New technique sharpens predictions of metal alloy behavior by capturing subtle atomic patterns

Companies working at the frontier of aerospace, energy and computing are constantly looking for new materials to improve performance. But in order to understand how those materials will actually behave once they're inside rockets or on computer chips, companies first have to make the material and then test it. That's because even the most powerful simulation techniques struggle to model the complex chemical arrangements in most of today's solid materials. The problem adds cost and time to materials innovation.

source https://phys.org/news/2026-06-technique-sharpens-metal-alloy-behavior.html

Fossilized babies of ancient crocodile-like predators uproot understanding of how animals adapted to the land

Life on our planet began in the water. Eventually, one branch of the fish family tree developed legs and came up on land. These early four-legged animals, the tetrapods, were the forebears of today's mammals, birds, reptiles and amphibians.

source https://phys.org/news/2026-06-fossilized-babies-ancient-crocodile-predators.html

Fungi help lock carbon into Arctic fjord sediments

Arctic fjords are among the most efficient natural systems for absorbing and storing carbon long term. However, as the Arctic is warming about four times faster than the global average, fjord ecosystems are changing rapidly. Against this backdrop, understanding the biological processes that regulate carbon storage is becoming increasingly important. Yet the microbial mechanisms that control whether carbon is stored in sediments or returned to the environment are still not fully understood.

source https://phys.org/news/2026-06-fungi-carbon-arctic-fjord-sediments.html

Honeybees adjust their dances based on information reliability, study reveals

A new study demonstrates that honeybees can evaluate the reliability of their own communication, actively adjusting the vigor of their "waggle dance" based on the truthfulness of the information they provide. By manipulating whether a dancing bee's followers successfully found food, experiments revealed that only bees with verified, "honest" information increased their recruitment effort over time when advertising a new location, whereas "liar" or "unverified" bees did not. This internal self-control mechanism naturally filters out ambiguous or misleading signals, allowing the hive to function efficiently as a cooperative superorganism.

source https://phys.org/news/2026-06-honeybees-adjust-based-reliability-reveals.html

Artificial cells gain porous membranes, enabling lab reactions and drug release

Artificial cells created in the laboratory offer a wide range of potential applications. Until now, however, their membranes—unlike those of real cells—have been virtually impermeable. Researchers at the Max Planck Institute for Polymer Research, led by Director Katharina Landfester, have now developed a new method to make the membranes of artificial cells more permeable to chemical substances. This prepares them for both medical research and future applications such as drug delivery. The scientists published their findings in the journal ACS Nano.

source https://phys.org/news/2026-06-artificial-cells-gain-porous-membranes.html

'Excellent' water at most European beaches, study says

The vast majority of Europe's beaches offer "excellent" water quality for swimming, the EU environment agency said Tuesday ahead of the summer season, with coastal nations and inland Austria topping the list.

source https://phys.org/news/2026-06-excellent-european-beaches.html

PACE satellite tracks fall colors with near-daily global coverage

Researchers have developed a new approach using data from NASA's Plankton, Aerosol, Cloud, ocean Ecosystem (PACE) satellite to observe the timing and progression of fall colors across landscapes.

source https://phys.org/news/2026-06-pace-satellite-tracks-fall-daily.html

New study assesses Titan's resources and their potential uses

Saturn's largest moon, Titan, is a unique environment in our solar system. It is the only moon (or body beyond Earth) to have a dense, nitrogen-rich atmosphere, and its methane cycle is very similar to Earth's hydrological cycle, in which solid and liquid methane evaporate to form clouds and return to the surface as precipitation. In addition, its prebiotic surface environment and rich organic chemistry make it a prime destination for astrobiology missions, such as NASA's Dragonfly mission (set to launch no earlier than July 2028).

source https://phys.org/news/2026-06-titan-resources-potential.html

Ultrafast laser pulses reveal a material's hidden state of matter

What would it take to instantly transform a material from an electrical insulator into a conductive state without ever touching it? Using ultrafast laser pulses and powerful X-rays, scientists at the National Synchrotron Light Source II (NSLS-II)—a U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Office of Science user facility at DOE's Brookhaven National Laboratory—developed a methodology to generate "hidden" phases and understand why they work.

source https://phys.org/news/2026-06-ultrafast-laser-pulses-reveal-material.html

Manakins' dazzling dances may owe their origins to an ancient diet shift

Few animals put on a show quite like manakins. In the rainforests of Central and South America, males of these small tropical birds, with strikingly bright plumage, often gather at communal display sites (leks), where they clear their own dance courts and spend much of their lives performing high-speed backflips, snapping their wings like firecrackers, and running through choreographed routines with other males, all to attract a mate.

source https://phys.org/news/2026-06-manakins-dazzling-owe-ancient-diet.html

The hidden physics complicating interstellar lightsails

If we're to reach another star, chemical propulsion will not get us there in any reasonable time frame. We're going to need a different propulsion technology, and one of the most promising seems to be a solar sail. These giant reflective surfaces form the basis of many interstellar mission concepts. Combined with giant lasers pushing them, they can be accelerated to speeds unreachable by any other current technologies.

source https://phys.org/news/2026-06-hidden-physics-complicating-interstellar-lightsails.html

Will Victor Wembanyama Play? Spurs Fight To Survive

Victor Wembanyama is expected to play in Game 5 of the NBA Finals as the Spurs fight to keep their season alive against the Knicks, who hold a commanding 3-1 lead.

source https://sports.ndtv.com/us-nba/will-victor-wembanyama-play-tonight-all-eyes-on-spurs-star-ahead-of-must-win-nba-finals-game-5-11632964

Q&A: Tracing the origins of supermassive black holes

Sarah Pappert is a Ph.D. candidate in astrophysics at the TUM School of Natural Sciences and conducts research at the Max Planck Institute for Extraterrestrial Physics. She is supervised by Prof. Dr. Reinhard Genzel and Prof. Dr. Frank Eisenhauer, who holds a TUM Distinguished Affiliated Professorship at the TUM School of Natural Sciences. Her research focuses on supermassive black holes and the development of astronomical instruments for the Extremely Large Telescope in Chile. In addition to her research, she is actively involved in science communication and is committed to encouraging girls and young women to pursue studies and careers in STEM.

source https://phys.org/news/2026-06-qa-supermassive-black-holes.html

CDC sleuthing helps decipher drug-resistant infection rise

Previous research from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) found that a dangerous variety of bacteria that cause drug-resistant infections, called NDM-producing carbapenem-resistant Enterobacterales (NDM-CRE), has become much more common in the United States, increasing by 461% from 2019–2023. Now, in a new study presented at ASM Microbe 2026, researchers set out to better understand what was behind this sudden increase, examining if it was driven by closely related strains or, instead, by many different, unrelated bacteria.

source https://phys.org/news/2026-06-cdc-sleuthing-decipher-drug-resistant.html

New atlas reveals more about how the body's 'master gland' really works

A new study has created a detailed map of the pituitary gland, often called the body's "master gland" because it controls important functions such as growth, stress and reproduction. Researchers from the Center for Craniofacial & Regenerative Biology combined data from many studies to build a single, clearer picture of how this gland works. They created the Consensus Pituitary Atlas, along with an easy-to-use website where scientists can explore the data and analyze their own.

source https://phys.org/news/2026-06-atlas-reveals-body-master-gland.html

Mountainous landscapes store far more carbon than previously thought, new research shows

Hilly and mountainous landscapes have a much greater ability to store carbon in the soil than previously thought, according to a new study co-led by scientists at the University of Oregon.

source https://phys.org/news/2026-06-mountainous-landscapes-carbon-previously-thought.html

Trees may store less carbon than expected in the future

It's intuitive to think that if a tree is photosynthesizing, it's also growing. But that's not necessarily so—and a new study of oak trees, published in the journal Science Advances, found that even as they photosynthesize late into the year, their growth stops by midsummer.

source https://phys.org/news/2026-06-trees-carbon-future.html

Organic molecule with ultranarrow emission spectrum could lead to better LEDs

Over the past several decades, light sources have gradually transitioned to light-emitting diodes, or LEDs, and inorganic LEDs are now used across a wide range of applications. In parallel, organic LEDs, or OLEDs, have become widely used in display technologies.

source https://phys.org/news/2026-06-molecule-ultranarrow-emission-spectrum.html

Physicists introduce phase contrast to electron microscopy, delivering sharper images of our body's tiniest proteins

Nearly 100 years ago, a seemingly simple discovery revolutionized the microscope. The introduction of phase contrast, which garnered a Nobel Prize in 1953, brought into clear view structures inside cells that had previously been too faint or washed out for biologists to study.

source https://phys.org/news/2026-06-physicists-phase-contrast-electron-microscopy.html

Overlooked pollutants are responsible for about 15% of current global warming, study shows

In a new paper published in Science, leading scientists and climate policy experts show that 15% of current global warming (0.3°C) from human emissions stems from pollutants that fall outside most existing climate policy frameworks. Most of these overlooked pollutants are called "indirect greenhouse gases" and include carbon monoxide, non-methane volatile organic compounds, nitrogen oxides and molecular hydrogen.

source https://phys.org/news/2026-06-overlooked-pollutants-responsible-current-global.html

Extreme coastal flooding surges worldwide as rising seas rewrite 100-year odds

Human-caused sea-level rise has significantly increased the frequency of extreme coastal flooding worldwide, according to a new study led by a Tulane University researcher. The research, published in the journal Nature Climate Change, found that coastal flooding events expected only once every 100 years are now, on average, about 12 times more likely to occur.

source https://phys.org/news/2026-06-extreme-coastal-surges-worldwide-seas.html

Small optical component could change how telescopes view the sun

A new telescope technology—measuring just 6 millimeters (0.24 inches) in diameter—could improve how future space missions study and monitor the sun while simplifying onboard hardware and reducing costs.

source https://phys.org/news/2026-06-small-optical-component-telescopes-view.html

'Double-edged' nature of workplace resilience examined

From underdog stories to comeback victories, everyone loves a tale of perseverance. But a new study suggests that highlighting workplace resilience can sometimes leave observers feeling anxious instead of inspired.

source https://phys.org/news/2026-06-edged-nature-workplace-resilience.html

Tea compound boosts seaweed hydrogel strength fivefold, while tuning adhesion and breakdown

Could wound healing dressings adhere better, and could drug delivery patches become more sophisticated? A KAIST research team has developed a technology that leverages natural ingredients derived from plants to increase the strength of a seaweed-based hydrogel (a gel material that contains a large amount of water while maintaining its shape) by more than fivefold, while also controlling its adhesiveness and degradation rate.

source https://phys.org/news/2026-06-tea-compound-boosts-seaweed-hydrogel.html

Satellite data reveal Southern Ocean vertical currents diving 3,000 feet below surface

Ocean currents are not just horizontal motions that flow from side to side. There are also vertical currents that act like deep-sea elevators, pushing heat and carbon down into the deep, while bringing up vital nutrients and dissolved gases to the surface.

source https://phys.org/news/2026-06-satellite-reveal-southern-ocean-vertical.html

What happens when the world's breadbaskets start failing simultaneously?

Agriculture today is a massive, globally interconnected industry. That interconnectivity has brought jobs and varied foods to people who might not otherwise be able to access them.

source https://phys.org/news/2026-06-world-breadbaskets-simultaneously.html

How Facebook users affected by data breaches react over time examined

A new study by Mannheim Business Administration professor Hartmut Höhle examines the reactions of actual victims of the Cambridge Analytica scandal on Facebook over a longer period. Its key finding is that, despite being affected by data fraud, users remain on the platform.

source https://phys.org/news/2026-06-facebook-users-affected-breaches-react.html

Headless skeletons offer new insights into farming societies 7,000 years ago

Dozens of human skeletons, lying apparently randomly on and next to each other, with their skulls missing, present a terrifying sight at first glance. Since 2022, this is what researchers have been excavating in a 7,000-year-old settlement near the present-day town of Vráble in Slovakia. Are the headless skeletons the remains of a Neolithic massacre, representing gruesome evidence of a crisis in ancient society?

source https://phys.org/news/2026-06-headless-skeletons-insights-farming-societies.html

Casualty Of Punjab BJP's Kewal Singh Dhillion Move: Internal Cohesion

The incident is a symptom of dissatisfaction that is brewing within the party. The BJP's old guard appears increasingly uneasy with the pace and direction of recent changes.

source https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/casualty-of-punjab-bjps-kewal-singh-dhillion-move-internal-cohesion-11604302

A faster way to forecast alien weather

The TRAPPIST-1 system, located about 41 light years from Earth, has been a focal point of much exoplanetary discussion—mainly because it has seven confirmed planets orbiting a dim M-dwarf star. Two of those planets—TRAPPIST-1e and -1f—are thought to be in the star's habitable zone. However, the habitable zone of M-dwarfs is so close to the star itself, the planets are likely tidally locked to it, meaning they have a permanent day and night side, with a "twilight terminator" in between.

source https://phys.org/news/2026-06-faster-alien-weather.html

Indian Companies Pitch Products, Seek Partnerships At Mega Tech Trade Event In Taiwan

Organisers said they hoped to see greater participation from Indian companies in future editions of the exhibition as technology cooperation between the two sides continued to expand.

source https://www.ndtvprofit.com/technology/indian-companies-pitch-products-seek-partnerships-at-mega-tech-trade-event-in-taiwan-11601175

Africa's climate crisis is a legal crisis too: What are states' duties under human rights law?

A landmark climate case is being heard by the African Court on Human and Peoples' Rights. The request was brought by the Pan African Lawyers Union and other African civil society organizations. They've asked the court to issue advice on what responsibilities African governments have to protect their countries against the climate crisis and move away from an economy that harms the environment.

source https://phys.org/news/2026-06-africa-climate-crisis-legal-states.html

Leak on space station triggers brief safety alert

Astronauts working on the International Space Station briefly sheltered in a docked capsule Friday as Russian colleagues assessed leak repairs, NASA said.

source https://phys.org/news/2026-06-leak-space-station-triggers-safety.html

Remote work may not be what makes employees happy, study finds

For years, remote work has been viewed as one of the most important drivers of employee satisfaction. New research suggests that assumption may be giving remote work too much credit.

source https://phys.org/news/2026-06-remote-employees-happy.html

Printed manga may give the brain a storytelling advantage

A new study by researchers at the University of Tokyo explores whether reading manga on paper or on a tablet changes how the brain understands and remembers stories. Participants first read the opening half of a two-part manga story either on paper or on a tablet. Later, while inside an MRI scanner, they read the second half through LCD goggles and answered questions about the story.

source https://phys.org/news/2026-06-manga-brain-storytelling-advantage.html

Animals were sharpening their senses long before the Cambrian explosion, ancient tracks reveal

Tracks left by some of the earliest complex animals are giving new insights into how they experienced the world. New research reveals how these creatures started to understand their surroundings, paving the way for animal life to spread across the planet.

source https://phys.org/news/2026-06-animals-sharpening-cambrian-explosion-ancient.html

Researchers discover how to turn one germ's drug resistance into an Achilles' heel

Decades of reliance on the antibiotic rifampicin have fueled the rise of drug-resistant Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb). But as the bacterium mutates to protect itself from the drug, it also creates new weak points that other therapies could exploit. Now, a new study published in Nature Microbiology shows that the most common rifampicin-resistance mutation slows bacterial RNA polymerase, creating vulnerabilities that future combination therapies may be able to target.

source https://phys.org/news/2026-06-germ-drug-resistance-achilles-heel.html

Billy Gilmour's Ruled Out of World Cup As Man Utd Teenager Steps In

He helped Scotland qualify for their first World Cup since 1998 and was expected to start the opening group game. Then he went down in the 42nd minute against Curacao on Saturday, and by the evening...

source https://sports.ndtv.com/us-fifa/billy-gilmour-world-cup-dream-shattered-by-knee-injury-as-manchester-united-teenager-steps-in-11572305

Leaf forces help steer stomata as young plants grow, experiments reveal

Scientists have uncovered how the interplay between cell shape and mechanical stress influences the orientation of stomata (microscopic pores on the leaf surface) during early plant development.

source https://phys.org/news/2026-05-leaf-stomata-young-reveal.html

Supermassive black holes could be the universe's biggest planet nurseries

Supermassive black holes are the largest known black holes in the universe, sitting at the center of most large galaxies. They are sometimes described as cosmic monsters because they feed on surrounding gas and dust when they are active, as well as destroy anything that gets too close. But their reputation could be due for a rethink, as a new paper published on the arXiv preprint server suggests they may also be the birthplace of millions of planets.

source https://phys.org/news/2026-05-supermassive-black-holes-universe-biggest.html

In Senegal, a 2,000‑year‑old iron workshop sheds new light on the past

How was iron produced 2,000 years ago in Senegal? A recent study at the Didé West 1 archaeological site, in the Falémé Valley in eastern Senegal, sheds light on an ancient iron production technique.

source https://phys.org/news/2026-05-senegal-2000yearold-iron-workshop.html

British Man Praises Hyderabad Metro's Cleanliness, Calls It "Super Cool"

Patterson managed to get a seat and praised the condition of the metro coach.

source https://www.ndtv.com/offbeat/british-man-left-impressed-by-hyderabad-metro-praises-its-cleanliness-and-ambience-11569637

How mobile deep‑space medical systems could support future landings on the moon and Mars

Around the world, people watched NASA's Artemis II mission in awe as humans returned to lunar orbit for the first time since 1972.

source https://phys.org/news/2026-05-mobile-deepspace-medical-future-moon.html

5-Month Planning, Stabbing, Burnt Car: How A Minor Killed 4 Family Members

What initially appeared to be an accident involving a burnt car has now turned into one of Rajasthan's most chilling murder investigations.

source https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/ajmer-murder-case-rajasthan-5-month-planning-stabbing-burnt-car-how-a-minor-killed-4-family-members-11565574

Freeze-dried reagents and hand-powered hardware bring biomanufacturing to remote labs

Researchers at the University of Toronto's Leslie Dan Faculty of Pharmacy, working with collaborators around the world, have demonstrated the effectiveness of a suite of low-cost, portable biotechnology tools designed to improve access to laboratory research and diagnostics in resource-limited settings.

source https://phys.org/news/2026-05-dried-reagents-powered-hardware-biomanufacturing.html

Is my brain wired to never see a ghost? A psychologist on three factors that make a paranormal experience more likely

Around 1 in 5 Americans say they've seen a ghost. I'm not one of them, and I probably never will be. I blame my brain.

source https://phys.org/news/2026-05-brain-wired-ghost-psychologist-factors.html

'Feathered dragon' has some of the longest tail feathers ever found on a fossil bird

Birds have all kinds of fancy decorations for attracting mates—male peacocks have a fan of feathers accented with shimmering blue eye-spots, birds of paradise do courtship dances that highlight their fluffy plumes, and female mallard ducks pick males with shiny green heads and bright yellow bills.

source https://phys.org/news/2026-05-feathered-dragon-longest-tail-feathers.html

Scientists reveal how dividing cells precisely trigger spindle formation

During animal cell division, a highly synchronized and tightly regulated dance of chromosomes takes place, ensuring the chromosomes split correctly into the two cells. Spindle fibers—complex machinery responsible for choreographing this dance—form from each end of the cell and push and pull the chromosomes through the process. But scientists still do not fully understand how cells control where and when the spindle fibers themselves form.

source https://phys.org/news/2026-05-scientists-reveal-cells-precisely-trigger.html

Heat dome over Europe scorches UK, France, Spain

Temperatures hit record highs for May in the United Kingdom and France on Monday, as forecasters warned of a prolonged period of extreme heat across Europe throughout the week.

source https://phys.org/news/2026-05-dome-europe-uk-france-spain.html

Supercharging solar cells: Quantum dot-molecule hybrid states enable near-maximum efficiency

Solar panels have become more efficient over the years, but even the best designs still lose a large fraction of the energy they absorb. Scientists around the world have been searching for ways to capture more energy from every ray of sunlight and unlock the true potential of solar technology.

source https://phys.org/news/2026-05-supercharging-solar-cells-quantum-dot.html

US Couple Takes "First Retirement" At 30, Buys Sailboat To Explore The World

Rather than waiting until their 60s to retire, Bianca and Charlie decided they wanted to enjoy life while they were still young, healthy, and financially stable enough to take the risk.

source https://www.ndtv.com/feature/us-couple-quits-corporate-careers-for-first-retirement-at-30-buys-a-sailboat-to-explore-the-world-11542043

New 'AI scientists' are improving—but reveal their fundamental limits

Many of the most exciting discoveries in science involve highly specialized knowledge and making connections between far-flung facts. Scientists must combine deep analysis with broad reasoning strategies.

source https://phys.org/news/2026-05-ai-scientists-reveal-fundamental-limits.html

Not just a fun hobby: Board games can help build connections and reduce stress

Researchers at the University of Plymouth recently confirmed what board game fans and role-playing game (RPG) enthusiasts have known for decades: that tabletop games "enhance well-being, foster inclusion, and support learning, with strong evidence that games improve engagement."

source https://phys.org/news/2026-05-fun-hobby-board-games-stress.html

Supreme Court To Hear Twisha Sharma Death Case On May 25 - What We Know

A Supreme Court bench led by Chief Justice of India Surya Kant will hear the matter on May 25 amid allegations of procedural lapses and institutional interference in the Twisha Sharma death probe.

source https://www.ndtvprofit.com/india/supreme-court-to-hear-twisha-sharma-death-case-on-may-25-what-we-know-11538629

'The Silence of the Lambs' introduced the world to forensic entomology—but how much has changed since?

In the early 1990s, crime-loving television audiences could choose mainly between cozy, fictional detective series such as Columbo and Murder, She Wrote. The US docuseries Unsolved Mysteries brought a few real cold-case investigations to light, but coverage of forensic science on screen was still relatively simple.

source https://phys.org/news/2026-05-silence-lambs-world-forensic-entomology.html

Ancient tooth proteins suggest Homo erectus may have left a genetic legacy in people today

For most of the 20th century, the model of human origins was a tree: with the trunk dividing into branches, and then twigs. Each species of human relative (hominin) was a neat, single branch.

source https://phys.org/news/2026-05-ancient-tooth-proteins-homo-erectus.html

Bodies in fashion: Diversity is up, but the ideal stays the same

Fashion and media have become visibly more diverse over the past quarter-century. Yet beneath that surface change, a new study suggests that the industry's central female body ideal has barely shifted.

source https://phys.org/news/2026-05-bodies-fashion-diversity-ideal-stays.html

AI makes a major breakthrough in a math problem that had stumped experts for decades

For nearly 80 years, mathematicians have struggled to solve a classic geometry puzzle first posed by Paul Erdős in 1946: the planar unit distance problem. The question posed by the legendary Hungarian mathematician was, on the surface, deceptively simple.

source https://phys.org/news/2026-05-ai-major-breakthrough-math-problem.html

Quantum supremacy just ran into an unexpected rival: An ordinary laptop armed with new math

Using a conventional computer and cutting-edge mathematical tools and code, physicists at the Center for Computational Quantum Physics (CCQ) at the Simons Foundation's Flatiron Institute and collaborators at Boston University have cracked a daunting quantum physics problem previously claimed to be solvable only by quantum computers.

source https://phys.org/news/2026-05-quantum-supremacy-ran-unexpected-rival.html

What are misfluencers and what can be done about false information online?

Misleading information online is often treated as a technical glitch, something that better algorithms or stricter moderation can fix. But research points to a more complex reality. That is, the rise of "misfluencers," individuals who shape how information is interpreted, shared and trusted across digital platforms.

source https://phys.org/news/2026-05-misfluencers-false-online.html

Thousands of UK beekeepers submit honey to benefit environmental science

Beekeepers and their honeybees can be invaluable participants in environmental surveys, according to a study published in the open-access journal PLOS One by Jennifer Shelton of the UK Center for Ecology & Hydrology and colleagues.

source https://phys.org/news/2026-05-thousands-uk-beekeepers-submit-honey.html

How climate change is destroying Arctic cultural heritage sites

Climate change is rapidly destroying cultural heritage sites across the Arctic, as exemplified in a 17th century "whalers' graveyard" which provides invaluable insights into early whalers' way of life, according to a study published in PLOS One by Lise Loktu of the Norwegian Institute for Cultural Heritage Research and Elin Therese Brødholt of Oslo University Hospital, Norway.

source https://phys.org/news/2026-05-climate-destroying-arctic-cultural-heritage.html

Rising seawater heat may collapse coral oxygen flow before bleaching appears

Tropical coral reefs support the highest levels of biodiversity in the ocean. This vital ecosystem depends on reef-building corals, which form colonies of thousands of tiny coral animals that secrete calcium carbonate skeletons, creating the reef's complex structure. While corals are visually striking, they are also highly sensitive to environmental changes driven by global warming and other consequences of climate change.

source https://phys.org/news/2026-05-seawater-collapse-coral-oxygen.html

Economists solve a mystery involving international trade and competition from China

Economists have identified—and resolved—a seeming paradox regarding how competition from China affects the price and volume of products that are exported from other countries into the United States. The findings shed new light on the complex dynamics of international trade and how the effects of trade competition vary drastically for poor nations compared to their wealthy counterparts.

source https://phys.org/news/2026-05-economists-mystery-involving-international-competition.html

Smarter spending, not bigger budgets, drives premier league success, study finds

Higher spending does not automatically lead to greater overall efficiency or consistent on-pitch success, according to new research that examined Premier League clubs over a 10-season period. The study, led by the University of Bristol, is published in Socio-Economic Planning Sciences.

source https://phys.org/news/2026-05-smarter-bigger-premier-league-success.html

'We're Living In Horror': Family Of Noida Woman Found Dead In Bhopal To NDTV

Twisha Sharma's father Navnidhi Sharma and cousin brother Ashish Sharma told NDTV that they have been struggling for justice and running from pillar to post in Bhopal

source https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/were-living-in-horror-family-of-noida-woman-twisha-sharma-found-dead-in-bhopal-to-ndtv-11509228

Surrounded by stardust: Antarctic ice cores confirm Earth is accumulating iron-60 from local interstellar cloud

Our solar system is currently passing through the Local Interstellar Cloud, a region of highly diluted gas and dust between the stars. On its path, Earth continuously accumulates iron-60, a rare radioactive isotope of iron produced in stellar explosions. This has now been confirmed by an international research team led by the Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf (HZDR) through the analysis of Antarctic ice tens of thousands of years old. From the steady but time-varying influx, the researchers conclude that the radioactive isotope has been stored within the cloud since a long-past stellar explosion. The results have been published in the journal Physical Review Letters.

source https://phys.org/news/2026-05-stardust-antarctic-ice-cores-earth.html

How short-form videos may aid the teaching of small-engine maintenance

The 1974 novel "Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance" offered a simple but enduring idea: Working on machines should not be about just fixing them, but slowing down, paying attention, and reflecting on both the work and oneself in the pursuit of quality.

source https://phys.org/news/2026-05-short-videos-aid-small-maintenance.html

'Joyous Moment': In PM Modi's Presence, Netherlands Returns Chola-Era Copper Plates

The Prime Minister extended his gratitude to the Dutch government and specifically to Leiden University, where the copper plates had been housed since the mid-19th century, for facilitating their...

source https://www.ndtvprofit.com/india/039-joyous-moment-for-every-indian-039-pm-modi-as-netherlands-returns-chola-era-copper-plates-11505625

Plasma treatment keeps cut flowers fresher for two weeks without chemicals

From long‑distance transport to chemical preservatives, most cut flowers come with a hidden environmental cost—something a new Griffith University experiment aims to rethink.

source https://phys.org/news/2026-05-plasma-treatment-fresher-weeks-chemicals.html

Exploiting interfacial ionic mobility to make heat-moldable nanoparticle aggregates

If you have ever warped a cheap plastic cup by pouring coffee into it, then you have witnessed thermoplasticity in action. Thermoplasticity is the ability of a material to become pliable under heating. In industry, thermoplasticity is exploited to form materials into complex shapes using heat. However, some materials, such as aggregates of nanoparticles, are not thermoplastic and cannot be easily processed without affecting their particle morphology and properties.

source https://phys.org/news/2026-05-exploiting-interfacial-ionic-mobility-moldable.html

Fair matching systems can still produce unequal outcomes, new research finds

A computerized matching system can be designed to be fair and still produce unequal outcomes if the people using it do not understand how it works, according to new research published in Organization Science that shows that disparities can emerge even when a matching system is designed to reduce bias, discourage gaming and reward honest decision-making.

source https://phys.org/news/2026-05-fair-unequal-outcomes.html

Tropical rivers emerge as biggest oxygen-loss hotspots in a warming world

According to a study published in Science Advances on May 15, global rivers are undergoing widespread and sustained deoxygenation driven by climate warming, among which tropical rivers are the most vulnerable ecosystems, with an urgent need to combat oxygen loss.

source https://phys.org/news/2026-05-tropical-rivers-emerge-biggest-oxygen.html

Maintain Law And Order: High Court To Bengal On Post-Poll Violence Claims

The court also directed the police to ensure the safety of those who fled their homes, apprehending post-poll retribution violence, and arrange for their safe return to their properties.

source https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/maintain-law-and-order-high-court-to-bengal-on-post-poll-violence-claims-11497108

Mathematical analysis reveals a hidden 'golden rule' in abstract art

A mathematical method borrowed from topology can reveal structural properties of visual art that correspond to how people perceive and respond to them, according to a new study published in PLOS Computational Biology by Jacek Rogala of the University of Warsaw, Poland, Shabnam Kadir of the University of Hertfordshire, UK, and colleagues.

source https://phys.org/news/2026-05-mathematical-analysis-reveals-hidden-golden.html

Prehistoric Danish people continued to eat fish and hunt even after the rise of agriculture, study indicates

Agriculture reached the coast of southern Denmark around 4000 BCE, but these prehistoric Scandinavians continued to fish and hunt too, according to a study published in PLOS One by Daniel Groß from the Museum Lolland-Falster, Denmark, Sofie Folsach Hellerøe from Aarhus University, Denmark, and colleagues.

source https://phys.org/news/2026-05-prehistoric-danish-people-fish-agriculture.html

How invading cancer cells grip and rip their way into new tissues

Researchers from the National University of Singapore (NUS) have discovered that cancer cells do not simply push through surrounding tissues to spread, but instead actively grip onto protective tissue barriers and pull them apart, revealing a fundamentally new mechanism of cancer invasion that could open fresh avenues for therapeutic intervention.

source https://phys.org/news/2026-05-invading-cancer-cells-rip-tissues.html

No more 'just say no'—Canadian schools will soon have a roadmap to address student substance use

The message to students used to be simple: "Just say no." But in today's schools, that message is not only outdated, it may be part of the problem.

source https://phys.org/news/2026-05-canadian-schools-roadmap-student-substance.html

Trisha Shares Joy Over Vijay Becoming Tamil Nadu Chief Minister: "Very Happy"

Trisha Krishnan attended Vijay's oath ceremony on Sunday

source https://www.ndtv.com/entertainment/trisha-krishnan-speaks-to-ndtv-shares-joy-over-vijay-becoming-tamil-nadu-chief-minister-very-happy-11475784

Radio telescopes confirm 3.3-million-light-year halo in unusually quiet galaxy cluster

Astronomers have employed the upgraded Giant Metrewave Radio Telescope (uGMRT) and the MeerKAT radio telescope to observe a galaxy cluster known as RXCJ0232–4420. Results of the new observations, published April 29 on the arXiv pre-print server, deliver important insights into the nature of this cluster.

source https://phys.org/news/2026-05-radio-telescopes-million-year-halo.html

GHV Infra Projects Bags Rs 7,000 Crore Deal For Tyre Manufacturing Unit Construction

GHV Infra Projects secured a Rs 7,000 crore EPC contract for a greenfield tyre manufacturing plant in Cameroon with a 7.6 million annual capacity.

source https://www.ndtvprofit.com/business/ghv-infra-projects-bags-rs-7-000-crore-deal-for-epc-works-regarding-tyre-manufacturing-unit-11472779

Heavy Atlantic rain can block African aerosols from fertilizing Amazon, study finds

How are cold air masses advancing in the United States connected to fertilizers carried by "flying rivers" from Africa that nourish the soils of the Brazilian Amazon? An article published in Geophysical Research Letters reveals an atmospheric connection between these distant regions.

source https://phys.org/news/2026-05-heavy-atlantic-block-african-aerosols.html

Scientists trace latest interstellar comet's home to a cold, isolated corner of the Milky Way

The comet that rambled past us from another star last year likely originated in a cold, isolated corner of the galaxy that had yet to gel into its own solar system, astronomers reported Thursday.

source https://phys.org/news/2026-04-scientists-latest-interstellar-comet-home.html

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