https://phys.org/ en-us Phys.org internet news portal provides the latest news on science including: Physics, Nanotechnology, Life Sciences, Space Science, Earth Science, Environment, Health and Medicine. Scientists have identified the molecular interactions that give spider silk its exceptional strength and flexibility, opening the door to new bio-inspired materials for aircraft, protective clothing and medical applications, and even advancing our understanding of neurological conditions such as Alzheimer's disease. https://phys.org/news/2026-02-amino-acid-stickers-decode-spider.html Plants & Animals Fri, 06 Feb 2026 07:00:01 EST news689573056 In recent years, two-dimensional (2D) single-crystalline metal nanosheets have emerged as a promising next-generation platform for self-powered electronics. However, their potential for triboelectric nanogenerators (TENGs)—a promising energy-harvesting technology—remains largely untapped, mainly due to their low current output and limited durability. https://phys.org/news/2026-01-porous-copper-nanosheets-boost-energy.html Nanomaterials Thu, 08 Jan 2026 14:20:39 EST news687104401 Clothing is one of the top categories in online sales worldwide, with expected revenues of more than US$920 billion (£702 billion) this year. And for clothing businesses, like many others, online retail opens the door to a wider customer base. https://phys.org/news/2025-12-life-easier-shoppers-retailers-money.html Economics & Business Thu, 04 Dec 2025 13:24:24 EST news684077041 Fifty-seven percent of Australians are willing to pay more for clothing made from natural fibers, new Swinburne research reveals. https://phys.org/news/2025-11-australians-pay-sustainable.html Economics & Business Tue, 18 Nov 2025 09:20:03 EST news682680001 According to a doctoral dissertation at the University of Vaasa, appealing to personal well-being is a more effective way to reduce clothing consumption than invoking environmental concerns. Essi Vesterinen's research in marketing reveals that extending the lifespan of clothes is linked to better subjective well-being and a more positive body image. https://phys.org/news/2025-10-happiness-fast-fashion-consumption-body.html Social Sciences Tue, 14 Oct 2025 15:57:03 EDT news679676222 California is home to 50 different species of snakes—including seven species of rattlesnakes, according to the California Department of Fish and Wildlife. https://phys.org/news/2025-08-snakes-california-shouldnt.html Plants & Animals Fri, 29 Aug 2025 06:40:03 EDT news675667822 How much microplastic truly ends up in the seafood on our plates? The answer varies significantly because there are no standardized analytical procedures in food monitoring to quantify the amount of tiny plastic particles in fishery products. https://phys.org/news/2025-07-focus-seafood-reveal-amount-microplastics.html Agriculture Fri, 18 Jul 2025 11:37:31 EDT news672057445 Sweden's recycling centers are overflowing with clothes after an EU-wide ban this year on throwing away textiles, leaving overwhelmed municipalities eager to have fast fashion giants take responsibility. https://phys.org/news/2025-04-sweden-discarded-fast-fashion-items.html Environment Fri, 11 Apr 2025 04:27:37 EDT news663564450 Renting clothes can reduce the fashion industry's enormous environmental impact, but so far, the business models have not worked very well. The best chance of success is for a rental company to provide clothing within a niche market, such as specific sportswear, and to work closely with the suppliers and clothing manufacturers. This is shown by a study led by researchers at Chalmers University of Technology, Sweden, which highlights the measures that can make clothing rental a success. https://phys.org/news/2025-03-renting-sustainable-fashion-niche.html Economics & Business Thu, 27 Mar 2025 14:27:04 EDT news662304421 The protective clothing worn by wildland firefighters often contains PFAS, according to a new study from the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST). The study also found PFAS in hoods and gloves worn by firefighters who respond to building fires. https://phys.org/news/2024-12-pfas-firefighter-gloves-hoods-wildland.html Analytical Chemistry Tue, 17 Dec 2024 10:27:04 EST news653653619 We all know dogs can struggle in warm weather, but what about when the temperature plummets, the wind whistles and snow falls? https://phys.org/news/2024-11-dog-benefit-canine.html Veterinary medicine Sat, 30 Nov 2024 10:50:01 EST news652088794 Last week the Australian government cancelled the registration of all products containing chlorthal dimethyl, a weedkiller commonly known as dacthal. https://phys.org/news/2024-10-issued-herbicide-dacthal-health.html Agriculture Wed, 16 Oct 2024 11:19:21 EDT news648296355 While flames may be the most visual wildfire danger, experts say smoke and fire retardant slurry can have long-lasting effects on human health and the environment. https://phys.org/news/2024-09-wildfire-retardant-slurry-impact-human.html Environment Tue, 03 Sep 2024 10:20:01 EDT news644575831 Eco-conscious consumers are not well-served by clothing companies claiming green credentials, as shoppers' location has a major impact on the effectiveness of clothing return schemes, a new study reveals. https://phys.org/news/2024-08-eco-conscious-fashionistas-hampered-geographical.html Environment Sun, 11 Aug 2024 19:00:01 EDT news642399377 Online fashion retailers clinging to the received wisdom that photos of thin models are the most effective way of selling clothes may want to think again, according to a new study examining the impact of size-inclusive model photos. https://phys.org/news/2024-07-size-inclusive-photos-online-retailers.html Economics & Business Wed, 31 Jul 2024 11:57:49 EDT news641645865 As sunny summer days return in the northern hemisphere, you may be looking to refresh your wardrobe. The allure of a whole "new you" is pervasive, and the foundation of many a successful marketing campaign. https://phys.org/news/2024-06-fast-fashion-planet-sustainable-wardrobe.html Environment Sat, 29 Jun 2024 09:40:01 EDT news638786114 A team of researchers led by an archaeologist at the University of Sydney are the first to suggest that eyed needles were a new technological innovation used to adorn clothing for social and cultural purposes, marking the major shift from clothes as protection to clothes as an expression of identity. https://phys.org/news/2024-06-fashion-paleolithic-eyed-needles-evolution.html Archaeology Fri, 28 Jun 2024 14:00:01 EDT news638772401 A pair of new University of Alberta studies show how to make firefighters' clothing safer to wear, maintain and manufacture. https://phys.org/news/2024-05-firefighters-safer.html Polymers Mon, 27 May 2024 13:30:10 EDT news636035407 Beavers are being found dead in Utah, and the disease killing them can spread to humans, officials said. https://phys.org/news/2024-04-beavers-die-disease-utah-people.html Plants & Animals Tue, 16 Apr 2024 12:30:02 EDT news632488325 Spring is traditionally the season for a good clean—and maybe a clear out. Taking stock and having a bit of a declutter can freshen things up domestically. https://phys.org/news/2024-02-digitizing-wardrobe-money-sustainable-fashion.html Social Sciences Thu, 08 Feb 2024 11:35:05 EST news626614502 Last year, a study by the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) showed that the textiles used in protective clothing worn by firefighters often contain per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, or PFAS, a class of chemicals that has been linked to an increased risk of cancer and other health effects. https://phys.org/news/2024-01-firefighter-gear-chemicals.html Analytical Chemistry Tue, 16 Jan 2024 17:29:04 EST news624648541 When you go running in the woods in your running tights, elastane is the reason they fit you so comfortably. Elastane is an elastic material that allows the fabric to stretch and adapt to your body. https://phys.org/news/2024-01-scientists-technology-recycle-simply.html Analytical Chemistry Fri, 12 Jan 2024 14:14:23 EST news624291260 A total of 90% of the municipal textile waste generated in Catalonia ends up in landfills or incinerators, according to a study by ICTA-UAB, which shows that only 10% of textile waste is collected separately. In the case of Catalonia, this percentage represented the management of 18,630 tons of clothing and other textile materials in 2020. https://phys.org/news/2024-01-textile-generated-catalonia-landfill-incinerators.html Environment Fri, 12 Jan 2024 14:10:08 EST news624291002 Working from home has made job interviews and starting a new role easier in many ways. You don't have to worry about a missed train or spilled coffee derailing a job interview if it's on Zoom—but you still need to impress your interviewer. https://phys.org/news/2024-01-background.html Social Sciences Mon, 08 Jan 2024 12:00:07 EST news623937605 A new case of cattle anthrax has been confirmed in southwest North Dakota's Grant County, bringing the number of cases in the state to 25 this year, according to state agriculture officials. https://phys.org/news/2023-12-agriculture-25th-case-cattle-anthrax.html Agriculture Sat, 02 Dec 2023 03:40:43 EST news620710836 Around 46 million people across the UK are expected to have visited their local high street to go shopping over the last weekend in November, encouraged by so-called Black Friday sales. The projected spend in-store and online is forecast to reach close to £9 billion. https://phys.org/news/2023-11-black-friday-environmental-nightmare-victorians.html Environment Mon, 27 Nov 2023 14:34:03 EST news620318041 For the last three decades, the advent of "fast fashion" has disrupted the traditional fashion cycles by capitalizing on retailers' and consumers' responsiveness to the novelty of new fashion trends. Some fast fashion retailers go as far as delivering new apparel designs every two weeks—about 26 times per year, or 13 times more than traditional fashion. https://phys.org/news/2023-11-sustainable-alternatives-key-combating-fast.html Social Sciences Fri, 03 Nov 2023 13:58:26 EDT news618238703 Between 6,500 and 87,000 tons of microfibers are shed during domestic laundering every year in the UK. Many of these minuscule fibers end up in rivers and oceans, with devastating consequences for aquatic animals and environments. https://phys.org/news/2023-10-laundry-microfibers-machine-washingnew.html Environment Tue, 24 Oct 2023 13:50:22 EDT news617374219 Cotton is the most widely used natural fiber for clothes. But how polluting are our jeans and shirts actually? Environmental scientist Laura Scherer has coordinated an international research project on the impacts of cotton. The study is published in Nature Reviews Earth & Environment. https://phys.org/news/2023-09-environmental-scientist-international-impacts-cotton.html Environment Tue, 05 Sep 2023 10:38:36 EDT news613129053 Dressed in a full-body protective suit, an elderly pest control worker could last no more than 15 minutes spraying pesticide along a Hong Kong pavement before the summer heat became too much. https://phys.org/news/2023-08-sauna-hong-kong-laborers-swelter.html Environment Thu, 17 Aug 2023 03:25:00 EDT news611461492