How do candidates skirt Chinese social media bans on political content? They use influencers

This election, social media has been a major battleground as candidates try to reach younger voters. As Gen Z and Millennials now make up the dominant voter bloc in Australia, securing their support is more electorally important than ever. | Continue reading


@phys.org | 16 days ago

Some 'Star Wars' stories have already become reality

Just 48 short years ago, movie director George Lucas used the phrase "A long time ago in a galaxy far, far away" as the opening to the first "Star Wars" movie, later labeled "Episode IV: A New Hope." But at least four important aspects of the "Star Wars" saga are much closer—both … | Continue reading


@phys.org | 16 days ago

AI system targets tree pollen behind allergies

Imagine trying to tell identical twins apart just by looking at their fingerprints. That's how challenging it can be for scientists to distinguish the tiny powdery pollen grains produced by fir, spruce and pine trees. | Continue reading


@phys.org | 16 days ago

Unique molecule may lead to smaller, more efficient computers

Today, most of us carry a fairly powerful computer in our hand—a smartphone. But computers weren't always so portable. Since the 1980s, they have become smaller, lighter, and better equipped to store and process vast troves of data. Yet the silicon chips that power computers can … | Continue reading


@phys.org | 16 days ago

New global index defines what makes digital economies resilient and inclusive

Digital Planet, published by The Fletcher School at Tufts University, has unveiled the Digital Evolution Index charting the progress 125 economies around the world have made in advancing their digital economies, developing artificial intelligence (AI), and integrating connectivit … | Continue reading


@phys.org | 16 days ago

Ultimate self-sacrifice: Bacteria activate unusual defense to evade viral attack

For billions of years, viruses and bacteria have been embroiled in an arms race. In response to constant attacks by viruses known as bacteriophages—more commonly called "phages"—bacteria evolve new ways to defend themselves. And, in turn, phages evolve new strategies to overcome … | Continue reading


@phys.org | 16 days ago

Scientists make discovery that upends our beliefs about how cells divide

Scientists from The University of Manchester have changed our understanding of how cells in living organisms divide, which could revise what students are taught at school. In a study published today in Science, the researchers challenge conventional wisdom taught in schools for o … | Continue reading


@phys.org | 16 days ago

Spinach antimicrobial peptides show promise against crop diseases in citrus and potatoes

Texas A&M AgriLife Research scientists have developed a new approach to countering citrus greening and potato zebra chip diseases, two economically devastating agricultural diseases in the U.S. | Continue reading


@phys.org | 16 days ago

Electricity-generating bacteria's survival strategy could reshape biotech and energy systems

A team led by Rice University bioscientist Caroline Ajo-Franklin has discovered how certain bacteria breathe by generating electricity, using a natural process that pushes electrons into their surroundings instead of breathing on oxygen. | Continue reading


@phys.org | 16 days ago

Precision-engineered surface can enhance silicon solar cell performance

Converting sunlight into electricity is the task of photovoltaic solar cells, but nearly half the light that reaches a flat silicon solar cell surface is lost to reflection. While traditional antireflective coatings help, they only work within a narrow range of light frequency an … | Continue reading


@phys.org | 16 days ago

Stuck in a creativity slump at work? Here are some surprising ways to get your spark back

The latest entry in the Marvel Cinematic Universe's movie slate, "Captain America: Brave New World," arrived earlier this year with the hopes of continuing the legacy of the beloved sub-franchise. But the film struggled to hit the heights of the three earlier installments. Critic … | Continue reading


@phys.org | 16 days ago

Burkina Faso and Mali's fabulous flora: New plant life record released

"The Illustrated Flora of Burkina Faso and Mali" is the first comprehensive documentation of the remarkable plant diversity in these two west African countries. | Continue reading


@phys.org | 16 days ago

Opinion: Deporting international students may weaken US economic and scientific leadership

In early April 2025, the Trump administration terminated the immigration statuses of thousands of international students listed in a government database, meaning they no longer had legal permission to be in the country. Some students self-deported instead of facing deportation. | Continue reading


@phys.org | 16 days ago

Shelters at bus stops intended to provide relief from heat can actually result in higher temps, researchers discover

Some public transit shelter designs can actually do more harm than good when it comes to shielding from summer temperatures, according to a study led by UTHealth Houston. | Continue reading


@phys.org | 16 days ago

Is a faith-based charter school a threat to religious freedom, or a necessity to uphold it?

As demonstrators gathered outside, the Supreme Court heard oral arguments on April 30, 2025, about whether Oklahoma can operate the nation's first faith-based charter school. St. Isidore of Seville would be a virtual K-12 school run by the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Oklahoma C … | Continue reading


@phys.org | 16 days ago

Depositing quantum dots on corrugated chips improves photodetector capabilities

Near-infrared photodetectors are used in biomedical sensing and defense and security technologies. For enhanced performance and integrated, compact imaging systems, the photodetectors must be able to detect multiple wavelengths of light at once on a single chip. | Continue reading


@phys.org | 16 days ago

How morphogens steer early brain development by guiding stem cell gene activity

Just a few weeks after conception, stem cells are already orchestrating the future structure of the human brain. A new Yale-led study shows that, early in development, molecular "traffic cops" known as morphogens regulate the activation of gene programs that initiate stem cells' … | Continue reading


@phys.org | 16 days ago

Surprising declines: North American birds vanish fastest from their most thriving habitats

A study published in Science reveals that North American bird populations are declining most severely in areas where they should be thriving. Researchers from the Cornell Lab of Ornithology analyzed 36 million bird observations shared by birdwatchers to the Cornell Lab's eBird pr … | Continue reading


@phys.org | 16 days ago

One timed-release capsule could replace taking multiple pills

Managing complex medication schedules could soon become as simple as taking a single capsule each day. Engineers at the University of California San Diego have developed a capsule that can be packed with multiple medications and release them at designated times throughout the day … | Continue reading


@phys.org | 16 days ago

Taking a break from Facebook and Instagram can boost emotional well-being

Temporarily deactivating Facebook or Instagram can improve emotional well-being, according to the largest experimental study on the effects of social media abstention conducted in partnership with Meta. | Continue reading


@phys.org | 16 days ago

Fleeting fireflies illuminate Colorado summer nights, and researchers are watching

The Colorado June air was thick with summer heat. Mosquitoes rose in clouds around us, testing our resolve while we gathered our cameras and sensors. We walked into the wetland, down the unmarked path until the cattails rose shoulder-high. The sounds of frogs and crickets filled … | Continue reading


@phys.org | 16 days ago

More accessible method for maize bioengineering could open doors for crop innovation

Looking around, you might not realize it, but corn is everywhere. In one form or another, it's in the cereals in your cupboard, the cosmetics and medicines in your bathroom, the kibble in your pet's food bowl, and the gas tank of your car. | Continue reading


@phys.org | 16 days ago

Genetically enhanced crops proposed as scalable solution for CO₂ removal

UC San Diego researchers say genetically-enhanced crops of plants featuring enlarged roots present an opportunity for society to achieve a needed drawdown of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. | Continue reading


@phys.org | 16 days ago

Indigenous knowledge helps biotech find new drugs. This grad student wants those companies to give back

As a descendant of an Indigenous Amazonian tribe, Maria Astolfi was concerned about research she conducted as a graduate student at UC Berkeley involving an extract of a plant long used for medicinal purposes by the Mapuche peoples of Chile. | Continue reading


@phys.org | 16 days ago

Why are women paid less than men? New research shows the company you work for makes the biggest difference

Why do women earn less than men? The usual suspects—occupation, hours, experience—explain some of it. But a powerful, often overlooked reason is simply this: where women work. The companies that hire them play a huge role in shaping their lifetime earnings. | Continue reading


@phys.org | 16 days ago

Oceans are heating faster in two bands stretching around globe, study reveals

The world's oceans are heating faster in two bands stretching around the globe, one in the southern hemisphere and one in the north, according to new research led by climate scientist Dr. Kevin Trenberth. | Continue reading


@phys.org | 16 days ago

New telescope images uncover 'Green Monster' in Cassiopeia A

Using NASA's James Webb Space Telescope, astronomers uncovered a mysterious feature within the remnant, nicknamed the "Green Monster," alongside a puzzling network of ejecta filaments forming a web of oxygen-rich material. When combined with X-rays from NASA's Chandra X-ray Obser … | Continue reading


@phys.org | 16 days ago

Current legal frameworks can't protect the oceans from deep-sea mining and the negative impacts on humankind

The international legal order is floundering. The geopolitical and resource policy priorities of the United States are shifting. | Continue reading


@phys.org | 16 days ago

Some shark bites may be 'survival instinct' rather than planned attacks, contrary to media portrayal

Sharks are often perceived as the ultimate beasts, an image largely imposed on them by the media. Yet, shark bites are rare—only around 100 or so happen every year, and just around 10% are fatal. | Continue reading


@phys.org | 23 days ago

Human threats outweigh natural factors in shaping deer populations across Atlantic Rainforest

A group of Brazilian researchers has, for the first time in the entire Atlantic Rainforest, estimated the population density of the five deer species of the biome. This allowed them to measure the main factors that influence the number of deer per square kilometer (km2) in forest … | Continue reading


@phys.org | 23 days ago

Super-Earths are common outside the solar system, new study shows

An international team including astronomers from the Center for Astrophysics | Harvard & Smithsonian (CfA) has announced the discovery of a planet about twice the size of Earth orbiting its star farther out than Saturn is to the sun. | Continue reading


@phys.org | 23 days ago

How growing and foraging food can become a common part of cities

The early morning light spills over the raised beds of a thriving community garden in Harlem, New York. It's a Saturday, and people of all ages move among the plants—harvesting collard greens, making compost and packing bags of fresh vegetables. | Continue reading


@phys.org | 23 days ago

New risk maps help soybean farmers spot charcoal rot before it strikes

Charcoal rot, caused by the soilborne fungus Macrophomina phaseolina (Mp), poses a serious threat to soybean health and harvests on a global scale. The disease thrives in dry, hot conditions and can quietly devastate crops before symptoms even appear. Now, researchers have develo … | Continue reading


@phys.org | 23 days ago

NASA's Roman mission shares detailed plans to scour skies

NASA's Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope team shared Thursday the designs for the three core surveys the mission will conduct after launch. These observation programs are designed to investigate some of the most profound mysteries in astrophysics while enabling expansive cosmic e … | Continue reading


@phys.org | 23 days ago

A carnivorous 'bone collector' caterpillar dresses in the remains of its prey

A new carnivorous caterpillar that wears the remains of its prey has been dubbed the "bone collector." | Continue reading


@phys.org | 23 days ago

Memes and conflict: Study shows surge of imagery and fakes can precede international and political violence

Imagine a country with deep political divisions, where different groups don't trust each other and violence seems likely. Now, imagine a flood of political images, hateful memes and mocking videos from domestic and foreign sources taking over social media. What is likely to happe … | Continue reading


@phys.org | 23 days ago

Study of 'spatial synchrony' using long-term data exposes ecological trends and could boost conservation, farming

Populations of animals and plants separated by even thousands of miles can rise and fall together driven by ecological factors, a phenomenon scientists call "spatial synchrony." | Continue reading


@phys.org | 23 days ago

NASA tests key spacesuit parts inside this icy chamber

When NASA astronauts return to the moon under the Artemis campaign and eventually venture farther into the solar system, they will encounter conditions harsher than any humans have experienced before. Ensuring next-generation spacesuits protect astronauts requires new varieties o … | Continue reading


@phys.org | 23 days ago

Hyper-individualistic and focused on worth, the manosphere is a product of neoliberalism

Netflix's hit drama, Adolescence, has reignited debates about the impact of the manosphere and violence against women. | Continue reading


@phys.org | 23 days ago

Chemical recycling turns used silicones into pure building blocks, promising infinite reuse

A study conducted by CNRS researchers describes a new method of recycling silicone waste (caulk, sealants, gels, adhesives, cosmetics, etc.). It has the potential to significantly reduce the sector's environmental impacts. | Continue reading


@phys.org | 23 days ago

How do children learn to read? This literacy expert says 'there are as many ways as there are students'

Five years after the pandemic forced children into remote instruction, two-thirds of U.S. fourth graders still cannot read at grade level. Reading scores lag 2 percentage points below 2022 levels and 4 percentage points below 2019 levels. | Continue reading


@phys.org | 23 days ago

What 2,000 years of Chinese history reveals about today's AI-driven technology panic and future of inequality

In the sweltering summer of AD18, a desperate chant echoed across China's sun-scorched plains: "Heaven has gone blind!" Thousands of starving farmers, their faces smeared with ox blood, marched toward the opulent vaults held by the Han dynasty's elite rulers. | Continue reading


@phys.org | 23 days ago

Preparing today to save lives tomorrow: Study finds gaps in British Columbia's extreme heat response plans

Local authorities must do more to prepare communities in British Columbia for the dangers of extreme heat, according to a new research paper from Simon Fraser University. | Continue reading


@phys.org | 23 days ago

Wishcycling: How 'eco-friendly' labels confuse shoppers and make recycling less effective

Have you ever thrown something in the recycling bin, hoping it's recyclable? Maybe a toothpaste tube, bubble wrap or plastic toy labeled "eco-friendly"? | Continue reading


@phys.org | 23 days ago

How racialized voters are reshaping Canadian politics through digital networks

With Canada's federal election approaching, political parties are focused on mobilizing voters. However, they may be overlooking how ethnic communities are already shaping the country's political life. | Continue reading


@phys.org | 23 days ago

A novel concept for a multiplanetary crewed mission to Mars and Ceres

For NASA, sending a crewed mission to Mars has been the long-term goal for over two decades. China has joined the club in recent years, with plans to send crewed missions to the red planet ahead of NASA. In both cases, the plans envision a stepping stone approach, using habitats … | Continue reading


@phys.org | 23 days ago

Spaceship carrying 3 Chinese astronauts docks with Tiangong space station in latest crew rotation

A spaceship carrying three astronauts docked Thursday with China's space station in the latest crew rotation, marking a further step in the country's ambitions for a crewed mission to the moon and explore Mars. | Continue reading


@phys.org | 23 days ago

Identifying salt patches and marsh with field data and machine-learning algorithm

Salty soils are causing reduced crop density, lower yields and barren lands unable to sustain crop growth. Sea level rise, intense storm surges and the overextraction of groundwater are driving this increasing salinity in coastal farmlands throughout the Delmarva region. | Continue reading


@phys.org | 23 days ago