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Phys.org / Self‑building molecular rings bring next‑generation drug delivery and smart materials closer

Rotaxanes are dumbbell-shaped mechanically interlocked molecules in which one or more ring-shaped molecules are threaded through a linear segment, known as the axle. To keep the ring from sliding off, two bulky groups, sometimes ...

Jul 12, 2026
Phys.org / Data-driven tool can find mineral biosignatures on other worlds

A technique for judging whether a common mineral formed through biological activity could aid the search for ancient life on Earth and Mars. Apatite is a ubiquitous phosphate mineral found in terrestrial and extraterrestrial ...

Jul 14, 2026
Phys.org / Dead stars in our cosmic backyard: Astronomers spot four white dwarfs hiding under our noses

Researchers at the University of Warwick and the University of Colorado Boulder have directly observed, for the first time, four white dwarfs in binary star systems in our nearby region of space. These stellar binaries are ...

Jul 13, 2026
Medical Xpress / Study shows a blood test can help identify healthy people at high risk for Alzheimer's disease

A blood test may predict if apparently healthy older adults are likely to develop Alzheimer's symptoms in the next five or 10 years, researchers reported Wednesday.

Jul 15, 2026
Phys.org / Generative AI's power sparks fears of dumbing humans down

Generative AI chatbots capable of writing emails and computer code, translating, organizing a trip or coming up with gift ideas are now readily available, prompting some to ask whether human brainpower could suffer for lack ...

Jul 15, 2026
Phys.org / Study links sea level to Earth's carbon thermostat

Earth has a natural thermostat that has kept the planet habitable for more than 100 million years. Scientists have struggled to fully explain how it works, but new research identifies a missing link between phosphate availability ...

Jul 13, 2026
Tech Xplore / 'Like my lover': Chinese users bid farewell to AI companions

Chinese users of AI-powered companion bots have bade heart-rending farewells to their virtual buddies as national regulations took effect Wednesday, aimed at curbing the risk of emotional dependency.

Jul 15, 2026
Tech Xplore / Publishers accuse Google of stealing copyrighted content in new lawsuit

Multiple book publishers sued Google on Tuesday for allegedly stealing copyrighted content, using it to train artificial intelligence (AI) models and then generating content that "directly" competes with the original authors' ...

Jul 15, 2026
Medical Xpress / Metabolites produced by gut bacteria may protect against fungal infection

A metabolic byproduct formed when gut bacteria break down dietary fiber appears to protect against dangerous fungal infections common in immunocompromised patients, a study led by UT Southwestern Medical Center researchers ...

Jul 14, 2026
Phys.org / As super El Niño draws global attention, the Indian Ocean may hold the key to Mediterranean climate extremes

As scientists around the world closely monitor the possible development of a powerful "Super El Niño," a new study suggests that another tropical ocean deserves equal attention. Researchers have found that temperature changes ...

Jul 13, 2026
Phys.org / Hidden in Maya wall writings: A named astronomer emerges from 1,200-year-old calculations

Researchers have reconstructed and transcribed a mathematical formula from the site of Xultun, Guatemala, revealing the name of a Maya astronomer for the first time. During the Classic period (250–900 CE), mathematics and ...

Jul 13, 2026
Phys.org / Atoms tell different stories when light hits a molecule in trillionths of a second

Researchers have captured how a molecule redistributes energy after absorbing light, differentiating the roles of individual atoms in the process. They used X-ray flashes from the European XFEL to show that different atoms ...

Jul 13, 2026