All News

Phys.org / Decoy molecules trick soil bacteria into attacking persistent pollutants without genetic engineering

In a study published in the Journal of Materials Chemistry A, Nagoya University researchers demonstrated that native soil bacteria, when treated with decoy molecules, can degrade non-native compounds, including persistent ...

Apr 9, 2026
Phys.org / How the social lives of magpies shape their call repertoire

Communication is central to the survival of most animals, including humans. Yet animals of different species communicate differently, and the complexity of their communication skills varies greatly. One characteristic of ...

Apr 7, 2026
Medical Xpress / How the blood-brain barrier opens: Two proteins may guide future drug delivery

The cells that line the blood vessels in our brains are highly selective. By deciding which molecules are allowed in and out of our most important organ, the barrier these cells form is critical for keeping us alive. But ...

Apr 9, 2026
Phys.org / Ancient Māori remains point to largely plant-based diets before colonization

New research led by the University of Otago—Ōtākou Whakaihu Waka, in close partnership with mana whenua, is shedding new light on Māori diet and burial practices in Aotearoa New Zealand prior to European colonization. The ...

Apr 9, 2026
Phys.org / Great apes mirror facial expressions with surprising precision, study shows

New research from the University of Portsmouth has found that great apes exhibit exactness in mimicking one another's facial expressions in social contexts. The study, published in Scientific Reports, explored how orangutans ...

Apr 9, 2026
Medical Xpress / How an overactive immune system can drive cancer

The immune system is designed to protect us against viruses and bacteria. In autoimmune diseases, however, the immune system instead attacks the body's own cells. Conditions such as systemic lupus erythematosus (lupus) and ...

Apr 9, 2026
Phys.org / Ecuador study finds tropical rainforest biodiversity rebounds over 90% in 30 years

Tropical rainforests are home to almost two-thirds of all vertebrate species and three-quarters of all tree species: they are the most species-rich terrestrial ecosystem on Earth. However, over half of these diverse rainforests ...

Apr 8, 2026
Phys.org / How surface chemistry impacts the performance of malaria nets

Insecticide-treated bed nets remain one of the most effective tools in malaria prevention, acting both as a physical barrier and as an insecticidal surface that kills or disables mosquitoes before they can transmit disease. ...

Apr 9, 2026
Phys.org / Mathematical signature spots when competition is fair, winner-take-all, or too soft

A University of Houston researcher and his collaborators have developed a mathematical model that helps identify whether a competitive environment is healthy, stagnant or skewed. Published in the journal npj Complexity, the ...

Apr 9, 2026
Medical Xpress / Without the right tests, the best medicines make no difference

A new analysis from UC San Francisco argues that diagnostics—medical tests that match patients to the appropriate treatment—are being overlooked both in the United States and around the world. This is slowing progress against ...

Apr 9, 2026
Medical Xpress / A year after forgiving, people report stronger mental health and pro-social character

Can forgiving someone today leave you with an improved sense of well-being a year from now? A new study of residents of 22 countries says yes. The caveat, though, is that the size of the impact varies by nation, as does its ...

Apr 9, 2026
Phys.org / Keeping up with the phages: How V. cholerae neighbors swap defenses against viruses

Like most bacteria, Vibrio cholerae lives under constant attack from viruses. To survive, bacteria equip themselves with antiviral immune systems. Previous work has shown that V. cholerae carries a large genetic element called ...

Apr 9, 2026