desert cliffs meet one of the world's most extreme environments, a quiet drama is unfolding in the skies above. Fan-tailed ravens, intelligent, adaptable, and ever-watchful, are making life-or-death decisions every day. And according to new research, those decisions may come down to personality.

source https://phys.org/news/2026-04-raven-personalities-survival-human-pressure.html

Mental math's shortcut—pupil dilation suggests people start solving before all numbers are in

People often solve simple arithmetic problems, such as basic addition, subtraction, multiplication or division, in their minds. The precise mental processes they rely on to solve these problems, however, are not entirely clear. Researchers at Université de Bordeaux and UCLouvain recently tried to better understand how humans tackle simple math mentally by tracking the size of their pupils.

source https://phys.org/news/2026-04-mental-math-shortcut-pupil-dilation.html

One of the world's rarest mouses is adapting to climate change

A new study on climate adaptation in the Pacific pocket mouse—North America's most endangered mouse has been published in Science Advances. The research highlights a major challenge for endangered species, as many lack the genetic diversity needed to survive changing climates.

source https://phys.org/news/2026-04-world-rarest-mouses-climate.html

Gifted men exhibit lower levels of conservatism compared to their average-intelligence counterparts, finds study

Individuals with high intellectual ability frequently occupy leadership roles across business, science, and politics. To date, it has not been definitively established whether a high intelligence quotient correlates with specific political orientations. However, recent research reveals a significant gender-specific distinction: Intellectually gifted men tend to be less conservative than men of average intellectual ability. The study, authored by Maximilian Krolo and Jörn Sparfeldt, is published in the journal Intelligence.

source https://phys.org/news/2026-04-gifted-men-conservatism-average-intelligence.html

The beloved emperor penguin and Antarctic fur seal are now officially endangered. Here's what can be done

In 1902, British explorer Robert Falcon Scott spotted a large group of large black and white birds at Ross Island, Antarctica. This was among the many milestones of Scott's famous Discovery expedition: the first breeding colony of emperor penguins.

source https://phys.org/news/2026-04-beloved-emperor-penguin-antarctic-fur.html

How debate about gender identity could undermine global efforts to protect victims of violence

Aided by the Trump administration, debate over gender identity has gone from being a touchstone of domestic culture wars to infiltrating the work of international groups—including those designed to protect vulnerable communities.

source https://phys.org/news/2026-04-debate-gender-identity-undermine-global.html

First Proba-3 science: Surprisingly speedy solar wind found in inner corona

Since July 2025, the European Space Agency's pair of Proba-3 satellites has already created 57 artificial solar eclipses. So far, the mission has collected more than 250 hours of high-resolution videos of the sun's atmosphere, called the corona. That's the same amount of observing time as about 5,000 total solar eclipse campaigns carried out on Earth.

source https://phys.org/news/2026-04-proba-science-speedy-solar-corona.html

ISL Points Table: Check Standings After Mohun Bagan's Comeback Win Over Punjab FC

Mohun Bagan Super Giant's stoppage-time win over Punjab FC tightens the ISL title race, with the Mariners now just one point behind leaders Mumbai City FC as the league enters its decisive phase.

source https://www.ndtvprofit.com/sports/club-football-indian-super-league-isl-points-table-standings-mohun-bagan-mumbai-city-east-bengal-jamshedpur-bengaluru-fc-matches-11347984

Extinct ice age giants in Bender's Cave challenge existing climate records for the Edwards Plateau

A recent study by Dr. John Moretti of the University of Texas and local caver John Young uncovered the remains of Ice Age megafauna, revealing an entirely new ecosystem that once thrived on the Edwards Plateau. Among the finds were a genus of giant tortoise (Hesperotestudo) and a large armadillo-like pampathere (Holmesina septentrionalis). The work is published in the journal Quaternary Research.

source https://phys.org/news/2026-04-extinct-ice-age-giants-bender.html

Thief Steals Rs 20 Crore Faberge Egg, Trades Them For Drugs In London

A thief who snatched a handbag outside a central London pub in November 2024 unknowingly made off with a Faberge egg and gold watch worth 2 million pounds (Rs 21.4 crore).

source https://www.ndtv.com/offbeat/thief-steals-rs-20-crore-faberge-egg-trades-them-for-drugs-in-london-11344435

A nanoscale robotic cleaner can hunt, capture and remove bacteria

Tiny robots—around 50 times smaller than the diameter of a human hair—open up fascinating possibilities: they enable the controlled manipulation of objects far too small for human hands. This brings us closer to a long-standing dream—the direct interaction with the microscopic world.

source https://phys.org/news/2026-04-nanoscale-robotic-cleaner-capture-bacteria.html

Scientists identify kinesin-2 motor assemblies that selectively transport proteins to specific regions within neurons

Intracellular transport is a vital process that allows cells to move proteins and other molecules to specific locations. This process is especially important in neurons, which have highly polarized structures with long extensions such as axons and dendrites. For neurons to function properly, proteins must be transported accurately to specific regions, such as the axon initial segment (AIS), a specialized site for initiating electrical signals.

source https://phys.org/news/2026-04-scientists-kinesin-motor-proteins-specific.html

Oxygen sensing helps explain why amphibians regenerate limbs but mammals cannot

Some animals can regrow lost body parts. Salamanders and frog tadpoles can rebuild entire limbs after amputation. Mammals cannot. For decades, biologists have tried to understand why. Now a team led by Can Aztekin at EPFL (now at the Friedrich Miescher Laboratory of the Max Planck Society) has discovered that oxygen plays a crucial role in limb regeneration. By comparing amputated limbs from frog tadpoles and embryonic mice, the researchers found that the way cells sense oxygen determines whether regeneration can even begin. The study is published in Science.

source https://phys.org/news/2026-04-oxygen-amphibians-regenerate-limbs-mammals.html

"No BJP Factor": Shashi Tharoor To NDTV As Kerala Goes To Polls

Having travelled extensively during the campaign, Shashi Tharoor said the momentum on the ground points clearly towards a change in government.

source https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/no-bjp-factor-shashi-tharoor-to-ndtv-as-kerala-goes-to-polls-11333802

UK house prices fall as Iran war uncertainty dampens demand

Mortgage rates have been rising and hundreds of the cheapest deals have disappeared over the last month.

source https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cj401ll8j5zo?at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=rss

'Chills': Artemis astronauts say lunar flyby still washing over them

They took thousands of photographs and documented copious observations on their voyage around the moon, but as they sped closer to home the Artemis astronauts said Wednesday they have barely started processing the extraordinary experience they shared.

source https://phys.org/news/2026-04-chills-artemis-astronauts-lunar-flyby.html

Sinking land drives coastal flood risk on densely populated Java Island

A new study published in Science Advances reveals that sinking land—not just rising oceans alone—will be the main cause of future coastal flooding along Indonesia's densely populated Java Island, putting millions at risk sooner than expected.

source https://phys.org/news/2026-04-coastal-densely-populated-java-island.html

Bird flu spread could be impacted by where waterfowl like to live

The movement patterns of waterfowl, including ducks, swans and geese, may affect the spread of highly pathogenic avian influenza in bird populations, according to a new study from the University of Georgia. The findings are published in the journal Ecology Letters.

source https://phys.org/news/2026-04-bird-flu-impacted-waterfowl.html

Three Himalayan predators coexist by partitioning prey, reducing direct competition

Snow leopards, leopards, and Himalayan wolves all share similar stomping grounds in Nepal's Lapchi Valley in the Himalayas. A recent study, published in PLOS One, has taken a closer look at how these apex predators have found a way to coexist, despite limited resources.

source https://phys.org/news/2026-04-himalayan-predators-coexist-partitioning-prey.html

A Chinese Man Lost His Family In 1990s, He's Been Riding Ever Since

A 90-year-old Chinese man has spent decades cycling across the country after losing his family, choosing life on the road as a way to cope with grief and find peace.

source https://www.ndtv.com/world-news/after-losing-entire-family-in-1990s-chinese-man-cycles-for-decades-seeking-solace-11315194

Does AI mean more university students are plagiarizing their work?

People using other people's ideas, words and creations without acknowledgment is a widespread problem. Plagiarism occurs everywhere from restaurant menus to political speeches and music.

source https://phys.org/news/2026-04-ai-university-students-plagiarizing.html

'Newcomer Of 550 Films': Anupam Kher's Post With Ranveer Singh, Vicky Kaushal Goes Viral

Anupam Kher took to his Instagram to share a picture of himself along with Ranveer Singh and Vicky Kaushal at the event. As he stood between Ranveer and Vicky, Anupam Kher felt like a newcomer and...

source https://www.ndtvprofit.com/lifestyle/newcomer-of-550-films-anupam-khers-post-with-ranveer-singh-vicky-kaushal-goes-viral-11311463

A simple ECG test could flag racehorses at risk of exercise arrhythmias

A quick heart trace taken during a warm-up trot could identify racehorses at risk of cardiac arrhythmias during high-intensity exercise, according to a new study led by the University of Surrey. The screening method analyzes short, routine electrocardiogram (ECG) recordings that could be used to help prevent cardiac events in otherwise healthy horses, where no obvious signs of arrhythmia have been detected.

source https://phys.org/news/2026-03-simple-ecg-flag-racehorses-arrhythmias.html

Pharmaceuticals face 100% tariffs in US - unless firms strike a deal

The order does not affect generic medicines, the most commonly used in the US.

source https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cx29kke01gpo?at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=rss

A tiny detector for microwave photons could advance quantum tech

Detecting a single particle of light is hard; detecting a single microwave photon is even harder. Microwave photons, the tiny packets of electromagnetic radiation used in current technologies like Wi-Fi and radar, carry far less energy than visible light. They are about 100,000 times weaker than optical photons.

source https://phys.org/news/2026-04-tiny-detector-microwave-photons-advance.html

Cryogenic microcalorimetry: New tool for nuclear dating

The moment nuclear material is produced, processed or purified, it sets off a hidden countdown, marked by the half-life of its radioactive atoms as they begin to decay. For scientists tracking the origins of these substances, decoding this natural clock is crucial for verifying material histories in support of global security efforts.

source https://phys.org/news/2026-04-cryogenic-microcalorimetry-tool-nuclear-dating.html

Are relationship surveys measuring the wrong thing? How one 'Q-factor' shapes most answers

Commonly used self-report measures of romantic relationships may capture people's overall appraisal of their relationship more than measuring distinct relationship facets such as communication, conflict and affection, according to a new study published in PLOS One by James Kim of Lakehead University in Ontario, Canada, and colleagues. The findings also suggest that a person's judgment of their overall relationship quality strongly shapes how they answer questions intended to capture distinct, separate facets of the relationship.

source https://phys.org/news/2026-03-relationship-surveys-wrong-factor.html

SimCells successfully target and kill drug-resistant bacteria

We are continually in an evolutionary arms race with bacteria. As we develop new antibiotics, they develop resistance, and so it goes on until some of our treatments no longer work. Superbugs and antimicrobial resistance (AMR) are a huge global health problem. So what do you do when your medicines are ineffective? The answer for some researchers is to build their own biological weapons. A team including experts from the University of Oxford in the UK has developed a way to create specialized cells that hunt down and kill drug-resistant germs.

source https://phys.org/news/2026-03-simcells-successfully-drug-resistant-bacteria.html

How will car finance compensation payments work?

Millions could be entitled to compensation as a result of commission arrangements between lenders and dealers.

source https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c2l9vvj097lo?at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=rss

Quantum researchers engineer extremely precise phonon lasers

When lasers were invented in the 1960s, they opened new avenues for scientific discovery and everyday applications, from scanners at the grocery store to corrective eye surgery. Conventional lasers control photons—individual particles of light—but over the past 20 years, scientists have invented lasers that control other fundamental particles, including phonons—individual particles of vibration or sound. Controlling phonons could open even more possibilities with lasers, such as taking advantage of unique quantum properties like entanglement.

source https://phys.org/news/2026-03-quantum-extremely-precise-phonon-lasers.html

Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal To Visit Canada In May For Trade Talks

The bilateral discussion focused on expediting the recently launched India-Canada CEPA negotiations.

source https://www.ndtvprofit.com/india/commerce-minister-piyush-goyal-to-visit-canada-in-may-for-trade-talks-11283239

TESS discovers an Earth-sized planet orbiting nearby M-dwarf star

Using NASA's Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS), an international team of astronomers has discovered an extrasolar planet orbiting TOI-4616—a nearby M-dwarf star. The newfound alien world, which received designation TOI-4616 b, is slightly larger than Earth. The finding was reported in a research paper published March 11 on the arXiv pre-print server.

source https://phys.org/news/2026-03-tess-earth-sized-planet-orbiting.html

'Threatened Global Shipping': US Releases Footage of Strikes On Iranian Naval Vessels

The US Central Command on Saturday released visuals of strikes targeting Iranian naval vessels and framed the operation as part of a wider effort to protect maritime traffic in the Gulf and the Strait...

source https://www.ndtvprofit.com/world/039-threatened-harassed-global-shipping-039-us-releases-visuals-targeting-iranian-naval-vessels-11279638

New enzyme atlas rewrites decades of biology research

WEHI researchers have led a major global effort to create the first authoritative atlas for a class of enzymes that regulate almost every cellular process in the human body. Published in Cell, the study establishes the first gold-standard reference for all human E3 ligases, resolving nearly two decades of inconsistencies within the field.

source https://phys.org/news/2026-03-enzyme-atlas-rewrites-decades-biology.html

Gujarat Titans, IPL 2026 Preview: GT Predicted Playing XI, Strengths And Weaknesses

GT have played a total of four editions of the IPL. They have made it to the playoffs in three of them, while reaching the final twice.

source https://sports.ndtv.com/cricket/gujarat-titans-ipl-2026-preview-gt-predicted-playing-xi-strengths-and-weaknesses-11276159

Understanding protein motion could greatly aid new drug design

For many people, "protein" is the key element of a food order. However, beyond the preferred choice of meats or plant-based alternatives, proteins encompass a large class of complex biomolecules whose chemical structure is encoded in our genes. Proteins have critical functions in living cells; they help repair and build body tissues, drive metabolic reactions, maintain pH and fluid balance, and keep our immune systems strong.

source https://phys.org/news/2026-03-protein-motion-greatly-aid-drug.html

Wet lab research and deep machine learning identify a key driver of long-term inflammatory memory

One of the most puzzling aspects of common chronic inflammatory skin diseases such as psoriasis is how they become chronic. What allows an ongoing condition to stay dormant for months or even years, then seemingly spring back out of nowhere?

source https://phys.org/news/2026-03-lab-deep-machine-key-driver.html

Significant grade inflation may be occurring in graduate education, according to decades' worth of data

Analysis of two decades of student data at a large U.S. university suggests that grade inflation exists in graduate education. Researcher Vivien Lee and colleagues at the University of Minnesota, U.S., present these findings in the journal PLOS One.

source https://phys.org/news/2026-03-significant-grade-inflation-decades-worth.html

Earth's 40,000-year tilt cycle links Antarctic ice growth to subtropical productivity

Cycles in the growth and decay of Antarctica's ice sheets once shaped marine biological productivity thousands of miles away in the subtropical ocean, according to new research led by scientists at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. The study, published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, found that the obliquity cycle—a 40,000-year astronomical cycle tied to changes in Earth's axial tilt—influenced ocean productivity in subtropical latitudes about 34 million years ago, when the Antarctic ice sheet was first expanding.

source https://phys.org/news/2026-03-earth-year-tilt-links-antarctic.html

The 'private solution trap': Why richer countries may favor adaptation over public solutions, and who pays

A new study, led by the University of Nottingham and conducted by a team of 72 economists and psychologists across the world, has identified a potential "private solution trap" in problems requiring international cooperation such as climate change. Dr. Eugene Malthouse, Research Fellow in the university's School of Economics, led the international team of researchers, who invited participants from 34 countries to play a climate change game in small groups.

source https://phys.org/news/2026-03-private-solution-richer-countries-favor.html

Mother Arrested For Killing Two Daughters In Delhi's Malviya Nagar

Delhi Police arrested a 54-year-old woman after her two daughters were found murdered at their Malviya Nagar home. She was found unconscious, reportedly after attempting suicide.

source https://www.ndtvprofit.com/india/mother-arrested-for-killing-two-daughters-in-delhis-malviya-nagar-11251490

All 5 fundamental units of life's genetic code were just discovered in an asteroid sample

A new study reveals all five fundamental nucleobases—the molecular "letters" of life—have been detected in samples from the asteroid Ryugu.

source https://phys.org/news/2026-03-fundamental-life-genetic-code-asteroid.html

"UK Traffic Got Desi Update": Indian Man Spots Auto-Rickshaw On London Streets

Its appearance on the streets of London felt particularly special because it juxtaposed two distinct urban environments within a single frame.

source https://www.ndtv.com/offbeat/uk-traffic-got-desi-update-indian-man-spots-auto-rickshaw-on-london-streets-internet-amazed-11248333

Dishwashing with side effects: Kitchen sponges release microplastics

Kitchen sponges are considered a potential, yet largely understudied, source of microplastics in households. A study in Environmental Advances investigated how many microplastic particles are released from kitchen sponges during use and what environmental impacts result. The paper is titled "From sink to sea: Microplastic release from kitchen sponges and potential environmental effects."

source https://phys.org/news/2026-03-dishwashing-side-effects-kitchen-sponges.html

Microbes make microplastics more likely to form ice in clouds, research reveals

Tiny pieces of plastic, called microplastics, are showing up everywhere, even in the water in clouds, rain, and snow—and they may be affecting our weather and temperatures. A study published in Environmental Science & Technology and led by Hosein Foroutan, associate professor of civil and environmental engineering, found that microbes living on microplastics dramatically boost their ability to trigger ice formation in clouds.

source https://phys.org/news/2026-03-microbes-microplastics-ice-clouds-reveals.html

Ancient sling bullet delivers a 2,100-year-old taunt: 'Learn your lesson!'

For millennia, sling bullets served as a hand-thrown projectile that could be used to fend off enemies. At Hippos, 70 sling bullets made of lead have been recovered over the course of fieldwork and excavation. However, while many are bare or depict scorpions and thunderbolts, one recently recovered sling bullet is the first inscribed example ever recovered at Hippos and the only known sling bullet ever inscribed with the letters ΜΑΘΟΥ meaning "Learn your lesson!"

source https://phys.org/news/2026-03-ancient-bullet-year-taunt-lesson.html

'Miracle': Europe reconnects with lost spacecraft

The European Space Agency announced Thursday it has re-established communication with a spacecraft that is part of its Proba-3 mission, after losing contact with the satellite a month ago.

source https://phys.org/news/2026-03-miracle-europe-reconnects-lost-spacecraft.html

Remote working challenges linked to management issues

Strong organizational and management capabilities are key to implementing and getting the most out of successful remote and hybrid working practices.

source https://phys.org/news/2026-03-remote-linked-issues.html

Generative AI in business schools: Friend or foe?

Since tools like ChatGPT burst into higher education, debate has focused on two extremes: either students are all committing underhanded academic fraud and plagiarism or Artificial Intelligence will magically revolutionize learning.

source https://phys.org/news/2026-03-generative-ai-business-schools-friend.html

Sugar-processing enzyme has a hidden second job—controlling when cells divide

A metabolic enzyme studied for over seven decades has a hidden second function—it can unwind RNA and promote cell cycle progression, an additional function beyond its role in energy production, according to a new study led by the University of Surrey.

source https://phys.org/news/2026-03-sugar-enzyme-hidden-job-cells.html

Iran War News Highlights: IRGC Vows To 'Kill' Netanyahu, Trump Seeks Help To Reopen Hormuz

President Donald Trump called on allied countries to deploy warships to protect shipping in the Strait of Hormuz.

source https://www.ndtvprofit.com/world/iran-war-news-live-updates-check-breaking-news-on-us-israel-iran-war-middle-eat-crisis-gulf-conflict-11217206

"More Than An Hour For 6.5 km": Bengaluru Man Highlights City's Traffic Chaos

Expressing his frustration, Huria remarks that taking over an hour to travel a mere 6.5 kilometers is a common occurrence in Bengaluru.

source https://www.ndtv.com/offbeat/more-than-one-hour-for-6-5-km-bengaluru-man-highlights-traffic-chaos-11216132

The Inquiry

How Poland’s economy became one of Europe’s fastest-growing success stories

source https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/live:bbc_world_service?at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=rss

Eaton fire sent a pollution wave across Los Angeles, study shows

The 2025 Eaton fire's smoke did more than darken the sky: It generated a carbon monoxide and particulate matter surge that far exceeded Los Angeles County's average daily human-caused emissions, according to a new study led by researchers at the USC Dornsife College of Letters, Arts and Sciences. The findings are published in the journal ACS ES&T Air.

source https://phys.org/news/2026-03-eaton-pollution-los-angeles.html

This isn't just another rocky world orbiting a red dwarf—this one's special

Astronomers have found an exoplanet that could serve as a benchmark in future studies. It's a rocky planet orbiting an M-type star, and though these planets are plentiful, this one could serve as a benchmark for understanding other M-dwarf exoplanets and their atmospheres. According to the authors of a new study, this new exoplanet could serve as "a reference system for highly irradiated rocky planets."

source https://phys.org/news/2026-03-isnt-rocky-world-orbiting-red.html

Ancient DNA sequences that control gene function across plant evolution uncovered

A study has traced thousands of conserved regulatory elements back 300 million years, revealing deep principles of plant genome evolution—a discovery that could pave the way for more precise engineering of crop traits.

source https://phys.org/news/2026-03-ancient-dna-sequences-gene-function.html

Biodegradable nanoparticles can seek and destroy diseased immune cells

Johns Hopkins Medicine scientists say they have developed a simplified version of biodegradable nanoparticles that can "educate" the immune system to find and destroy disease-causing cells throughout the body. The study, they say, advances the field of engineering immune cells within a patient's own body to combat cancers and autoimmune diseases including lupus, among other conditions.

source https://phys.org/news/2026-03-biodegradable-nanoparticles-destroy-diseased-immune.html

Why lethal mutations persist: Fruit fly study points to newly transferred jumping genes, not small DNA errors

Most lethal mutations in wild fruit flies are driven by newly transferred jumping genes, not small DNA errors, according to a new study from Duke University. The findings, published in PLOS Biology, challenge decades of assumptions in evolutionary genetics and may have implications for population health and conservation.

source https://phys.org/news/2026-03-lethal-mutations-persist-fruit-fly.html

Experts challenge idea that social media harms teen empathy

Teenagers who use social media more frequently may show slightly higher empathy, according to a new meta-analysis by researchers at Georgia State University. The study, a systematic review published in the Journal of Adolescence, analyzed data from 13 studies involving more than 10,000 adolescents with an average age of about 16. It found a small positive association between social media use and overall empathy.

source https://phys.org/news/2026-03-experts-idea-social-media-teen.html

"No Match For The Explosive Cricket": Kohli, Sachin's Tribute For India

History has been made. India are the T20 World Cup champions - AGAIN! India produced a batting spectacle of rare ferocity to overwhelm New Zealand by 96 runs in the summit clash and defend the T20...

source https://sports.ndtv.com/cricket/no-match-for-the-explosive-cricket-virat-kohli-sachin-tendulkars-ultimate-tribute-after-indias-t20-world-cup-win-11187023

Overweight To Ace Athlete: Air Force Squadron Leader's Big Transformation

An Indian Air Force (IAF) officer hailing from Jammu, Neha has defied the odds, transformed her physique, and shattered deep-seated stereotypes to emerge as a trailblazing athlete.

source https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/overweight-to-trailblazing-athlete-a-big-transformation-story-in-air-force-11183164

Can we grow life on Mars? Experiments show potential in simulated extraterrestrial soil

Life's capacity to survive in simulated lunar and Martian soils has been explored in two papers published in Scientific Reports. Treating simulated lunar soil with both symbiotic fungi and worm-produced compost can significantly improve the likelihood of reproduction for chickpea plants growing in the soil, indicates one study. A separate paper suggests that some microbes may be able to absorb enough water from the atmosphere to grow in simulated Martian soil at atmospheric humidity levels comparable to those on the planet.

source https://phys.org/news/2026-03-life-mars-potential-simulated-extraterrestrial.html

What's in your salad? Crops exposed to nanoplastics may boost heavy metal intake

Leafy vegetables like lettuce are readily available in grocery stores and often seen as a healthy food choice. As researchers work to understand how emerging contaminants behave in plants, new research is shedding light on how lettuce responds to combined environmental stressors.

source https://phys.org/news/2026-03-salad-crops-exposed-nanoplastics-boost.html

Simultaneously decoding the transcriptome, epigenome and 3D genome within a single cell

The origin of many diseases begins at the cellular level and involves multiple molecular interactions. However, previous methods have struggled to accurately observe changes in individual cells. Analyzing average values across thousands of cells made it challenging to detect the early signals of disease.

source https://phys.org/news/2026-03-simultaneously-decoding-transcriptome-epigenome-3d.html

CEO turnover taxes analyst attention, skewing broader forecasts

When analyst attention is absorbed by CEO turnover, other companies in their portfolio pay the price, new Cornell research finds. The study, "Analyst Rational Inattention: Evidence from CEO Turnover Events," published in the Accounting Review, finds that high-impact turnover events capture a disproportionate amount of analyst attention, leading to less-accurate forecasts for non-event companies they cover during that time.

source https://phys.org/news/2026-03-ceo-turnover-taxes-analyst-attention.html

The sea is higher than we thought and millions more are at risk, study finds

Climate change's rising seas may threaten tens of millions more people than scientists and government planners originally thought because of mistaken research assumptions on how high coastal waters already are, a new study said.

source https://phys.org/news/2026-03-sea-higher-thought-millions.html

Studying snakes' ability to stand upright could inform soft robotics and more

Snakes may be best known for slithering. But consider that these animals also perform one of the most extreme feats of posture control found in nature: They can stand nearly straight upright on a narrow perch without falling, lifting 70% of their body length, despite having no limbs.

source https://phys.org/news/2026-03-snakes-ability-upright-soft-robotics.html

Get ready for the Rubin Observatory's deluge of discoveries

It's been about eight months since the Vera Rubin Observatory (VRO) saw first light. Now the telescope is scanning the night sky to detect transient changes and sending alerts to astronomers and observatories around the world so they can perform follow-up observations. This alert system is one of the last milestones before the VRO starts its primary endeavor: the decade-long Legacy Survey of Space and Time (LSST).

source https://phys.org/news/2026-03-ready-rubin-observatory-deluge-discoveries.html

AI cracks Roman-era board game

A smooth, white stone dating from the Roman era and unearthed in the Netherlands has long baffled researchers.

source https://phys.org/news/2026-02-ai-roman-era-board-game.html

DNA study uncovers continental origins of Britain's Bronze Age population

When ancient DNA studies began to gain attention, little more than a decade ago, the view took hold among geneticists that everything we thought we knew about the peopling of Europe by modern humans was wrong. The story was simpler than anyone was expecting: Europe was settled in just three massive migrations from the east.

source https://phys.org/news/2026-02-dna-uncovers-continental-britain-bronze.html

Middle East Conflict: Exporters Fear Rise In Logistics, Insurance Costs, Impact On Shipmen

India is heavily reliant on the Bab-el-Mandeb Strait for crude oil and LNG imports and trade with key regions.

source https://www.ndtvprofit.com/markets/middle-east-conflict-exporters-fear-rise-in-logistics-insurance-costs-impact-on-shipments-11151170

Missing methane: Countries may be underestimating wastewater greenhouse gas emissions

The amount of greenhouse gases produced by the wastewater sector may be higher than reports suggest. According to a paper published in the journal Nature Climate Change, countries are missing out on reporting a significant portion of their emissions.

source https://phys.org/news/2026-02-methane-countries-underestimating-wastewater-greenhouse.html

Coral proxy data reveals century-long slowdown of South China Sea throughflow under global warming

The South China Sea Throughflow (SCSTF) serves as a critical oceanic conveyor belt for heat and freshwater, mediating water exchanges between the South China Sea (SCS) and the Pacific and Indian oceans while regulating key processes such as heat and salt budgets, eddy activities, and marine biogeochemical cycles. It also plays a pivotal role in modulating the Indonesian Throughflow (ITF) and shaping climate variability across the Indo-Pacific. However, long-term direct observational data of the SCSTF have long been scarce, leaving its long-term changes under climate change and associated driving mechanisms poorly understood.

source https://phys.org/news/2026-02-coral-proxy-reveals-century-slowdown.html

Study shows digital hotlines make it easier for survivors to reach out

Use of chat and text services has surged since the COVID-19 pandemic, according to Rachel Joy Voth Schrag, a UT Arlington professor of social work. Understanding how survivors use these digital channels, she said, is critical for ensuring hotline advocates have the tools they need to support survivor and family safety. New research from The University of Texas at Arlington shows that these digital hotlines are changing how survivors of domestic and sexual violence access safety planning and support.

source https://phys.org/news/2026-02-digital-hotlines-easier-survivors.html

New study reveals what crop advisors really want from AI tools

A new study co-authored by Virginia Tech and University of Vermont researchers offers one of the first, large-scale empirical looks at how Certified Crop Advisors (CCAs) across North America evaluate the next generation of artificial intelligence–enabled decision support systems (AI‑DSS) for agriculture. Published in Technological Forecasting and Social Change, the study identifies the specific design features that most influence whether trusted agricultural advisors will choose AI tools—and what might hold them back.

source https://phys.org/news/2026-02-reveals-crop-advisors-ai-tools.html

An indoor air scrubber developed to remove ammonia in poultry houses

Researchers from the USDA's Agricultural Research Service (ARS) are helping poultry farmers protect their flocks and their employees, while improving poultry production. ARS researchers recently developed an indoor air scrubber that purifies the air in chicken houses and reduces ammonia levels by 87% to 99%.

source https://phys.org/news/2026-02-indoor-air-scrubber-ammonia-poultry.html

Twisting optical fiber creates a robust new pathway for light

Light powers everything from communications to sensing, yet even tiny imperfections can scatter it and weaken signals. To address this, a team led by the University of Bath—working with the University of Cambridge and international partners—has developed a new structure that keeps light flowing smoothly even through bends, twists or damage, with the potential to operate over unprecedented distances.

source https://phys.org/news/2026-02-optical-fiber-robust-pathway.html

The Kerala Story 2 Director Slams Anurag Kashyap For Calling Film "Propaganda"

The controversy began when Kashyap criticised The Kerala Story 2 in a viral video

source https://www.ndtv.com/entertainment/the-kerala-story-2-director-reacts-to-anurag-kashyap-calling-film-propaganda-yeh-mansik-roop-se-durbal-ho-gaye-hain-11122148

Sunray-like ripples emerge on a frozen reaction front

Researchers in Belgium have unveiled a striking chemical reaction in which ripples along a frozen reaction front resemble the rays of a shining star. Publishing their results in Physical Review Letters, Anne De Wit and colleagues at the Université Libre de Bruxelles have shed new light on the patterns that emerge in reaction–diffusion systems, offering fresh insight into how similar structures arise in the natural world.

source https://phys.org/news/2026-02-sunray-ripples-emerge-frozen-reaction.html

2-month-olds see the world in a more complex way than scientists thought, study suggests

A new study suggests that babies are able to distinguish between the different objects they see around them at 2 months old, which is earlier than scientists previously thought.

source https://phys.org/news/2026-02-month-olds-world-complex-scientists.html

Neutron scattering helps clarify magnetic behavior in altermagnetic material

Scientists at the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) have identified the true source of a magnetic effect seen in the material ruthenium dioxide (RuO₂), helping resolve an active debate in the rapidly growing field of altermagnetism. The study is published in the journal ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces.

source https://phys.org/news/2026-02-neutron-magnetic-behavior-altermagnetic-material.html

A new method to decode how DNA 'switches' control gene activity

DNA is the blueprint of life. Genes encode proteins and serve as the body's basic components. However, building a functioning organism also requires precise instructions about when, where, and how much those components should be produced.

source https://phys.org/news/2026-02-method-decode-dna-gene.html

How the humble silkworm could help us discover new anti-aging treatments

When scientists want to study aging and how to slow it down, they often turn to microscopic worms or lab mice among other models. The former are too different from humans, while the latter are expensive and take too long to study. But there's a new model in town that can potentially help us wind the clock back, and that is the silkworm (Bombyx mori).

source https://phys.org/news/2026-02-humble-silkworm-anti-aging-treatments.html

World's smallest QR code, read via electron microscope, earns Guinness recognition

Just how small can a QR code be? Small enough that it can only be recognized with an electron microscope. A research team at TU Wien, working together with the data storage technology company Cerabyte, has now demonstrated exactly that. The QR code covers an area of just 1.98 square micrometers—smaller than most bacteria. The record has now been verified and officially entered into the Guinness World Records.

source https://phys.org/news/2026-02-world-smallest-qr-code-electron.html

Will AI eat into your jobs? The sharp divide between layoffs and evolution at India AI impact Summit

Several experts argue that AI could drive significant benefits, such as boosting productivity. However, they also stress that society must quickly adapt to these changes.

source https://www.livemint.com/technology/will-ai-eat-into-your-jobs-the-sharp-divide-between-layoffs-and-evolution-at-india-ai-impact-summit-11771259961977.html

Injured seabird desperately pecks at hospital door for help

An injured seabird sought help by pecking at the door of an emergency room at a hospital in Germany until medical staff noticed it and called firefighters to help with its rescue.

source https://phys.org/news/2026-02-seabird-desperately-hospital-door.html

India set to host AI Impact Summit 2026 at Bharat Mandapam tomorrow: When and where to watch live

India will host the AI Impact Summit 2026 at Bharat Mandapam from February 16 to 20, bringing together global leaders, tech CEOs and policymakers. Here is when and how to watch the livestream.

source https://www.livemint.com/technology/tech-news/india-set-to-host-ai-impact-summit-2026-at-bharat-mandapam-tomorrow-when-and-where-to-watch-live-11771176159697.html

Strong correlations and superconductivity observed in a supermoiré lattice

Two or more graphene layers that are stacked with a small twist angle in relation to each other form a so-called moiré lattice. This characteristic pattern influences the movement of electrons inside materials, which can give rise to strongly correlated states, such as superconductivity.

source https://phys.org/news/2026-02-strong-superconductivity-supermoir-lattice.html

When AI meets physics: Unlocking complex protein structures to accelerate biomedical breakthroughs

Artificial intelligence (AI) is transforming how scientists understand proteins—these are working molecules that drive nearly every process in the human body, from cell growth and immune defense to digestion and cell signaling. At NUS, researchers are harnessing AI to fast-track discoveries, offering fresh insights into life at the molecular level and new strategies against disease.

source https://phys.org/news/2026-02-ai-physics-complex-protein-biomedical.html

Gradient cathodes boost stability of Li-rich batteries

Recently, a research team led by Prof. Zhao Bangchuan from the Institute of Solid State Physics, Hefei Institutes of Physical Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, in collaboration with Prof. Xiao Yao from Wenzhou University, developed a composition gradient strategy to precisely regulate the internal stress distribution and electronic structure of Li-rich Mn-based cathode materials. The findings are published in Nano Letters.

source https://phys.org/news/2026-02-gradient-cathodes-boost-stability-li.html

Porous material uses green and blue light to repeatedly store and release CO₂

Scientists at the University of Groningen, led by Nobel laureate Ben Feringa and colleagues, have created a new porous material that captures and releases carbon dioxide using only visible light. The breakthrough could pave the way for more energy-efficient and sustainable carbon capture technologies that help combat climate change.

source https://phys.org/news/2026-02-porous-material-green-blue.html

Living in space can change where your brain sits in your skull: New research

Going to space is harsh on the human body, and as a new study from our research team finds, the brain shifts upward and backward and deforms inside the skull after spaceflight.

source https://phys.org/news/2026-02-space-brain-skull.html

Collaboration between universities and hospitals intensifies in times of crisis, finds study

Economic and public health conditions influence universities' research priorities. A study led by INGENIO, a joint research center of the Spanish National Research Council (CSIC) and the Universitat Politècnica de València (UPV), reveals how, in times of economic growth, cooperation between universities and businesses increases, while in times of crisis and high disease burdens, collaboration with hospitals is strengthened.

source https://phys.org/news/2026-02-collaboration-universities-hospitals-crisis.html

Fear or dread? How intensity of emotion may shape climate policy support

New research has found that we are more likely to back policies aimed at tackling climate change when we feel fearful, but feelings of dread make us less likely to support such policies.

source https://phys.org/news/2026-02-dread-intensity-emotion-climate-policy.html

Parabolic mirror-enhanced Raman spectroscopy enables high-sensitivity trace gas detection

A research team led by Prof. Fang Yonghua from the Hefei Institutes of Physical Science of the Chinese Academy of Sciences proposed and systematically optimized a novel parabolic mirror cavity-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (PMCERS) technique, achieving a marked improvement in gas detection sensitivity through the integration of advanced optical design and signal processing methods. These results were published in Optics & Laser Technology.

source https://phys.org/news/2026-02-parabolic-mirror-raman-spectroscopy-enables.html

Taxing Africa's informal economies: Technology's promise and pitfalls

Changes in the development finance world—especially the sharp drop in foreign aid and fewer cheap loans for low-income countries—have pushed taxation back into the spotlight.

source https://phys.org/news/2026-02-taxing-africa-economies-technology-pitfalls.html

Goats can play a role in multi-pronged restoration of buckthorn-invaded woodlands

Goats are increasingly being used in efforts to manage invasive common buckthorn in Midwestern woodlands. New research demonstrates when and how they are best used.

source https://phys.org/news/2026-02-goats-play-role-multi-pronged.html

Apple reportedly readies iOS 26.4 with smarter Siri and Intelligence tools: What to expect

Apple’s iOS 26.4 is expected to bring a major Siri overhaul with Apple Intelligence, personal context, on-screen awareness and cross-app actions. The developer beta could arrive this month, with a public release tipped for March.

source https://www.livemint.com/technology/tech-news/apple-reportedly-readies-ios-26-4-with-smarter-siri-and-intelligence-tools-what-to-expect-11770571528463.html

The 'Little red dots' observed by Webb were direct-collapse black holes

The James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) was designed to look back in time and study galaxies that existed shortly after the Big Bang. In so doing, scientists hoped to gain a better understanding of how the universe has evolved from the earliest cosmological epoch to the present. When Webb first trained its advanced optics and instruments on the early universe, it discovered a new class of astrophysical objects: bright red sources that were dubbed "Little Red Dots" (LRDs). Initially, astronomers hypothesized that they could be massive star-forming regions, but this was inconsistent with established cosmological models.

source https://phys.org/news/2026-02-red-dots-webb-collapse-black.html

Over 2,000 GCCs signal India’s rising clout in AI and technology services: Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw

Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw says India’s IT sector is shifting to an AI-led services model, backed by data centres, global capability centres and updated curricula, as government, industry and academia work together to position the country as a global hub for AI solutions.

source https://www.livemint.com/technology/tech-news/over-2-000-gccs-signal-india-s-rising-clout-in-ai-and-technology-services-union-minister-ashwini-vaishnaw-11770485192206.html

Q&A: Using AI to accelerate the discovery and design of therapeutic drugs

In the pursuit of solutions to complex global challenges including disease, energy demands, and climate change, scientific researchers, including at MIT, have turned to artificial intelligence, and to quantitative analysis and modeling, to design and construct engineered cells with novel properties. The engineered cells can be programmed to become new therapeutics—battling, and perhaps eradicating, diseases.

source https://phys.org/news/2026-02-qa-ai-discovery-therapeutic-drugs.html

Almost half of the world's aquatic environments are severely contaminated by waste, research reveals

"Dirty" or "extremely dirty": these are the classifications of 46% of the world's aquatic environments. This conclusion comes from a study that compiled and systematized data from 6,049 records of waste contamination in aquatic environments on all continents over the last decade.

source https://phys.org/news/2026-02-world-aquatic-environments-severely-contaminated.html

The Amaterasu particle: Cosmic investigation traces its origin

Cosmic rays are extremely fast, charged particles that travel through space at nearly the speed of light. The Amaterasu particle was detected in 2021 by the Telescope Array experiment in the U.S. It is the second-highest-energy cosmic ray ever observed, carrying around 40 million times more energy than particles accelerated at the Large Hadron Collider. Such particles are exceedingly rare and thought to originate in some of the most extreme environments in the universe.

source https://phys.org/news/2026-02-amaterasu-particle-cosmic.html

Simulations and supercomputing calculate one million cislunar orbits

Satellites and spacecraft in the vast region between Earth and the moon and just beyond—called cislunar space—are crucial for space exploration, scientific advancement and national security. But figuring out where exactly to put them into a stable orbit can be a huge, computationally expensive challenge.

source https://phys.org/news/2026-02-simulations-supercomputing-million-cislunar-orbits.html

Photosynthesis: Study reveals how minerals are involved in homeostasis of chloroplasts

Plants fix 258 billion tons of CO2 in their chloroplasts through photosynthesis every year. For these cell organelles to work properly, they require certain minerals—particularly ions of the metals iron (Fe), manganese (Mn), copper (Cu), and zinc (Zn). Disruptions of ion homeostasis impair photosynthesis and thus growth and yields. A team with members from Munich, Bochum, Columbia (MO), and Saarbrucken, led by LMU biologist Professor Hans-Henning Kunz has now deciphered the chloroplast ionome—the totality of metal ions in the chloroplast—of various plant species.

source https://phys.org/news/2026-02-photosynthesis-reveals-minerals-involved-homeostasis.html

Nanotubes with lids mimic real biology

When water and ions move together through channels only a nanometer wide, they behave in unusual ways. In these tight spaces, water molecules line up in single file. This forces ions to shed some of the water molecules that normally surround them, leading to the unique physics of ion transport. Biological channels are especially adept at this behavior, often choreographing channel openings and closings to achieve complex behaviors such as signals in the nervous system.

source https://phys.org/news/2026-02-nanotubes-lids-mimic-real-biology.html

"No Economic Strategy, Statesmanship": P Chidambaram On Union Budget 2026

Former Union finance minister P Chidambaram dismissed the Union budget 2026 presented today by Nirmala Sitharaman, saying it does not address any of the major challenges pointed out in the economic...

source https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/union-budget-2026-no-economic-strategy-statesmanship-p-chidambaram-10927236

Scientists have identified unique sounds for 8 fish species

Have you ever wished you could swim like a fish? How about speak like one? In a paper recently published in the Journal of Fish Biology, our team from the University of Victoria deciphered some of the strange and unique sounds made by different fish species along the coast of British Columbia.

source https://phys.org/news/2026-01-scientists-unique-fish-species.html

Unlocking the high-performance potential of CF₃SF₄

Fluorine has changed the world of medicine. You might not see it, but newly approved drugs contain at least one fluorine atom. This tiny but powerful element is the "hidden engine" that makes our medications more stable and effective. Over the past decades, chemists have turned the trifluoromethyl (CF3) group into the "gold standard" in organic chemistry.

source https://phys.org/news/2026-01-high-potential-cfsf.html

Snakes on trains: King cobras are 'hopping railways' to unsuitable habitats in India

King cobras are the world's longest venomous snakes. So, imagine seeing one a few feet away as you embark on a train in India. The Western Ghats King Cobra (Ophiophagus kaalinga)—a vulnerable king cobra species found in India's Western Ghats—has reportedly been caught aboard many trains in the Goa region of India. A new study, published in Biotropica, takes a closer look at these reports, where these snakes end up and whether this strange mode of animal migration is putting snakes into unsuitable habitats.

source https://phys.org/news/2026-01-snakes-king-cobras-railways-unsuitable.html

Biodegradable bark–plastic composite lets engineers predict product lifetime from tensile tests

Old trees are learning new tricks with the advent of composite materials. A "green composite" made from biodegradable polymers and the waste bark of the Yakushima Jisugi tree was developed by a research team at Tohoku University. When assessing the material, they found that simply testing its mechanical strength—in this case, its tensile strength or ability to resist pulling—could reliably predict the biodegradation process.

source https://phys.org/news/2026-01-biodegradable-barkplastic-composite-product-lifetime.html

Warming weakens natural enemies of insects, new research shows

A warming climate is disrupting the delicate balance of nature. An international team of scientists led by entomologists from the Biology Center of the Czech Academy of Sciences has found that higher temperatures significantly reduce the success of parasitoids—tiny wasps that help regulate insect populations in nature. This is also bad news for farmers, who rely on these wasps as part of plant protection against insect pests.

source https://phys.org/news/2026-01-weakens-natural-enemies-insects.html

Gold 'supraballs' nearly double solar energy absorption in tests

Sunbeams contain a lot of energy. But current technology for harvesting solar power doesn't capture as much as it could. Now, in ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces, researchers report that gold nanospheres, named supraballs, can absorb nearly all wavelengths in sunlight—including some that traditional photovoltaic materials miss. Applying a layer of supraballs onto a commercially available electricity converter demonstrated that the technology nearly doubled solar energy absorption compared to traditional materials.

source https://phys.org/news/2026-01-gold-supraballs-solar-energy-absorption.html

Epigenetic switch found to halt fat cell formation in adipose tissue

Metabolic diseases such as obesity, fatty liver, and insulin resistance are rapidly increasing worldwide, but fundamental methods to regulate the process of fat formation remain limited. In particular, once adipocytes (fat cells) are formed, they are difficult to reduce, making treatment challenging. A research team from KAIST has discovered the existence of a switch that prevents fat formation. This discovery elucidates how an epigenetic switch, which regulates gene activity without altering the DNA sequence itself, functions during the process of adipogenesis, presenting new possibilities for the precise control of obesity and metabolic diseases in the future.

source https://phys.org/news/2026-01-epigenetic-halt-fat-cell-formation.html

A new study of lunar rocks suggests Earth's water might not have come from meteorites

For a long time, scientists assumed that Earth's water was delivered by asteroids and comets billions of years ago. This coincided with the Late Heavy Bombardment (ca. 4.1 to 3.8 billion years ago), a period when planets and bodies in the solar system experienced a much higher rate of impacts.

source https://phys.org/news/2026-01-lunar-earth-meteorites.html

Exercise In Middle Age Matters More Than You Think, Long-Term Study Finds

US study finds consistent physical activity in young adulthood and middle age reduces high blood pressure risk, with notable racial disparities.

source https://www.ndtv.com/science/exercise-in-middle-age-matters-more-than-you-think-long-term-study-finds-10879503

Microplastics in the atmosphere: Higher emissions come from land areas than from the ocean, study finds

The atmosphere is an important transport medium that carries microplastics to even the most remote parts of the world. These microplastics can be inhaled and pose a health risk to humans and animals. They can also settle out of the atmosphere and contaminate oceans and soils worldwide.

source https://phys.org/news/2026-01-microplastics-atmosphere-higher-emissions-areas.html

Discovery reveals how acetylation controls key enzyme linked to cancer growth

Researchers from the University of Seville have participated in research to identify the molecular details of the regulation of an enzyme essential for sugar metabolism and closely linked to cell proliferation and growth: pyruvate kinase. Their results, the fruit of an extensive collaboration between the team led by Professor Irene Díaz Moreno of the University of Seville and that of Professor Eyal Arbely of Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, have recently been published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

source https://phys.org/news/2026-01-discovery-reveals-acetylation-key-enzyme.html

Litter accumulation in tropical mangroves threatens biodiversity and local communities

Mangroves, typical of tropical and subtropical latitudes, have become veritable natural traps for land- and sea-based waste. The roots of these trees, known as mangroves, have a great capacity to trap litter—from both land and sea—which gradually breaks down until it is buried in the muddy bottom.

source https://phys.org/news/2026-01-litter-accumulation-tropical-mangroves-threatens.html

Two-dimensional materials expand options for next-generation terahertz quantum devices

Scientists from the National University of Singapore (NUS) have discovered that atomic-scale substitutional dopants in ultra-thin two-dimensional (2D) materials can act as stable quantum systems operating at terahertz (THz) frequencies.

source https://phys.org/news/2026-01-dimensional-materials-options-generation-terahertz.html

Water makeup of Jupiter's Galilean moons set at birth, new study finds

While Io, the most volcanically active moon in the solar system, appears completely dry and devoid of water ice, its neighbor Europa is thought to harbor a vast global ocean of liquid water beneath its icy crust. A new international study co-led by Aix-Marseille University and Southwest Research Institute (SwRI) reveals that this striking contrast was established at birth, as they formed around Jupiter, not from later evolutionary processes.

source https://phys.org/news/2026-01-makeup-jupiter-galilean-moons-birth.html

Some moral acts matter more than others, study shows

Every day, we quietly judge the people around us. Did that co-worker split the credit fairly? Did a neighbor return a lost package? Did someone cut in line or respect the rules?

source https://phys.org/news/2026-01-moral.html

1 Killed, 27 Injured During Bull Race At Pongal Festival In Tamil Nadu

An elderly man lost his life, and at least 27 others sustained injuries during a bull race organised as part of Pongal festival celebrations at Govinda Reddipalayam village in Vellore district of...

source https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/1-killed-27-injured-during-bull-race-at-pongal-festival-in-tamil-nadu-10775531

The Bottom Line

Lessons learned from a dotcom entrepreneur on the boom and bust of his company, boo.com.

source https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/m002pqnp?at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=rss

New study reveals global patterns of plant intrinsic water-use efficiency

Intrinsic water-use efficiency (iWUE) reflects how efficiently plants assimilate carbon relative to water loss at the leaf level. While widely studied using carbon isotope and gas-exchange measurements, most existing knowledge is derived from local observations.

source https://phys.org/news/2026-01-reveals-global-patterns-intrinsic-efficiency.html

Shrinkflation: Smaller products hurt some households more than others—and can be bad for business

UK inflation may be easing, but many households still find their weekly shop getting more expensive. One key reason is something not captured in headline prices: shrinkflation, where manufacturers reduce pack sizes without reducing the price.

source https://phys.org/news/2026-01-shrinkflation-smaller-products-households-bad.html

Study finds albumin, the most abundant blood protein, acts as a shield against deadly fungal infections

Scientists at the Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology (IMBB-FORTH) and the University of Crete, together with collaborators from Greece, Europe, the U.S., and India, have discovered a novel role of albumin, the most abundant protein in human blood, in protecting against a rare and often deadly fungal infection called mucormycosis. The study is published in Nature.

source https://phys.org/news/2026-01-albumin-abundant-blood-protein-shield.html

China and Canada announce tariffs relief after a high-stakes meeting between Carney and Xi

Canola oil and electric cars are at the centre of the deal agreed by Mark Carney and Xi Jinping after years of strained ties.

source https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cy59pvkqvl5o?at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=rss

Most beef cattle in South America experience hundreds to thousands of hours of heat-related discomfort each year: Study

A new study has quantified, for the first time, how much heat stress beef cattle actually experience across South America—as cumulative time spent in heat-related discomfort.

source https://phys.org/news/2026-01-beef-cattle-south-america-hundreds.html

The sky's hidden ecosystem: Radar reveals an organized, living habitat

When people think about habitats on Earth, they likely picture forests, oceans or grasslands. Few think to look up. Yet the lower atmosphere, or troposphere, may be the largest habitat on the planet. A new study published in Ecology argues that this vast aerial expanse is an environment teeming with life.

source https://phys.org/news/2026-01-sky-hidden-ecosystem-radar-reveals.html

NASA acknowledges record heat but avoids referencing climate change

Don't say the c-word. Global temperatures soared in 2025, but a NASA statement published Wednesday alongside its latest benchmark annual report makes no reference to climate change, in line with President Donald Trump's push to deny the reality of planetary heating as a result of human activities.

source https://phys.org/news/2026-01-nasa-acknowledges-referencing-climate.html

Marine sediments suggest glaciers retreated in sync across both hemispheres

An international team of scientists has uncovered evidence glaciers in the Southern and Northern hemispheres were synchronous during the last ice age.

source https://phys.org/news/2026-01-marine-sediments-glaciers-retreated-sync.html

Surprise discovery reveals silica's hidden potential in flat optics

An unexpected discovery in a Harvard lab has led to a breakthrough insight into choosing an unconventional material, silica, to make optical metasurfaces—ultra-thin, flat structures that control light at the nanoscale and are already replacing traditional optical devices like lenses and mirrors.

source https://phys.org/news/2026-01-discovery-reveals-silica-hidden-potential.html

Team Uddhav Leader On Hindutva, Marathi Manoos, Thackeray Reunion

The Shiv Sena of the old days was very different from what a section of it is today, Arvind Sawant, senior leader of the Shiv Sena UBT, made it clear today, offering a more nuanced perspective of...

source https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/team-uddhav-leader-on-hindutva-marathi-manoos-thackeray-reunion-10686289

Scores of homes razed, one dead in Australian bushfires

Bushfires have razed hundreds of buildings across southeast Australia, authorities said Sunday, as they confirmed the first death from the disaster.

source https://phys.org/news/2026-01-scores-homes-razed-dead-australian.html

Physicists create resilient 3D solitons in the lab

For the first time, physicists in Italy have created a 'lump soliton': an extremely stable packet of light waves which can travel through 3D space, and even interact with other solitons without losing its shape.

source https://phys.org/news/2026-01-physicists-resilient-3d-solitons-lab.html

iPhone Air 2 could fix two of the biggest issues with iPhone Air: here’s what we know

Apple is expected to upgrade the iPhone Air 2 with improved battery and camera features, including a potential second camera and new display technology. 

source https://www.livemint.com/technology/tech-news/iphone-air-2-could-fix-two-of-the-biggest-issues-with-iphone-air-here-s-what-we-know-11768065097308.html

New chemical method makes it easier to select desirable traits in crops

Crops increasingly need to thrive in a broader range of conditions, including drought, salinity, and heat. Traditional plant breeding can select for desirable traits, but is limited by the genetic variation that already exists in plants. In many crops, domestication and long-term selection have narrowed genetic diversity, constraining efforts to develop new varieties.

source https://phys.org/news/2026-01-chemical-method-easier-desirable-traits.html

Self-configuring optical devices automatically learn how to sort out light

Light can be sculpted into countless shapes. Yet building optical devices that can simultaneously manipulate many different optical patterns at once is extremely complicated, and remains a major challenge in modern photonics.

source https://phys.org/news/2026-01-configuring-optical-devices-automatically.html

Sulfolobus islandicus: Expanding the genetic toolkit for drug delivery and biotechnology applications

Sulfolobus islandicus, an archaeal model organism, offers unique advantages for metabolic engineering and synthetic biology applications owing to its ability to thrive under low pH and high temperature conditions. Although several genetic tools exist for this organism, the absence of well-defined chromosomal integration sites continues to limit its development as a cellular factory.

source https://phys.org/news/2026-01-sulfolobus-islandicus-genetic-toolkit-drug.html

Superheated sediments in a submarine pressure cooker—an unexpected source of deep-sea hydrogen

The mid-ocean ridge runs through the oceans like a suture. Where Earth's plates move apart, new oceanic crust is continuously formed. This is often accompanied by magmatism and hydrothermal activity. Seawater seeps into the subsurface, is heated to temperatures above 400°C, and rises again to the ocean floor.

source https://phys.org/news/2026-01-superheated-sediments-submarine-pressure-cooker.html

Psychological traits that may fuel conspiracy theorist mindset identified

Conspiracy theories are one of the banes of the modern world, exacerbated by the internet and social media. What was once relegated to the fringe has now been pushed into the mainstream, actively shaping public discourse and policies. But why do so many people buy into these narratives even when they are contradicted by empirical facts?

source https://phys.org/news/2026-01-psychological-traits-fuel-conspiracy-theorist.html

Trump's Plan To Seize And Revitalize Venezuela's Oil Industry Faces Major Hurdles

Trump's plan to take control of Venezuela's oil industry and ask American companies to revitalize it after capturing that country's president in a military raid isn't likely to have a significant immediate impact on oil prices.

source https://www.huffpost.com/entry/trump-plan-venezuela-oil-industry-hurdles_n_695a6ec0e4b048f68c305abf

Motorola may finally take on Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7 with a notebook-style foldable in 2026: here's what we know

Motorola may launch its first notebook-style foldable device, the razr fold, in 2026. The phone would compete directly with Samsung Z Fold 7.

source https://www.livemint.com/technology/gadgets/motorola-may-finally-take-on-samsung-galaxy-z-fold-7-with-a-notebook-style-foldable-in-2026-11767545918207.html

India Asks Citizens To Avoid Going To Venezuela Hours After US Captures Maduro

India on Saturday night advised its nationals to avoid all non-essential travel to Venezuela in view of the situation arising out of the capture of the oil-rich country's president by the US.

source https://www.ndtv.com/world-news/india-asks-citizens-to-avoid-going-to-venezuela-hours-after-us-captures-maduro-10256349

"Save Indian Football": Chhetri, Gurpreet, Other Stars Appeal To FIFA

Indian football is in a crisis. There is still no clarity on whether the national football league (the ISL) will happen at all

source https://sports.ndtv.com/cricket/save-indian-football-sunil-chhetri-gurpreet-singh-sandhu-other-stars-appeal-to-fifa-for-resolving-crisis-10206438

Energy prices rise slightly for millions of households as temperatures fall

Millions of households in England, Wales and Scotland are seeing a slight rise in energy bills in the new year.

source https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/clyzy5488qqo?at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=rss

How the 'guardian of the genome' impacts blood vessel growth

The protein p53, best known as the "guardian of the genome" for its role in preventing cancer, can affect blood vessels in different ways. However, it has not been clear how p53 can slow blood vessel growth in some cases and damage blood vessels in others.

source https://phys.org/news/2026-01-guardian-genome-impacts-blood-vessel.html

I used these five gadgets to boost my productivity last year: here’s why you should try them in 2026

I used these 5 gadgets to boost my productivity in 2025. From e-readers to smartwatches, check out the complete list of gadgets. 

source https://www.livemint.com/technology/gadgets/i-used-these-five-gadgets-to-boost-my-productivity-last-year-here-s-why-you-should-try-them-in-2026-11767287915594.html

Searching for light dark matter by tracking its direction with quantum sensors

Dark matter is an elusive type of matter that does not emit, absorb or reflect light, interacting very weakly with ordinary matter. These characteristics make it impossible to detect using conventional technologies used by physicists to study matter particles.

source https://phys.org/news/2025-12-dark-tracking-quantum-sensors.html

Energy prices rise slightly for millions of households as temperatures fall

Millions of households in England, Wales and Scotland are seeing a slight rise in energy bills in the new year.

source https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/clyzy5488qqo?at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=rss

Energy prices rise slightly for millions of households as temperatures fall

Millions of households in England, Wales and Scotland are seeing a slight rise in energy bills in the new year.

source https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/clyzy5488qqo?at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=rss