My point is mostly that the problem is larger than phys.org. UNM itself is the source of the lesser article.

That phys.org just aggregates material available elsewhere is also an additional reason not to link it. It's suggested to link original articles (in a different sense than you are using) in the submission guidelines.

You’re certainly not wrong, and the endless parade of press releases and aggregators of press releases are indeed, terrible. Having said that however, I’ve never come across a site as popular and worthless as Phys.org (edit: in this space at least). The AAAS, iiie and other maintain decent aggregators, or the original is best.