https://phys.org/science-news/ en-us The latest science news on archaeology, fossils, mathematics, and science technology from Phys.org Today, Old Dongola is an abandoned settlement on the banks of the Nile in northern Sudan. Hundreds of years ago, however, this place looked very different. https://phys.org/news/2026-11-culture-art-eyetracking-sudan-revealed.html Archaeology Sat, 14 Nov 2026 14:00:01 EST news713712549 How unequal were prehistoric societies? And how can archaeologists measure wealth in cultures that left behind no written records, no tax registers and no census data? https://phys.org/news/2026-11-archaeologists-wealth-status-europe-early.html Archaeology Sat, 14 Nov 2026 09:00:01 EST news713721724 Extra time on assignments. Frequent breaks. A quiet place to work. For students with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), these are some of the most common accommodations schools provide to make learning easier. But are they actually helping children succeed? A new study from Florida International University (FIU) suggests that some widely used approaches may be falling short. https://phys.org/news/2026-11-common-adhd-classroom-accommodations-students.html Education Fri, 13 Nov 2026 16:20:02 EST news713794202 More than 5,000 years ago, brewers in eastern China appear to have used red mold to make rice alcohol, then strained the drink through cloth. Microscopic residues on ancient pottery show evidence of both the fermentation method and the filtering process to separate the liquid from leftover grain. https://phys.org/news/2026-11-chinese-brewers-refined-booze-years.html Archaeology Fri, 13 Nov 2026 12:40:23 EST news713791100 A study in the International Journal of Innovation and Sustainable Development of teachers' behavior during outdoor play at kindergarten has identified a gap between the support children need and the help educators provide, particularly in emotional and social development. https://phys.org/news/2026-11-kindergarten-teachers-cognitive-outdoor-play.html Education Fri, 13 Nov 2026 12:40:14 EST news713794819 The Rhine, as the boundary between Western and Central Europe, appears to be a constant feature of European history. As early as the late fourth and early third millennia B.C., the traces of human activity east and west of the river differed. Archaeologists have long concluded that the river was a kind of barrier at that time, just as it has been in more recent centuries. https://phys.org/news/2026-11-axes-coarse-pottery-reveal-rhine.html Archaeology Fri, 13 Nov 2026 09:40:05 EST news713783041 Humor is becoming an increasingly popular feature of job advertisements, with employers using it to stand out, capture attention and attract potential candidates. https://phys.org/news/2026-11-reveals-humor-success.html Social Sciences Fri, 13 Nov 2026 09:20:02 EST news713776519 A new national database developed at the University of Michigan shows that none of the top 99 public transportation systems in the United States are easy for people with disabilities to use in four key areas of accommodation and accessibility. https://phys.org/news/2026-11-riders-disabilities-roadblocks.html Social Sciences Fri, 13 Nov 2026 07:00:06 EST news713767699 China's one-child policy is widely considered one of the most stringent public policies in modern history. Yet researchers have long debated how much it actually contributed to the country's dramatic fertility decline. https://phys.org/news/2026-11-career-stakes-china-child-policy.html Economics & Business Fri, 13 Nov 2026 06:01:34 EST news713772054 More than half a century ago, a Hungarian architect, sculptor and professor invented what would become one of the world's most popular and beloved puzzles whose appeal has spanned generations: the colorful, mind-bending, six-sided Rubik's Cube. https://phys.org/news/2026-11-iconic-puzzle-home-production-rubik.html Other Fri, 13 Nov 2026 04:40:13 EST news713765722 Discussing racism with children can seem daunting to parents, caregivers and educators for several reasons. Often, it can feel uncomfortable talking about people's differences; conversations about racism reveal implicit biases and, for some, immense privilege. https://phys.org/news/2026-11-children-colorblind-early-conversations-essential.html Social Sciences Thu, 12 Nov 2026 23:40:02 EST news713708602 A study of almost 200 undergraduate and postgraduate students in South Korea suggests that the skills of aspiring entrepreneurs are more likely to translate into plans to start a business when supported by trustworthy digital networks and useful online resources. Details of the findings are reported in the World Review of Entrepreneurship, Management and Sustainable Development. https://phys.org/news/2026-11-online-networking-skills-startup-ambitions.html Social Sciences Thu, 12 Nov 2026 21:40:02 EST news713708897 A new joint study from Ben-Gurion University of the Negev (BGU) and The Hebrew University of Jerusalem reveals how populist leaderships systematically undermine, discredit and ultimately capture intelligence agencies, transforming vital national security bodies into political echo chambers. The research, published in Contemporary Security Policy, warns that when populist politicians treat secret services as "deep state" adversaries, they disrupt objective threat analysis and leave democracies blind to catastrophic surprise attacks. https://phys.org/news/2026-11-populist-leaders-dismantle-intelligence-agencies.html Political science Thu, 12 Nov 2026 21:00:01 EST news713708511 The influence of financial markets cannot be overstated, and this influence highlights the need for thorough market analysis. However, being thorough can be difficult when markets are highly complex and ever-changing, prompting the search for a suitable approach to analysis. Fortunately, the increasing availability of detailed market data, together with advances in mathematical theories, offers new opportunities to better understand market behavior. https://phys.org/news/2026-11-early-stock-instability-traders.html Economics & Business Thu, 12 Nov 2026 20:00:01 EST news713681963 When it comes to making decisions regarding mortgage foreclosures, a bank doesn't know what it doesn't know. https://phys.org/news/2026-11-unknowns-play-major-role-mortgage.html Economics & Business Thu, 12 Nov 2026 18:40:07 EST news713703263 When multinational companies decide where to build a factory, open a mine or establish a regional office, they have to consider whether the investment will still be profitable years into the future. https://phys.org/news/2026-11-extreme-weather-big-corporations-poorer.html Economics & Business Thu, 12 Nov 2026 18:00:01 EST news713702179 Every workday is a negotiation between our bodies and our jobs. Sit too long, and our backs and necks protest; stand too long, and our feet might have something to say about it. https://phys.org/news/2026-11-productive-boss.html Economics & Business Thu, 12 Nov 2026 16:40:02 EST news713699663 The Utah Utes' rivalry football game with BYU was a triumph for Utah, but it was also a UteQuake extravaganza. No new records were set, but Rice-Eccles Stadium experienced intense seismic shaking during Saturday's game that resulted in a 28–20 victory for the still-undefeated Utah Utes. https://phys.org/news/2026-11-plethora-seismic-eruptions-aka-utequakes.html Social Sciences Thu, 12 Nov 2026 16:00:13 EST news713699623 The number of students in U.S. public schools has dropped dramatically in recent years, with enrollment falling by more than a million students nationwide since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. That steep decline has intensified the financial strain on many districts, triggering often contentious public debates about school closures and staff layoffs. https://phys.org/news/2026-11-falling-enrollment-schools-havent-downsized.html Education Thu, 12 Nov 2026 15:40:02 EST news713699610 Virtual reality and augmented reality strongly rely on visual information; consequently, they are inaccessible to individuals with visual impairments. To create illusions of tactile feedback or force sensations without physical contact, previous studies have primarily relied on visual manipulations, such as altering the apparent position of objects, with less attention given to the potential of sound alone. https://phys.org/news/2026-11-physical-resistance-movement.html Other Thu, 12 Nov 2026 15:20:16 EST news713699442 Oh, what a difference a penny can make in the likelihood that restaurant customers will order a small plate. https://phys.org/news/2026-11-secret-small-plates-restaurants-nonrounded.html Economics & Business Thu, 12 Nov 2026 14:40:28 EST news713699197 A new study has found people living in Arabia 125,000 years ago used complex technologies, including composite hunting weapons, plant-fiber processing and possibly poison-assisted hunting, while making use of a freshwater lake rich in resources. https://phys.org/news/2026-11-chemical-hint-poisoned-weapons-arabia.html Archaeology Thu, 12 Nov 2026 14:00:49 EST news713697961 As cities worldwide adapt to extreme weather, climate adaptation must prevent people from wading through flooded streets in the future. But the costs are not equally shared. A study from the University of Copenhagen shows that climate adaptation policies may even make social inequality worse. In Copenhagen, stormwater costs fall disproportionately on not-for-profit housing residents, as these neighborhoods are often located near climate adaptation projects. https://phys.org/news/2026-11-high-rents-poorest-residents-pay.html Social Sciences Thu, 12 Nov 2026 13:40:14 EST news713699075 Human culture evolves similarly to living organisms, but unlike biology, human creativity can accumulate improvements at an incredible speed. But how exactly does the process of transmitting and modifying ideas between people work? https://phys.org/news/2026-11-human-ideas-evolve-technical-require.html Other Thu, 12 Nov 2026 13:40:05 EST news713707561 The specialized language used by analysts and management in listed companies' Q&A sessions can be challenging for individual investors to follow. However, Kaisa Penttinen's doctoral dissertation in accounting at the University of Vaasa, Finland, shows these sessions still deliver useful information beyond what is disclosed in written reports alone. https://phys.org/news/2026-11-transparency-equal-access.html Economics & Business Thu, 12 Nov 2026 13:20:12 EST news713698641 The recent discovery of a Roman timber fort in the Preseli hills of Pembrokeshire, southwest Wales, has brought a medieval Welsh legend into fresh focus. https://phys.org/news/2026-11-discovery-roman-fort-rekindled-emperor.html Archaeology Thu, 12 Nov 2026 13:20:01 EST news713710698 An AI companion can be available for a late-night conversation, respond to personal disclosures and discuss a favorite topic for hours. For people who develop intimate relationships with chatbots, those exchanges can offer a meaningful sense of connection. https://phys.org/news/2026-11-romance-ai-explores-benefits-limits.html Social Sciences Thu, 12 Nov 2026 12:00:23 EST news713699097 It's that time of year when gratitude seems to be everywhere: at work, around the dinner table and at holiday gatherings. But with so much pressure to feel thankful, gratitude can start to feel like one more thing on the holiday to-do list. https://phys.org/news/2026-11-pressured-dont.html Social Sciences Thu, 12 Nov 2026 11:30:02 EST news713692910 New research from the Working for Women Research Partnership (WFWRP) shows overlapping life demands make women ages 40–55 more likely than other groups to both want and need workplace flexibility. https://phys.org/news/2026-11-midlife-women-unique-workplace-flexibility.html Social Sciences Thu, 12 Nov 2026 11:00:12 EST news713691148 What would it mean to teach students who are learning academic writing to use AI in "ethical" ways—for example, large language model (LLM) chatbots like ChatGPT, a specific form of GenAI? https://phys.org/news/2026-11-ethical-classroom-ai.html Education Thu, 12 Nov 2026 10:30:10 EST news713688769