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. EHU researchers have explored how a sustainable urban drainage system built in Legazpi has affected various rainwater parameters, and have concluded that a permeable pavement has improved the quality of runoff water and has reduced turbidity, suspended solids and the amount of certain metals. https://phys.org/news/2025-10-properly-urban-rainwater-irrigation-purposes.html Environment Fri, 10 Oct 2025 11:59:04 EDT news679316342 Fifty years of change on iconic limestone pavements has revealed mixed fortunes for one of the most distinctive landscapes in the UK. The landscapes—which will be familiar to visitors to the Yorkshire Dales and fans of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows film—have, in many places, seen reductions of specialist species and more common less desirable species become more abundant. https://phys.org/news/2024-11-reveals-century-britain-iconic-limestone.html Ecology Thu, 14 Nov 2024 10:00:01 EST news650799920 Ilorin, the capital of Kwara State, is a Nigerian city with a long and rich history. However, much of its distant past is not well known. Archaeology is now uncovering more of this history and the relationships of Ilorin to other ancient parts of the Yoruba world. https://phys.org/news/2024-03-nigeria-ancient-ilorin-city-archaeologist.html Archaeology Mon, 11 Mar 2024 13:42:07 EDT news629383324 Each year in the United States, millions of tons of plastic waste are discarded and not recycled, leading to serious environmental problems. In an effort to help keep this waste from ending up in the environment, engineers at the University of Missouri are partnering with Dow and the Missouri Department of Transportation (MoDOT) to test mixing plastic waste into the asphalt pavement mixtures for possible use on American roadways and bridges. https://phys.org/news/2021-08-plastic.html Environment Wed, 25 Aug 2021 16:16:43 EDT news549126997 Pavements are an abundant urban surface, covering around 40 percent of American cities. But in addition to carrying traffic, they can also emit heat. https://phys.org/news/2021-08-countering-climate-cool-pavements.html Environment Mon, 23 Aug 2021 12:32:50 EDT news548940766 When heat waves hit, people start looking for anything that might lower the temperature. One solution is right beneath our feet: pavement. https://phys.org/news/2021-06-lighter-pavement-cool-cities.html Environment Fri, 18 Jun 2021 10:08:54 EDT news543229731 Scientists have revealed that the deterioration of modern concrete and asphalt structures is due to the presence of trace quantities of organic matter in these structures. https://phys.org/news/2021-05-concrete-asphalt-deterioration.html Materials Science Thu, 13 May 2021 14:00:01 EDT news540124700 Since its invention several millennia ago, concrete has become instrumental to the advancement of civilization, finding use in countless construction applications—from bridges to buildings. And yet, despite centuries of innovation, its function has remained primarily structural. https://phys.org/news/2021-04-electrifying-cement-nanocarbon-black.html Nanophysics Wed, 21 Apr 2021 07:48:48 EDT news538210124 The change in social distancing rules to one meter plus has made towns and cities in England on average over 40% more accessible to pedestrians, new research has revealed. https://phys.org/news/2020-08-reduction-social-distancing-guidance-cities.html Political science Thu, 27 Aug 2020 09:17:27 EDT news517738645 A team of researchers supported by an EU initiative is testing pavements made from recycled tyres to prevent injuries from accidents and falls. https://phys.org/news/2020-03-bouncy-durable-rubber-pavements-thousands.html Materials Science Mon, 30 Mar 2020 09:20:01 EDT news504778062 A researcher at the UPV/EHU's Faculty of Engineering-Bilbao has developed behaviour models of the international roughness index (IRI) and the coefficient of transverse friction to predict the future situation of the highway network of Bizkaia. The models provide the chance to predict highway repairs, to consider the type of repairs that need to be carried out and to optimize budget allocations. https://phys.org/news/2019-10-roads-bizkaia-deteriorate.html Mathematics Mon, 07 Oct 2019 08:27:46 EDT news489655660 When temperatures throughout the sizzling Southwestern U.S. climb to over 100 degrees, the pavement can get hot enough to cause second-degree burns on human skin in a matter of seconds. https://phys.org/news/2019-07-sizzling-southwest-summers-pavement-seconds.html Environment Sat, 27 Jul 2019 01:29:07 EDT news483409731 As the summer months heat up, so will the asphalt and other materials used to make roads. Pavements, which are vulnerable to increased temperatures and excessive flooding due to sea level rise, can crack and crumble. Climate change can be a major contributor and as greenhouse gas emissions continue, which scientists say have caused an increase in global temperatures since the mid-20th century, these issues are projected to accelerate. Researchers at the University of New Hampshire say because of this one of the best ways to extend the life cycle of roads, and keep future costs down, is to increase the thickness of asphalt on certain roads. https://phys.org/news/2019-07-thicker-pavement-effective-road.html Other Wed, 10 Jul 2019 15:25:32 EDT news481991118 Keeping road pavement in good shape saves money and energy and reduces greenhouse gas emissions, more than offsetting pollution generated during road construction, according to a Rutgers-led study. https://phys.org/news/2019-01-roads-good-greenhouse-gas-emissions.html Environment Tue, 15 Jan 2019 12:42:16 EST news466778530 Imagine a drive to grandma's house or to work with fewer "left lane closed ahead" signs, fewer detour signs, fewer orange barrels and also safer travel near road crews. That may soon be possible with new technology from Purdue University researchers. https://phys.org/news/2018-11-technology-paves-orange-barrels-safer.html Engineering Tue, 20 Nov 2018 10:10:23 EST news461927509 Self-driving cars have captured the limelight when it comes to how you'll get around in the future, but one Kansas City technology start-up is looking at the road itself. https://phys.org/news/2018-05-wi-fi-road-kansas-city-tech.html Hi Tech & Innovation Mon, 28 May 2018 12:41:35 EDT news446729927 Motorists enjoying days of above-freezing temperatures after shivering through frigid single digits may encounter a jarring reality by spring. https://phys.org/news/2018-01-temperature-pothole-problems-drivers.html Other Thu, 25 Jan 2018 07:43:30 EST news436088602 An aircraft's impact on the runway is likely the last thing to cross anyone's mind when boarding a flight. The constant taking off and landing of aircraft throughout the day places stress on runway pavement, which needs to be in good condition to ensure the safety of the aircraft and its passengers. https://phys.org/news/2017-12-team-effective-runways.html Engineering Fri, 08 Dec 2017 08:08:27 EST news431942897 For thousands of years, people have built civilizations with concrete made from readily available local materials. Just mix and heat, add some sand, stone and water and put it where you want it. Of course, give it time to harden - that is, after you have left your hand print or initials. https://phys.org/news/2017-11-concrete-hard-material-harder.html Engineering Thu, 02 Nov 2017 15:50:02 EDT news428852790 Can a splash of gray pavement paint help combat global warming? https://phys.org/news/2017-08-los-angeles-cooling-pavement.html Environment Mon, 14 Aug 2017 04:17:14 EDT news421903023 Research out of the University of New Hampshire has found that some roads, as far as two miles from the shore, are facing a new hazard that currently cannot be seen by drivers - rising groundwater caused by increasing ocean water levels. https://phys.org/news/2017-06-seacoast-roads-threat-sea.html Environment Thu, 01 Jun 2017 12:20:06 EDT news415538395 Cool pavements can help keep cities cool, right? Yes, but according to new research from the Department of Energy's Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (Berkeley Lab), many reflective pavements have some unexpected drawbacks relative to conventional pavements when considering the entire life cycle of the materials. https://phys.org/news/2017-05-cool-pavements-equal.html Energy & Green Tech Thu, 18 May 2017 09:42:11 EDT news414319315 Some potholes are like zombies – they never die. Or at least that's the perception of much of the driving public, especially as we enter peak pothole season: late winter and early spring. https://phys.org/news/2016-03-microwave-annihilate-zombie-potholes.html Engineering Wed, 09 Mar 2016 09:57:51 EST news376739860 As meteorologists monitor the El Nino condition currently gaining strength in the Pacific Ocean, Californians look with hope to the much-needed rain and snow it could yield. But if we're going to make the most of the precipitation, we need to put a LID on it. https://phys.org/news/2015-10-ways-urban-stormwater-runoff.html Environment Fri, 16 Oct 2015 16:40:01 EDT news364231088 Repaving roads is a costly and complicated process, especially when the road is a critical artery. But new research from Norway shows that switching to more durable asphalt could save significant amounts of money on some cold climate roads—possibly as much as  several million euros a year. https://phys.org/news/2015-06-repave-colder-climates.html Engineering Thu, 25 Jun 2015 08:20:01 EDT news354435858 In co-operation with industrial partners, VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland Ltd has developed permeable pavements to reduce the problems caused by storm and runoff water in urban areas. The project also aims to prepare for the higher volumes of rainfall and more intense storms that can be expected in the future. The pavement solutions developed in the project are well suited for areas with low traffic volume, such as car parks, pavements, courtyards, fields and squares. The first Finnish pilots of the surfacing layers will take place in the cities of Espoo, Helsinki, Vantaa and Oulu in the spring of 2015. https://phys.org/news/2015-01-permeable-pavements-nordic-conditions.html Engineering Wed, 14 Jan 2015 07:50:01 EST news340442666 Taking a cue from an American TV program, the Chinese city of Chongqing has created a smartphone sidewalk lane, offering a path for those too engrossed in messaging and tweeting to watch where they're going. https://phys.org/news/2014-09-chinese-city-cellphone-sidewalk-lane.html Other Mon, 15 Sep 2014 09:37:12 EDT news329992627 As spring finally emerges after a ferocious winter,, our battered roads will soon be re-exposed. While potholes and cracks might make news, a bigger concern should be the deterioration to pavement markings, from yellow to white lines, which are a big factor in preventing traffic accidents. https://phys.org/news/2014-03-pavement.html Engineering Thu, 20 Mar 2014 09:40:04 EDT news314526520 California's freeways aren't as smart as they used to be. https://phys.org/news/2013-11-dim-traffic-sensors-dull-smart.html Other Sat, 23 Nov 2013 18:08:37 EST news304452509 The pavement recipe for the Indianapolis Motor Speedway (IMS), home of the Indianapolis 500, could be used to improve the smoothness, durability and safety of some of the 2 million miles of paved roads and streets where people move at ordinary speeds, scientists said here today. https://phys.org/news/2013-09-indy-track-foster-technology-everyday.html Engineering Mon, 09 Sep 2013 10:53:16 EDT news297942782