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. China's sweeping efforts to clean up its air have delivered one of the biggest public health success stories of recent decades. Since the Air Pollution Prevention and Control Action Plan was launched in 2013, coal-fired power plants have been fitted with scrubbers, heavy industry has been modernized and pollution standards tightened, leading to an over 50% reduction in atmospheric particulate matter. https://phys.org/news/2026-02-china-emissions-policies-climate-problem.html Earth Sciences Tue, 10 Feb 2026 07:50:01 EST news689850775 Eucalyptus trees, laden with flammable oils, could spread into Portugal's south-central region by 2060 if changing climate conditions make the area more hospitable to their growth, creating wildfire hotspots that would evade detection by conventional prevention approaches. https://phys.org/news/2026-02-wildfire-key-factor-forests-decades.html Environment Sat, 07 Feb 2026 08:20:01 EST news689335906 Parts of India, including the capital Delhi, were once again covered in thick smog recently as toxic pollution from industry and crop-burning engulfed the region. Even though India's National Clean Air Program has advanced clean air action, air pollution remains a reoccurring problem. https://phys.org/news/2026-01-air-pollution-borders-policies-aimed.html Environment Wed, 28 Jan 2026 20:10:04 EST news688817089 Large-scale melting of the Greenland Ice Sheet is irreversible and happening at a rapid rate, and now a new international study is the first to understand why. A University of Waterloo scientist and a team of international collaborators found that airborne mineral dust and other aerosols are directly connected to how much algae grows on the ice. The algae interfere with albedo, or the reflection of the sun's rays, exacerbating melting. The work is published in the journal Environmental Science & Technology. https://phys.org/news/2026-01-mineral-greenland-ice-sheet-algae.html Earth Sciences Wed, 28 Jan 2026 12:45:05 EST news688826667 As the next wave of hot days approach, researchers from Murdoch University are urging people living near bushland to be extra vigilant about preparing for arson. https://phys.org/news/2026-01-hotspots-patterns-deliberately-lit-western.html Environment Wed, 28 Jan 2026 10:20:25 EST news688818002 In addition to serious economic damage, the energy crisis of 2021/22 also had dramatic consequences for the environment and people's health. This is the conclusion reached by two researchers at Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU) in a new study. Although the temporary switch from gas to coal for producing electricity was cheaper and contributed to securing the energy supply, in the six European countries featured in the study, it caused additional costs of around one billion euros for the environment and health. https://phys.org/news/2026-01-energy-crisis-coal-emissions-illnesses.html Environment Tue, 27 Jan 2026 13:30:01 EST news688742561 Antibiotic resistance in human and animal health is at the forefront of public debate, but it's a less well-known issue in plant agriculture. However, antibiotics are important tools in fruit production, and their efficacy hinges on avoiding resistance to disease-causing bacteria. https://phys.org/news/2026-01-potential-antibiotics-affect-apple-growers.html Plants & Animals Thu, 22 Jan 2026 15:17:15 EST news688317421 Chile is reeling from one of its most serious wildfire emergencies in years. https://phys.org/news/2026-01-chile-wildfires-faster-hotter.html Environment Thu, 22 Jan 2026 12:10:01 EST news688304552 The Northwest Forest Plan, adopted in 1994, helped quell mounting tensions between timber companies and environmentalists. It protected large swaths of old-growth forest in Washington, Oregon and California to preserve habitat for endangered species, including the Northern spotted owl and marbled murrelet. https://phys.org/news/2026-01-qa-wildfire-northwest-forests-highlights.html Environment Wed, 21 Jan 2026 12:26:47 EST news688220761 The climate warmed up almost as quickly 56 million years ago as it is doing now. When a huge amount of CO2 entered the atmosphere in a short period of time, it led to large-scale forest fires and erosion. Mei Nelissen, Ph.D. candidate at NIOZ and UU, and her colleagues were able to see this very clearly in the layers of sediment drilled off the Norwegian coast. The research was published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences on January 19. https://phys.org/news/2026-01-ancient-surge-triggered-widespread-forest.html Earth Sciences Mon, 19 Jan 2026 15:00:05 EST news687788889 Multi-ignition wildfires are not overly common. But when individual fires do converge, the consequences can be catastrophic. The largest fire on record in California, the 2020 August Complex fire, grew from the coalescence of 10 separate ignitions. https://phys.org/news/2026-01-lightning-multi-ignition-wildfires-catastrophic.html Earth Sciences Thu, 15 Jan 2026 15:07:30 EST news687712021 As climate change drives more frequent and severe wildfires across boreal forests in Alaska and northwestern Canada, scientists are asking a critical question: Will these ecosystems continue to store carbon or become a growing source of carbon emissions? https://phys.org/news/2026-01-deciduous-tree-dominance-wildfire-carbon.html Earth Sciences Thu, 15 Jan 2026 05:00:05 EST news687606797 When fire breaks out in the low-gravity, high-stakes conditions inside spacecraft or space stations, it behaves very differently than back here on Earth. https://phys.org/news/2026-01-ignites-space-ball-flame.html Space Exploration Wed, 14 Jan 2026 10:20:03 EST news687607834 Devastated by widespread fires, Victoria has declared a state of disaster. More than 500 structures have reportedly been destroyed and 1,000 agricultural properties have been affected. Tragically, there has also been one fatality. https://phys.org/news/2026-01-victoria-overlook-hidden.html Earth Sciences Wed, 14 Jan 2026 09:53:42 EST news687606721 The number of wildland fires burning in the Arctic is on the rise, according to NASA researchers. Moreover, these blazes are burning larger, hotter, and longer than they did in previous decades. https://phys.org/news/2026-01-ice-arctic-regime.html Earth Sciences Wed, 14 Jan 2026 09:12:40 EST news687604322 Natural disaster losses worldwide dropped sharply to $224 billion in 2025, reinsurer Munich Re said Tuesday, but warned of a still "alarming" picture of extreme weather events likely driven by climate change. https://phys.org/news/2026-01-disaster-losses-picture-alarming-munich.html Environment Tue, 13 Jan 2026 05:11:53 EST news687503482 On Jan. 9, The Environmental Protection Agency determined Colorado cannot order the closure of coal-fired power plants under the Clean Air Act, and, therefore, the agency will deny the state's plan to reduce the haze that clouds views at Rocky Mountain National Park and other federal lands. https://phys.org/news/2026-01-epa-opposes-colorado-coal-power.html Environment Mon, 12 Jan 2026 18:20:02 EST news687431816 Southwest Research Institute (SwRI) conducted a series of large-scale tests to investigate factors that affect flame spread beneath photovoltaic (PV) panel installations on flat, commercial and industrial rooftops. The research will help fire safety organizations update standards and fire mitigation strategies. https://phys.org/news/2026-01-solar-panel.html Environment Mon, 12 Jan 2026 10:12:15 EST news687435121 After a weekend of extreme heat and windy conditions, more than 30 blazes were still burning in Victoria and New South Wales as of Sunday evening, including major fires in the Otways, near the town of Alexandra in central Victoria, and on the NSW-Victoria border near Corryong. https://phys.org/news/2026-01-minute-climate-whiplash-unpredictable-weather.html Earth Sciences Mon, 12 Jan 2026 09:44:30 EST news687433442 Forest fires in southern Argentina have scorched more than 15,000 hectares (37,000 acres) this week, authorities said, though rain began falling in parts of Patagonia on Sunday to the relief of residents. https://phys.org/news/2026-01-wildfires-hectares-argentine-patagonia.html Environment Mon, 12 Jan 2026 04:27:17 EST news687414412 Microbes often display cooperative behavior in which individual cells put in work and sacrifice resources to collectively benefit the group. But sometimes, "cheater" cells in the group may reap the benefits of this cooperation without incurring any cost themselves. Scientists have suggested that in such cases, population bottlenecks—reduction in the total number of individuals—can help stabilize cooperative behavior in the group. https://phys.org/news/2026-01-population-bottlenecks-bacterial-cooperation-competition.html Evolution Thu, 08 Jan 2026 11:36:18 EST news687094561 The correlation between Arctic wildfires and abnormal snow cover under global warming is of growing concern. A comprehensive quantitative assessment by researchers at The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) has shown that increasingly frequent seasonal wildland fires across the Arctic in recent years have delayed snow cover formation by at least five days and could lead to a future 18-day reduction of snow cover duration, with implications for global ecosystems. https://phys.org/news/2026-01-frequent-arctic-wildfires-days-impacting.html Earth Sciences Thu, 08 Jan 2026 10:22:31 EST news687090121 Bushfires destroyed houses and razed vast belts of forest in southeast Australia on Friday, firefighters said, as hot winds fanned "hectic" conditions in the tinder-dry countryside. https://phys.org/news/2026-01-australia-stokes-catastrophic-bushfires.html Environment Thu, 08 Jan 2026 05:50:02 EST news687072519 Much of south-eastern Australia is currently in the grip of a heat wave, which is expected to peak over the next two days. Heat waves often trigger bushfires, particularly if combined with strong winds. https://phys.org/news/2026-01-megafire-climate-tougher.html Environment Wed, 07 Jan 2026 10:22:52 EST news687003721 A strong earthquake shook western Japan on Tuesday, but no major damage or life-threatening injuries were reported. https://phys.org/news/2026-01-earthquake-western-japan-major-tsunami.html Environment Tue, 06 Jan 2026 04:40:01 EST news686895873 When wildfires began racing through the Los Angeles area on Jan. 7, 2025, the scope of the disaster caught residents by surprise. Forecasters had warned about high winds and exceptionally dry conditions, but few people expected to see smoke and fires for weeks in one of America's largest metro areas. https://phys.org/news/2026-01-la-chemicals-lingered-homes-wildfires.html Environment Mon, 05 Jan 2026 20:50:01 EST news686839492 The devastating Los Angeles fires in the very heart of a built-up urban interface sparked global interest, including in Australia, as communities, media and governments asked how the fires happened and could such a catastrophe happen here. https://phys.org/news/2026-01-los-angeles-months.html Environment Mon, 05 Jan 2026 08:53:27 EST news686825581 In this Oct. 20, 2025, photo, tiny ball bearings surround a larger central bearing during the Fluid Particles experiment, conducted inside the Microgravity Science Glovebox (MSG) aboard the International Space Station's Destiny laboratory module. https://phys.org/news/2025-12-image-ball-tools-physics-microgravity.html General Physics Tue, 30 Dec 2025 13:30:03 EST news686323644 On Jan. 7, 2025, people across the Los Angeles area watched in horror as powerful winds began spreading wildfires through neighborhood after neighborhood. Over three weeks, the fires destroyed more than 16,000 homes and businesses. At least 31 people died, and studies suggest the smoke and stress likely contributed to hundreds more deaths. https://phys.org/news/2025-12-la-neighborliness-wildfire-safety-schools.html Social Sciences Tue, 30 Dec 2025 11:00:01 EST news686313355 As fires burn the landscape, they spew airborne gases and particles, though their impact on air pollution might be underestimated. https://phys.org/news/2025-12-wildland-emit-air-pollution-previously.html Environment Mon, 29 Dec 2025 08:00:05 EST news685643881