All News

Phys.org / Biodegradable bark–plastic composite lets engineers predict product lifetime from tensile tests

Old trees are learning new tricks with the advent of composite materials. A "green composite" made from biodegradable polymers and the waste bark of the Yakushima Jisugi tree was developed by a research team at Tohoku University. ...

Jan 29, 2026 in Chemistry
Medical Xpress / Beyond the active site: A new way to regulate immune enzyme TREX1

The immune system must maintain a delicate balance to defend against harmful threats while avoiding excessive inflammation. When this balance is disrupted, immune responses can contribute to autoimmune diseases and cancer. ...

Jan 29, 2026 in Immunology
Phys.org / Hearing angry or happy human voices is linked to changes in dogs' balance

In a small study, dogs experienced both stabilization and destabilization of their balance upon hearing angry or happy human voices, but angry voices were linked to the biggest destabilizing effects. Nadja Affenzeller and ...

Jan 28, 2026 in Biology
Medical Xpress / ADHD and methylphenidate tied to higher adult BMI

Seoul National University Hospital researchers have linked childhood attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder and methylphenidate exposure with higher adult overweight/obesity and slightly shorter adult height at ages 20 ...

Jan 26, 2026 in Attention deficit disorders
Phys.org / Rare fossils reveal 91 new species that survived ancient mass extinction

Almost a hundred new animal species that survived a mass extinction event half a billion years ago have been discovered in a small quarry in China, scientists revealed Wednesday.

Jan 28, 2026 in Biology
Phys.org / Pesticides significantly affect soil life and biodiversity, study finds

Seventy percent of soils in Europe are contaminated with pesticides. A Europe-wide study co-led by researchers of the University of Zurich now shows that their effects on soil life are substantial, as pesticides suppress ...

Jan 28, 2026 in Biology
Medical Xpress / One in 1,000 dies: Framing matters for communicating medical numbers, experts say

Similar—yet not the same: Many studies show that patients often struggle to interpret numerical information in medical contexts, especially probabilities related to recovery and side effects. In a recently published Letter ...

Jan 29, 2026 in Health
Phys.org / Self-powered composite material detects its own cracks

A new multifunctional composite made of carbon fiber-reinforced polymers (CFRP) and piezoelectric materials can use vibrations to self-detect tiny cracks. This material could be used in the aerospace, automotive, and construction ...

Jan 29, 2026 in Chemistry
Phys.org / Novel 'XFELO' laser system produces razor-sharp X-ray light

A team of engineers and scientists has shown for the first time that a hard-X-ray cavity can provide net X-ray gain, with X-ray pulses being circulated between crystal mirrors and amplified in the process, much like happens ...

Jan 28, 2026 in Physics
Tech Xplore / Stacked ionic cells inspired by electric rays generate over 100V for small electronics

Inspired by electric rays that generate high voltages through stacked electrocytes, researchers at UNIST have developed a novel energy harvesting technology that mimics this biological mechanism. Unlike electric rays, which ...

Jan 29, 2026 in Energy & Green Tech
Phys.org / One single protein, one big decision: How brown algae know when to reproduce

Scientists at the Max Planck Institute for Biology have discovered a remarkably streamlined strategy for developmental control in brown algae. They have shown that a single ARGONAUTE (AGO) protein orchestrates the transition ...

Jan 29, 2026 in Biology
Phys.org / Surprising green ice on Lake Lipno: Cyanobacteria bloom in mid-winter

An unusual natural phenomenon appeared on Lake Lipno in South Bohemia, the Czech Republic, at the end of 2025. Large amounts of accumulated cyanobacteria in the water caused the ice to turn green. The phenomenon was thoroughly ...

Jan 28, 2026 in Biology