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. Biophotonics is a multidisciplinary field that involves the development and application of light-based technologies to study, monitor and treat biological systems. The ability to directly image cells and molecules has led to many fundamental discoveries in the past century. More recently, the terahertz (THz) region of the electromagnetic spectrum has attracted growing interest as a promising frontier for advancing biological research. https://phys.org/news/2026-06-terahertz-biophotonics-path-applications-biological.html Biotechnology Sun, 07 Jun 2026 09:40:01 EDT news699874978 For millions of people, chatbots powered by large language models (LLMs) are now a key feature of everyday life. These AI systems are growing at a rapid pace, but scaling them up is becoming increasingly costly and resource-intensive. https://phys.org/news/2026-06-quantum-circuits-ai-memory-limitations.html General Physics Sun, 07 Jun 2026 09:00:01 EDT news699613558 Computational point-of-care sensors can significantly improve access to diagnostics by enabling rapid patient testing outside centralized medical facilities. These tests rely on machine learning models to make diagnostic predictions, but such inference models are susceptible to hallucinations and may produce erroneous outcomes. As a result, their limited reliability has partially hindered the broader adoption of computational sensors in health care settings. https://phys.org/news/2026-06-autonomous-ai-screening-flags-unreliable.html Bio & Medicine Sun, 07 Jun 2026 07:00:01 EDT news700031733 Imagine a train parked at the station. Passengers climb aboard and find their seats. Conductors move up and down the aisles, checking tickets. But there's a problem—the engineer's watch is broken. As a result, the doors never close, the whistle never sounds, and the train never starts. Something similar occurs in cells when developmental timing is disrupted. Rather than making people late for work, it can mean the difference between maturing into a healthy adult and never growing up at all. https://phys.org/news/2026-06-nonrepeating-biological-clock-elegans-growth.html Molecular & Computational biology Sun, 07 Jun 2026 06:40:01 EDT news700029701 Scientists have discovered a previously unknown regulatory mechanism in plant photosynthesis in the unicellular green alga Chlamydomonas reinhardtii. It helps plants adapt to changes in light conditions. The results, published in the journal Nature Plants, show how a crucial protein interaction at the interface between photosystems I and II controls the photosynthetic machinery. https://phys.org/news/2026-06-hidden-protein-photosynthesis-conditions.html Molecular & Computational biology Sun, 07 Jun 2026 05:50:01 EDT news700029348 Thousands of small earthquakes, detected for the first time by a machine-learning process, reveal the distinct, razor-sharp edge of the Yakutat microplate as it subducts beneath the North American plate. https://phys.org/news/2026-06-machine-uncovers-quakes-kilometer-edge.html Earth Sciences Sun, 07 Jun 2026 05:32:55 EDT news700029137 Having Black teachers and other educators of color improves students' classroom experiences, research shows. They often serve as role models, set high academic expectations and teach material that connects to students' lives outside of schools. https://phys.org/news/2026-06-black-teachers-outcomes-students-largely.html Education Sat, 06 Jun 2026 20:30:03 EDT news699540038 A new study published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences demonstrates how radiocarbon dating can reveal the maximum lifespan of Mediterranean hardwoods, uncovering hidden links between human history and long-term ecosystem dynamics. By analyzing mature and ancient oak trees across Italy, researchers found that a millennium of age is attainable from the Mediterranean coast to mountain environments. https://phys.org/news/2026-06-medieval-pandemic-left-hidden-legacy.html Plants & Animals Sat, 06 Jun 2026 19:40:01 EDT news699875318 Americans rarely marry outside of their race or class in a nation where residential segregation is relatively common. It is a dynamic widely viewed as a contributing factor to income inequality and intergenerational social mobility. https://phys.org/news/2026-06-qa-white-black-marriage.html Social Sciences Sat, 06 Jun 2026 18:30:02 EDT news699707115 European fallow deer have faced a dramatic loss of genetic diversity since the last interglacial period. This was revealed by 120,000-year-old fossils from central Germany's Neumark-Nord site in Saxony-Anhalt, analyzed by researchers from the University of Potsdam, the MONREPOS Research Center and Museum in Neuwied, and Leiden University. Their results have been published in the journal iScience. Modern fallow deer thus represent just a fraction of their Ice Age ancestors' variety. The study highlights how climate and human actions substantially reshaped a once-diverse species and may help inform conservation action. https://phys.org/news/2026-06-year-european-fallow-deer-loss.html Plants & Animals Sat, 06 Jun 2026 17:40:02 EDT news699874805 When you picture a cave, you probably think of an environment devoid of life. But for most caves on Earth, this couldn't be further from the truth. https://phys.org/news/2026-06-cave-cricket-australia-species-spindly.html Plants & Animals Sat, 06 Jun 2026 17:00:03 EDT news699624134 Industrial-scale mining in Africa to support global supply chains is leading to unprecedented deforestation across the continent, with 34 hectares of forest removed for every single hectare of active mine site. https://phys.org/news/2026-06-infrastructure-african-destroying-forests.html Environment Sat, 06 Jun 2026 16:00:03 EDT news699720306 The classical drug discovery paradigm begins with a known molecular target: a protein whose modulation is expected to reverse the course of a disease. However, in many pathologies, such a target does not always exist or is not sufficiently characterized. https://phys.org/news/2026-06-ai-generated-compounds-specific-cell.html Analytical Chemistry Sat, 06 Jun 2026 15:40:01 EDT news699978465 Chloromethane is a gas that is toxic to humans and contributes to the depletion of the ozone layer. It is produced during the combustion of coal, biomass and other raw materials. Natural sources such as algae, plants and fungi also release it. A research team led by biologist Prof. Julia Kurth from the University of Münster has discovered and characterized a previously unknown enzyme system in anaerobic bacteria of the species Acetobacterium dehalogenans. This system converts the gas into nontoxic substances. The results, published in the journal Nature Communications, are of interest for environmental remediation, climate research and biotechnology. https://phys.org/news/2026-06-previously-unknown-detoxification-pathway-chloromethane.html Molecular & Computational biology Sat, 06 Jun 2026 15:00:01 EDT news699874689 The plumbing systems of volcanoes are vast and complex. But they aren't consistent, even in the same volcano. A Cornell-led collaboration found very different mechanisms behind two historic eruptions of Mount Etna in Italy. Understanding these dynamics—combined with the techniques that revealed them—can help geologists assess the risk of future eruptions. https://phys.org/news/2026-06-mount-etna-eruptions-reveal-carbon.html Earth Sciences Sat, 06 Jun 2026 14:00:06 EDT news699624667 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. https://phys.org/news/2026-06-africa-climate-crisis-legal-states.html Environment Sat, 06 Jun 2026 14:00:01 EDT news699540222 Quantum computers, systems that process information leveraging quantum mechanical effects, have the potential of outperforming classical computers on some tasks. Despite their potential, the use of these systems remains very limited, due to their high cost and other challenges that have so far prevented their large-scale fabrication. https://phys.org/news/2026-06-surrogates-quantum-overhead.html Quantum Physics Sat, 06 Jun 2026 13:20:01 EDT news699875533 What if a common herb found in the kitchen could help farmers grow healthier crops? As the global population grows and agriculture faces increasing environmental challenges, scientists are searching for innovative ways to improve crop productivity while reducing reliance on chemical inputs. https://phys.org/news/2026-06-sweet-basil-carbon-dots-potential.html Biotechnology Sat, 06 Jun 2026 12:40:02 EDT news699871272 A research team led by Davoud Jafari at the University of Twente, in collaboration with the University of Pisa, has completed a series of parabolic flight experiments to investigate advanced smart surfaces under rapidly changing gravity conditions. Conducted aboard the Air Zero G aircraft operated by Novespace, the campaign integrated additive manufacturing, boiling heat transfer and electric field control into a single experimental platform as part of the #SmartSkin project. https://phys.org/news/2026-06-smart-surfaces-gravity.html Space Exploration Sat, 06 Jun 2026 12:30:01 EDT news699873176 Astronomers have employed the Multi-Unit Spectroscopic Explorer (MUSE) on the Very Large Telescope (VLT) to perform deep spectroscopic observations of a peculiar spiral galaxy known as W2246f. Results of the observational campaign, published May 27 on the pre-print server arXiv, offer new insights into how this galaxy evolved and shed more light on its nature. https://phys.org/news/2026-06-muse-spiral-galaxy-w2246f-uncovering.html Astronomy Sat, 06 Jun 2026 12:00:01 EDT news699872311 One of the most important changes to New Zealand's environmental regulations in recent years came into force this week. Yet outside policy circles, the forestry sector and a handful of councils, few people are likely to have noticed. https://phys.org/news/2026-06-nz-forestry-environmental.html Environment Sat, 06 Jun 2026 11:20:01 EDT news699859382 Imagine a future where cancer treatment affects only the tumor, where eye injections are no longer required and brain surgeries don't result in large incisions or long recovery times. That's the future researchers at Michigan State University are working toward. https://phys.org/news/2026-06-hair-size-microrobots-combine-cancer.html Bio & Medicine Sat, 06 Jun 2026 11:00:03 EDT news699627985 The Canadian government recently announced that it will lease a fleet of 10 firefighting aircraft and other support assets to be deployed for the 2026 wildfire season. The plan will see these 10 leased aircraft being managed by the Canadian Interagency Forest Fire Center deployed strategically across the country and made available to provinces as they face intense wildfires. https://phys.org/news/2026-06-canada-aerial-wildfirefighting-strategy.html Environment Sat, 06 Jun 2026 11:00:01 EDT news699706926 Large volcanic eruptions may have played a bigger role in triggering historical famines across China than previously understood, according to a new study that traced links between eruptions, climate disruption, and food shortages over more than four centuries. https://phys.org/news/2026-06-volcanic-eruptions-linked-famine-china.html Earth Sciences Sat, 06 Jun 2026 10:20:01 EDT news699624109 Plenty of studies have linked exposure to nature to a wide variety of health benefits, from improved cognitive function to lower blood pressure to better mental health. Other research has found connections between the human microbiome and time spent outside. But an overlooked, understudied player in that connection is the assemblage of microbes found in the nose, or the nasal microbiome. https://phys.org/news/2026-06-green-space-exposure-mental-health.html Cell & Microbiology Sat, 06 Jun 2026 10:00:02 EDT news699884942 The surge in caravan and camper usage within Australia could place extra pressure on regional wastewater treatment systems because of the chemicals commonly used in caravan and camper toilet systems, according to new research from Flinders University. When people using caravans empty their toilet waste at roadside dumpsites, caravan parks and regional dump stations, the wastewater—which contains concentrated detergent, deodorizer and sanitizer chemicals—is transported to local wastewater treatment plants. https://phys.org/news/2026-06-camper-wastewater-chemicals-regional.html Environment Sat, 06 Jun 2026 09:30:02 EDT news699866884 A spin qubit, in which quantum information is encoded in the spin state of an electron, is one of the most promising platforms for quantum computing. Spin qubits exhibit long coherence times and are compatible with advanced semiconductor manufacturing technologies. The leading implementation of spin qubits involves confined electrons inside quantum dots, a nanoscale semiconductor architecture that behaves like a controllable artificial atom. Recent advances have enabled high-fidelity operation of single- and two-qubit gates, exceeding the threshold required for certain surface code quantum error correction techniques. https://phys.org/news/2026-06-scientists-noise-qubit-quantum-processors.html Quantum Physics Sat, 06 Jun 2026 09:00:03 EDT news699874934 This week, researchers reported that GLP-1 medications may influence the biology of aging. Hidden meltwater in deep Antarctic coastal waters has a strong climate impact. And a novel prostate cancer treatment reduced risk of disease progression by half in a clinical trial. https://phys.org/news/2026-06-saturday-citations-greenland-sharks-quantum.html Other Sat, 06 Jun 2026 09:00:01 EDT news699879140 SpaceX on Friday signed a blockbuster cloud computing agreement under which Google will pay the Elon Musk-founded rocket company $920 million per month for access to a massive cluster of AI chips, according to a disclosure in its initial public offering filing. https://phys.org/news/2026-06-spacex-pre-ipo-ai-google.html Space Exploration Sat, 06 Jun 2026 08:20:01 EDT news699949417 Birth rates have been declining worldwide since the peak of the post-Second World War baby boom. Birth rates have now reached below replacement in most of the world, including Australia. Put simply, populations on average aren't replacing themselves. https://phys.org/news/2026-06-birth-declining-world.html Social Sciences Sat, 06 Jun 2026 08:00:05 EDT news699529233