# condensed matter (news sources) — RSS Amplifier Recent posts from the 1 feeds in the RSS Amplifier directory that cover condensed matter. Page: Feed: --- ## [Earlier swathing opens a new pathway for subterranean clover seed harvest](https://phys.org/news/2026-08-earlier-swathing-pathway-subterranean-clover.html) _2026-08-28 · Phys.org - latest science and technology news stories_ Subterranean clover's ability to bury its seed supports pasture persistence but makes commercial seed harvesting difficult. The industry relies on aging Horwood-Bagshaw (HB) suction harvesters, which collect seed from fully dry crops after repeated tillage and raking. ## [Diverse portfolio of protected areas key to Mexican conservation efforts](https://phys.org/news/2026-08-diverse-portfolio-areas-key-mexican.html) _2026-08-28 · Phys.org - latest science and technology news stories_ In 2020, Mexico joined 150 nations committing to protect 30% of its territory by 2030 as part of the global 30x30 initiative. More than halfway through the decade, there is ongoing debate about how to effectively expand protected areas to meet that ambitious goal. ## [Low temperature graphene growth opens a route to sustainable resource recycling](https://phys.org/news/2026-08-temperature-graphene-growth-route-sustainable.html) _2026-08-28 · Phys.org - latest science and technology news stories_ Graphene is an exceptionally useful material for creating batteries, catalysts and electronic devices. Yet producing graphene typically requires temperatures as high as 900°C (1,652°F), limiting energy efficiency and making structural control difficult. To make graphene production more practical, a recent study has overcome this long-standing temperature barrier. ## [Dog-friendly dining isn't just a trend, it's good for business, new research shows](https://phys.org/news/2026-08-dog-friendly-dining-isnt-trend.html) _2026-08-28 · Phys.org - latest science and technology news stories_ Restaurants that go beyond simply allowing dogs on patios by offering dedicated menu items for them can significantly boost customer traffic, spending and word-of-mouth, according to new research from Toronto Metropolitan University. ## [Fast fashion's carbon footprint can be reduced across its life cycle, new study suggests](https://phys.org/news/2026-08-fast-fashion-carbon-footprint-life.html) _2026-08-28 · Phys.org - latest science and technology news stories_ Fast fashion is built on cheap, short-lived garments, especially cotton and polyester T-shirts. To sustain its profits, the industry relies on high production frequency, short product lifespan and a globalized supply chain. All these elements contribute to making the industry a major source of global pollution. ## [Scientists capture first molecular-level images of water reorganization during a reaction crucial for life](https://phys.org/news/2026-08-scientists-capture-molecular-images-reaction.html) _2026-08-28 · Phys.org - latest science and technology news stories_ Some of nature's most important chemical reactions rely on the coupled movement of negatively and positively charged particles. These processes play central roles in photosynthesis, catalysis and biological energy conversion yet remain difficult to observe. ## [Does the Nepal glacier collapse signal a new climate risk?](https://phys.org/news/2026-08-nepal-glacier-collapse-climate.html) _2026-08-28 · Phys.org - latest science and technology news stories_ Does the devastating flooding unleashed by the collapse of a section of a glacier in the Nepali Himalayas signal a new kind of risk in a world warmed by climate change? Here's what scientists told AFP. ## [Honey bees can serve as sentinels for environmental health](https://phys.org/news/2026-08-honey-bees-sentinels-environmental-health.html) _2026-08-28 · Phys.org - latest science and technology news stories_ Honey bees (Apis mellifera) are widely known as essential pollinators, but researchers using a "One Health" approach have also identified them as biological sentinels of environmental health. Honey bees continuously interact with their surrounding environment through the collection of nectar, pollen and water and can therefore be exposed to contaminants present in agricultural and natural… ## [Breathable smart sensor developed for real-time hazardous gas detection on masks](https://phys.org/news/2026-08-breathable-smart-sensor-real-hazardous.html) _2026-08-28 · Phys.org - latest science and technology news stories_ A research team led by Sungwon Lee, a professor in the Department of Physics and Chemistry at DGIST, developed a hierarchical nano-on-nano structure by directly growing graphene nanowalls (GNWs) on polymer nanofibers and successfully used the structure to enhance the sensing performance of wearable gas sensors. The technology is expected to be applied to next-generation wearable sensors for… ## [SpaceX recovers Starship from the Indian Ocean a month after launch and is shipping it back to Texas](https://phys.org/news/2026-08-spacex-recovers-starship-indian-ocean.html) _2026-08-28 · Phys.org - latest science and technology news stories_ SpaceX has pulled off its biggest salvage operation yet, recovering its most recently launched Starship from the Indian Ocean. ## [ThreatCrush on GitHub (Sponsored)](https://crawlproof.com/a/wE6JP8steLx4) _2026-08-28 · **Sponsored**_ View the ThreatCrush listing on the GitHub Marketplace. ## [Candida fungi can burst immune cells and shape-shift to evade immunity](https://phys.org/news/2026-08-candida-fungi-immune-cells-shift.html) _2026-08-27 · Phys.org - latest science and technology news stories_ Candida auris and Candida albicans are microscopic fungi that cause life-threatening human infections, killing almost a million people globally every year. The World Health Organization lists both species among the top four most concerning fungal pathogens in existence, and while relatively uncommon in Australia, growing outbreaks in Europe and the United States have forced restrictions and even… ## [Tsunami of dirt: What caused Nepal's deadly glacial flood?](https://phys.org/news/2026-08-tsunami-dirt-nepal-deadly-glacial.html) _2026-08-27 · Phys.org - latest science and technology news stories_ More than 150 people are dead and hundreds more are missing after an enormous wave of water, ice, mud and rock cascaded more than 170 kilometers (106 miles) down the Bhote Koshi River valley in Nepal. The valley is the main link between Kathmandu in Nepal and Lhasa in Tibet. At least 34 Australians are missing. There was little warning. ## [Researchers reveal the unique 'tagging' mechanism that guides the sleeping brain in remembering key thoughts](https://phys.org/news/2026-08-reveal-unique-tagging-mechanism-brain.html) _2026-08-27 · Phys.org - latest science and technology news stories_ Why do we remember certain moments while forgetting others? Every day, our minds are bombarded with thousands of pieces of information, yet our brains have a limited capacity to consolidate these experiences into lasting memories. This means we need a way to hold on to what is most important and disregard irrelevant details. ## [XY or ZW? Gecko chromosomes reveal evolution's hidden playbook](https://phys.org/news/2026-08-xy-zw-gecko-chromosomes-reveal.html) _2026-08-27 · Phys.org - latest science and technology news stories_ Why do humans rely on XY chromosomes to determine sex, while birds use ZW—and many reptiles use neither, letting temperature decide instead? Sex determination is remarkably diverse across the animal kingdom. In genotypic sex determination (GSD), sex is encoded in the genome: XX individuals are female and XY males in humans and most mammals, while in the ZW system, found in birds and some reptiles,… ## [El Niños have been more intense over the last 40 years than in the previous 1,000 years, coral records reveal](https://phys.org/news/2026-08-el-nios-intense-years-previous.html) _2026-08-27 · Phys.org - latest science and technology news stories_ As an El Niño of historic proportions is taking shape in the tropical Pacific, a University of Michigan study has found that El Niño events have become nearly 40% stronger in the last 40 years than they were in the preindustrial era. ## [Exploring how bumble bee queens coordinate chemical signals](https://phys.org/news/2026-08-exploring-bumble-bee-queens-chemical.html) _2026-08-27 · Phys.org - latest science and technology news stories_ New research by SUNY Polytechnic Institute (SUNY Poly) Assistant Professor of Biology Dr. Margarita Orlova is providing new insight into how bumblebee queens communicate through chemical signals and how those signals change throughout their lives. ## [The wisdom of the egg cell: Oocyte epigenetic mark may help prevent excessive placental growth after fertilization](https://phys.org/news/2026-08-wisdom-egg-cell-oocyte-epigenetic.html) _2026-08-27 · Phys.org - latest science and technology news stories_ The genome—which contains genes encoded in DNA—acts as the fundamental blueprint of life. But what you might not know is that, in addition to this genetic information, we have something akin to an "instruction manual" for how genes should be handled. This instruction manual is known as the epigenome. ## [Metaphors reveal how a neurosurgeon narrated death while facing terminal cancer](https://phys.org/news/2026-08-metaphors-reveal-neurosurgeon-narrated-death.html) _2026-08-27 · Phys.org - latest science and technology news stories_ A new study examining death-related conceptual metaphors employed by neurosurgeon Paul Kalanithi in his memoir, "When Breath Becomes Air," sheds light on how he depicted death after being diagnosed with stage IV lung cancer at age 36. ## [Using AI to thwart election misinformation](https://phys.org/news/2026-08-ai-thwart-election-misinformation.html) _2026-08-27 · Phys.org - latest science and technology news stories_ Election rumors, such as unverified accounts of voter fraud, have run rampant in the U.S. in recent years. Powered by the speed of social media and artificial intelligence (AI), it can be hard for people to know what messages to trust. Now, a team led by Caltech researchers is using AI as a tool for good in the fight against election misinformation. ## [Parasitic plants act like genetic engineers by stealing and remodeling useful genes](https://phys.org/news/2026-08-parasitic-genetic-remodeling-genes.html) _2026-08-27 · Phys.org - latest science and technology news stories_ Many plant species parasitize other plants by latching on and taking the nutrients their hosts need to survive. But sometimes, plants steal more than nutrients; they take genes. ## [Crypto Payments, No Custody (Sponsored)](https://crawlproof.com/a/uNV9SguDUhRd) _2026-08-27 · **Sponsored**_ Send crypto to merchant wallets via API with real-time updates and automatic fees. ## [Permafrost thaws worldwide as active layers deepen from 2000 to 2024](https://phys.org/news/2026-08-permafrost-worldwide-layers-deepen.html) _2026-08-26 · Phys.org - latest science and technology news stories_ An international study led by researchers at the George Washington University indicates clear global evidence that permafrost is thawing across much of the planet. Using more than two decades of field observations from 156 monitoring sites across the Arctic, Antarctic and high-mountain regions, the study found increases in the thickness of the active layer, the uppermost layer above permafrost… ## [Why banks in Ghana make little use of AI for climate action decisions](https://phys.org/news/2026-08-banks-ghana-ai-climate-action.html) _2026-08-26 · Phys.org - latest science and technology news stories_ Artificial intelligence could help evaluate climate protection projects more effectively and channel funding more precisely to where it is needed. Nevertheless, banks and insurance companies in Ghana have so far made very little use of the technology. A new study conducted at the Brandenburg University of Technology Cottbus-Senftenberg (BTU) in collaboration with the Durban University of… ## [Dry seeds preserve fully formed mitochondria, unlocking rapid energy at germination](https://phys.org/news/2026-08-dry-seeds-fully-mitochondria-rapid.html) _2026-08-26 · Phys.org - latest science and technology news stories_ The majority of plant seeds have the special ability to almost completely dry out and yet remain viable. While most living cells die with a 90% loss of water, cells in seeds enter a biological state of dormancy. With a moisture content of less than 10%—similar to a raisin compared to a grape—they become small time capsules and can lie dormant for decades until they are awakened by favorable… ## [Fossil-fuel carbon fingerprint reaches the deep North Atlantic](https://phys.org/news/2026-08-fossil-fuel-carbon-fingerprint-deep.html) _2026-08-26 · Phys.org - latest science and technology news stories_ The use of fossil fuels alters both the concentration and the carbon isotope composition of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. Since surface water exchanges carbon dioxide with the atmosphere, this also alters the isotopic composition of the carbon dissolved in the ocean. In a new study, a team from MARUM—Center for Marine Environmental Sciences at the University of Bremen has now determined how… ## [How climate change affects different modes of transport—from roads to railways](https://phys.org/news/2026-08-climate-affects-modes-roads-railways.html) _2026-08-26 · Phys.org - latest science and technology news stories_ As climate change makes extreme weather more frequent and intense, floods, heat waves, droughts, wildfires and storms are increasingly disrupting roads, railways, airports and waterways. Roads have been closed in Germany during this summer's heat waves, for example, while travel has been chaotic on railways in the UK. ## [For Legionella bacteria, taking over a cell means playing by its rules](https://phys.org/news/2026-08-legionella-bacteria-cell-playing.html) _2026-08-26 · Phys.org - latest science and technology news stories_ When it comes to invading healthy cells, Legionella bacteria rely on blending in rather than breaking in. New research from Van Andel Institute scientists demonstrates how a protein produced by Legionella mimics the behavior of the host cell's own proteins. This mechanism allows the protein, RomA, to change how the host's genes are regulated and create conditions that help the bacteria survive and… ## [Older women experience sexual violence too, but their stories rarely make the news](https://phys.org/news/2026-08-older-women-sexual-violence-stories.html) _2026-08-26 · Phys.org - latest science and technology news stories_ The reality of sexual violence against older women is an issue that remains significantly underreported and misrepresented in Australia. Almost 50 sexual assaults occur every week in aged care. Sexual assault against older women is commonly perpetrated by intimate partners or someone they know. ## [Roman telescope aims to directly image exoplanets 1,000 times fainter than current limits](https://phys.org/news/2026-08-roman-telescope-aims-image-exoplanets.html) _2026-08-26 · Phys.org - latest science and technology news stories_ The Roman Space Telescope is designed to directly image exoplanets using complex optomechanical systems developed by the Max Planck Institute for Astronomy ## [Liquid gallium experiment confirms key flow regime inside rapidly rotating stars and planets](https://phys.org/news/2026-08-liquid-gallium-key-regime-rapidly.html) _2026-08-26 · Phys.org - latest science and technology news stories_ Since we cannot look into the interiors of stars and planets, we rely on lab experiments to replicate the physical processes that occur there. Led by the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), an international research team has produced the first experimental verification of a theoretically predicted flow state deemed characteristic of the interiors of rapidly rotating celestial bodies. The… ## [Genetic traces reveal river residents: 1,072 species in a bucket of water](https://phys.org/news/2026-08-genetic-reveal-river-residents-species.html) _2026-08-26 · Phys.org - latest science and technology news stories_ Can DNA traces in just two liters (0.5 gallons) of water reveal how a river's biodiversity changes over the course of a year? A study by the University of Duisburg-Essen using the River Lippe as an example shows how biodiversity in freshwater ecosystems can be monitored comprehensively, efficiently and at comparatively low cost. The results have now been published in the journal Ecological… ## [One OS for your AI workforce (Sponsored)](https://crawlproof.com/a/uV1dD511NwKd) _2026-08-26 · **Sponsored**_ Build, direct, and supervise an AI workforce from a single operating workspace. ## [Blowing in the wind, humble balloon gets green makeover](https://phys.org/news/2026-08-humble-balloon-green-makeover.html) _2026-08-23 · Phys.org - latest science and technology news stories_ A global symbol of parties and celebrations but an environmental headache, the humble balloon is undergoing a green revolution thanks to U.K. researchers. ## [How we found Haida Gwaii's first marbled murrelet nest in more than 30 years](https://phys.org/news/2026-08-haida-gwaii-marbled-murrelet-years.html) _2026-08-22 · Phys.org - latest science and technology news stories_ Scrambling through dense salal in the dark, weaving between the majestic western red cedars of northern Haida Gwaii, I could barely imagine where we were just days before—crossing Dixon Entrance off the coast in an open skiff, pushing head-on through ocean swells and salt spray. ## [Computer models pinpoint catalysts for replacing fossil-fueled ammonia production](https://phys.org/news/2026-08-catalysts-fossil-fueled-ammonia-production.html) _2026-08-22 · Phys.org - latest science and technology news stories_ Ammonia is one of the most important chemicals produced in the world, ranking second only to sulfuric acid in the total volume produced each year. It is used mostly to make fertilizer, which is essential to feeding the world's population. Yet its production accounts for up to 2% of the world's energy consumption and about 1.5% of greenhouse gas emissions, so the search has been underway for ways… ## [The dynamic duo: 'Weaving' hierarchical DNA materials with two classes of biomolecular nanomachines](https://phys.org/news/2026-08-dynamic-duo-hierarchical-dna-materials.html) _2026-08-22 · Phys.org - latest science and technology news stories_ Biomolecular nanomachines, such as enzymes and molecular motors, are the workhorses behind the synthesis and organization of complex materials in life. Powered by chemical energy, they build, transport and organize biomolecules, allowing living systems to create and maintain highly ordered structures far from thermodynamic equilibrium. ## [Mars Curiosity rover discovers massive field of polygons](https://phys.org/news/2026-08-mars-curiosity-rover-massive-field.html) _2026-08-22 · Phys.org - latest science and technology news stories_ The surface of Mars is home to some of the most breathtaking and awe-inspiring landscapes in the solar system. This is primarily because the Red Planet lacks several resurfacing processes that Earth possesses, including plate tectonics, volcanism and flowing water. ## [AI mapping reveals hidden stage of Arctic freeze with climate implications](https://phys.org/news/2026-08-ai-reveals-hidden-stage-arctic.html) _2026-08-22 · Phys.org - latest science and technology news stories_ As autumn gives way to winter across the Arctic, the ground doesn't immediately freeze solid. Instead, soils often linger near the freezing point for days or even weeks in a phase called the zero curtain. In a new NASA-led study, researchers produced high-resolution maps of the Arctic zero curtain. ## [Heat wave-hit Europe logs over 30,000 excess summer deaths: First figures](https://phys.org/news/2026-08-europe-excess-summer-deaths-figures.html) _2026-08-22 · Phys.org - latest science and technology news stories_ Europe saw at least 30,000 excess deaths across a blistering summer of back-to-back heat waves and drought that scientists have blamed on man-made climate change, according to provisional figures. ## [AI decodes DNA initiator sequence found in about 60% of human genes](https://phys.org/news/2026-08-ai-decodes-dna-sequence-human.html) _2026-08-22 · Phys.org - latest science and technology news stories_ Precise activation of tens of thousands of genes is critical for healthy development and growth. Specialized segments of our DNA are responsible for carefully orchestrating genetic sequences that result in the production of enzymes, hormones, proteins and other crucial components underlying cell structure and function. But if these genes are not correctly activated, cells can stop functioning or… ## [Arctic shipping a daunting prospect in hotly contested region](https://phys.org/news/2026-08-arctic-shipping-daunting-prospect-hotly.html) _2026-08-22 · Phys.org - latest science and technology news stories_ With Gulf turmoil slashing Suez Canal traffic, shipping firms are tempted to try the Arctic for quicker trips between Europe and Asia—but commercial prospects are unlikely to match countries' strategic ambitions for the North Pole. ## [Thawing Arctic riverbeds may erode up to 10 times faster than unfrozen ground](https://phys.org/news/2026-08-arctic-riverbeds-erode-faster-unfrozen.html) _2026-08-22 · Phys.org - latest science and technology news stories_ Sometimes science throws up the unexpected. When a team of researchers set out to model river erosion in Canada's High Arctic, they did not expect the findings to defy common sense. ## [A museum-shelf mystery reveals 6,500-year-old human tooth pendant in Serbia](https://phys.org/news/2026-08-museum-shelf-mystery-reveals-year.html) _2026-08-22 · Phys.org - latest science and technology news stories_ More than 6,500 years ago, someone carefully drilled a hole in a human tooth, strung it on a cord and likely used it as a necklace. Found during field surveys at the Vinča cultural site of Jablanica in Serbia, the human tooth was originally misidentified as an animal tooth bead until archaeologist Nemanja Marković and his colleague Ana Maričić took a closer look. ## [Bipartisan majorities in US favor banning glyphosate](https://phys.org/news/2026-08-bipartisan-majorities-favor-glyphosate.html) _2026-08-22 · Phys.org - latest science and technology news stories_ Two-thirds of Americans favor banning the use of the herbicide glyphosate, the active ingredient in the popular weedkiller Roundup, on crops grown in the United States, according to a nationally representative survey conducted by the Annenberg Public Policy Center (APPC) of the University of Pennsylvania. ## [Soccer ticket crackdowns and price hikes are excluding traditional fans](https://phys.org/news/2026-08-soccer-ticket-crackdowns-price-hikes.html) _2026-08-21 · Phys.org - latest science and technology news stories_ The new season of the English Premier League is almost ready to kick off, and with it comes another annual cycle of the national game. Each August brings hope and expectation for supporters, with an opportunity to start anew. But rather than excited anticipation, frustration, anger and anxiety are the overriding emotions of many fans. ## [Hydrogel platform uses vitamin B2 and blue light to simplify living tissue models](https://phys.org/news/2026-08-hydrogel-platform-vitamin-b2-blue.html) _2026-08-21 · Phys.org - latest science and technology news stories_ Researchers at Tampere University have developed a versatile hydrogel platform that makes it easier to create customized biomaterials for tissue engineering, disease modeling, drug discovery and regenerative medicine. Their plug-and-play crosslinking technology enables the design of a wide range of hydrogels in which biological molecules, such as proteins, peptides and nucleic acids, can be… ## [Climate change could triple the price of wheat](https://phys.org/news/2026-08-climate-triple-price-wheat.html) _2026-08-21 · Phys.org - latest science and technology news stories_ Bread, pasta and breakfast cereals may seem far removed from dry fields in North America, Europe or Asia. Yet when water shortages hit several of the world's most important wheat-growing regions simultaneously, the consequences can be felt all the way to supermarket shelves and bakery aisles. ## [Your high school friends may shape whether you become an entrepreneur decades later](https://phys.org/news/2026-08-high-school-friends-entrepreneur-decades.html) _2026-08-21 · Phys.org - latest science and technology news stories_ With more young Canadians considering self-employment amid a high youth unemployment rate, entrepreneurship programs are facing growing demand. Applications to Futurpreneur, the national organization that finances young Canadian entrepreneurs, rose 50% last quarter, compared with 15% growth a year earlier. ## [Complex odors prove easier to map than expected with machine learning](https://phys.org/news/2026-08-complex-odors-easier-machine.html) _2026-08-21 · Phys.org - latest science and technology news stories_ If you want to describe a particular color, you could look to the Pantone color wheel to find its exact hue, saturation and brightness, and how it compares with other colors. But nothing like that has existed for complex odors. ## [Laser-cut aluminum foil could replace costly terahertz polarizers](https://phys.org/news/2026-08-laser-aluminum-foil-terahertz-polarizers.html) _2026-08-21 · Phys.org - latest science and technology news stories_ When physicists at the ARC Centre for Transformative Meta-Optical Systems (TMOS) needed a key component for their terahertz experiments, they ran into a frustrating problem—they needed tiny optical devices, known as wire-grid polarizers, but these cost thousands of dollars each. ## [Scientists map hair follicle formation in spacetime, advancing understanding of how organs develop](https://phys.org/news/2026-08-scientists-hair-follicle-formation-spacetime.html) _2026-08-21 · Phys.org - latest science and technology news stories_ In a new research report, scientists at Johns Hopkins Medicine say they have developed a technology that allows them to capture a 3D molecular "snapshot" of hundreds of hair follicles as they develop and then reconstruct the fourth dimension—time—to create a stop-motion animation of how this organ forms. The research was published in the journal Cell. ## [Inside the race to prepare cities for extreme heat](https://phys.org/news/2026-08-cities-extreme.html) _2026-08-21 · Phys.org - latest science and technology news stories_ A sea of corrugated metal roofs stretches into the distance across an informal settlement in Makassar, Indonesia.