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Muon rings enable precise calibration of telescopes at the Cherenkov Telescope Array Observatory

Research initiated as part of a bachelor's thesis in physics at the Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (UAB) has culminated in a new analytical description of the muon-based calibration of dual-mirror Cherenkov telescopes. The work solves a problem that had remained open for more than 30 years because of the geometric complexity of these optical systems: determining precisely how much Cherenkov light produced by a muon reaches the camera, taking into account the shadows cast by the secondary mirror and the camera itself.

Phys.org2h ago

New towns risk repeating past mistakes unless transport comes first, experts warn

New towns will fail to deliver thriving, sustainable communities unless high-quality public transportation is included from the outset, according to a new report from the University of Hertfordshire.

Phys.org2h ago

Engineers solve puzzle of Arctic sea ice movement

Arctic sea ice moves and spreads in ways that wind alone cannot explain. A new UC Riverside-led study finds that collisions between individual pieces of ice provide a surprisingly simple explanation for these movements, potentially offering scientists a better way to predict where sea ice will travel as the Arctic warms.

Phys.org2h ago

Without bacteria or chemicals: How methanol and formaldehyde form abiotically in nature

The biopolymer lignin—one of the most important carbon reservoirs in plants and soils—not only decays through fungi or bacteria but can also be chemically attacked by iron linked to reactive oxygen species, without the involvement of microorganisms. When this happens, lignin is converted into methanol and subsequently into formaldehyde. That is shown by a study conducted at Heidelberg University's Institute of Earth Sciences.

Phys.org3h ago

Loneliness and local news: How 'news deserts' increase isolation

As local news organizations continue to disappear across the United States, George Washington University researchers are linking shrinking access to community-based journalism to stronger feelings of isolation and loneliness.

Phys.org3h ago

Circular Rydberg atoms set three records, staying stable for 11 milliseconds

Rydberg atoms are considered promising building blocks for quantum computers and their precursors, quantum simulators. Researchers at the 5th Institute of Physics of the University of Stuttgart have achieved record values for the lifetime, size, and storage time of circular Rydberg atoms, a special form of Rydberg atom in which electrons move in a stable circular orbit around the nucleus. The findings were published in Nature Communications.

Phys.org3h ago

Dog-guided cameras uncover weasels across Georgia, including regions unseen for 30 years

University of Georgia researchers recently located the mammal equivalent of a needle in a haystack: weasels. Weasels are extremely difficult to find, so not much is known about their preferred habitats and overall population health in the Southeast.

Phys.org3h ago

Why do some chimpanzee mothers carry their dead infants for months?

Chimpanzee and bonobo mothers sometimes continue to carry their infants after they have died, a behavior known as infant corpse carrying (ICC). It is widely documented, and many explanations have been proposed, but few have been quantitatively tested.

Phys.org3h ago

Iron Age seeds reveal the origins of Iberian wine

Spain and Portugal are two of the world's most popular wine-growing countries, with regions such as Rioja and the Douro Valley producing millions of bottles every year. This winemaking tradition dates back thousands of years, but its exact origins remain a mystery. To understand how it all started, scientists led by Carolina Royo of the Instituto de Ciencias de la Vid y del Vino in Spain took a step back into the past and studied ancient grape seeds.

Phys.org3h ago

Sliding droplets point to charging mechanism beyond mobile ions

Whether on a windowpane at home or during the industrial cleaning of computer chips: droplets sliding over solid surfaces become electrically charged. Yet the physical mechanism behind this charging remains a subject of debate. This charging is usually attributed to the exchange of charged particles (ions) at the interface between the droplet and the surface.

Phys.org3h ago

Earthshot and the science of positive tipping points: How environmental progress can become unstoppable

It must be tough being a judge for the world's most prestigious environmental prize: Imagine having to choose between an ingenious machine that removes microplastics from a river in Europe or a company in East Africa that sells clean cookstoves through affordable weekly installments.

Phys.org3h ago

Dogs show human-like brain activity when they restrain themselves

When we tell a dog "no" and it resists temptation, what happens in its brain? New research from the Department of Ethology at ELTE and the HUN-REN Research Centre of Natural Sciences suggests that dogs may do more than respond automatically: When they restrain their behavior, their brains show a pattern of activity resembling the human neural signature of self-control. The study is published in the journal Animal Cognition.

Phys.org4h ago

Aqueduct deposits suggest Plague of Cyprian may have emptied Nîmes around 270 A.D.

Researchers at Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz (JGU) have gleaned new insights into ancient water management in the French region around Nîmes by analyzing carbonate deposits within the Roman aqueduct that features the famous Pont du Gard bridge. Among other findings, the aqueduct—built around 50 A.D.—was expanded to include an additional water source after 11 years of operation; this event coincided with a historically documented dry spell. A century after the aqueduct's construction, the water supply to the city was deliberately throttled; it is likely that some of the water was diverted to agricultural land in the surrounding area instead.

Phys.org4h ago

Britain's most artificial landscape may not survive climate change

Stretching across much of eastern England, the Fens produce a third of the country's vegetables and support tens of thousands of jobs. Yet around 33% of the region lies below average sea level, while 87% is below the highest spring tides.

Phys.org4h ago

Bone strength study reveals new clues about human evolution

Bipedalism, or walking on two legs, is one of the key features that distinguishes humans from other apes. But when and why our ancestors transitioned from a life often spent in trees to a life spent almost exclusively on the ground remains a subject of debate.

Phys.org4h ago

Incarceration may escalate criminal behavior in South Africa

Allowing petty offenders in South Africa to remain in the community may reduce their risk of committing serious crimes compared with imprisonment, according to a study published in PLOS One by Farai Nyabadza of the University of Johannesburg, South Africa.

Phys.org4h ago

Most Americans reject political violence, but support can vary sharply by party

Republicans and conservatives are more likely than Democrats or liberals to justify political violence in 17 surveyed situations, according to a study published in PLOS One by Garen J. Wintemute of the University of California, Davis, and colleagues.

Phys.org4h ago

Tyrannosaurus rex teeth reveal a body temperature close to the human average

When picturing a scaled, toothy Tyrannosaurus rex stomping across North America, building nests and eating other dinosaurs, it's easy to forget that scientists have gleaned everything we know about T. rex from clues left more than 60 million years ago. While the presence of fossils in Alaska suggested that this prehistoric ancestor of birds was already on the evolutionary path from cold-blooded reptile to warm-blooded avian, there wasn't a way to take T. rex's temperature—until now.

Phys.org4h ago

Deep ocean, familiar trash: Plastic waste found alongside possible new species

It's no secret that plastic and other human trash are a problem for marine life, but our understanding has long focused on the ocean's surface. As described in a study published in PLOS One, a more complete picture is coming into focus, revealing that even some of our planet's greatest depths have become home to our debris.

Phys.org4h ago

Conserving just 35% of the nation's waterways could sustain freshwater biodiversity

By evaluating the health of waterways across the U.S., researchers have identified a network encompassing about one-third of rivers and streams that, if conserved and restored, could sustain the nation's freshwater biodiversity in the face of habitat degradation and climate change. Mark Anderson of The Nature Conservancy, U.S., led the new study, published Sept. 16, 2026, in the journal PLOS One.

Phys.org4h ago