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Phys.org / Plant mothers send molecular 'text messages' to pollen

Small RNAs are short RNA molecules that help determine which genes in a cell are switched on or off. Until now, it was assumed that the small RNAs necessary for pollen development originate in the pollen itself and in the ...

Jan 28, 2026 in Biology
Phys.org / Changing land use can increase threat of animal‑to‑human disease spread

Changes to land use can directly heighten the risk of diseases spreading from animals to humans, new University of Stirling–led research has shown. The study, led by Dr. Adam Fell of the University's Faculty of Natural ...

Jan 28, 2026 in Biology
Phys.org / Record stretching of metallic bond reveals quantum conductance in gold atomic chains

Researchers from the Institute of Metal Research (IMR) of the Chinese Academy of Sciences have stretched a chain of gold atoms by a record-breaking 46%, providing direct evidence of how fundamental metal bonds behave under ...

Jan 28, 2026 in Nanotechnology
Phys.org / Submarine mountains and long-distance waves stir the deepest parts of the ocean

When most of us look out at the ocean, we see a mostly flat blue surface stretching to the horizon. It's easy to imagine the sea beneath as calm and largely static—a massive, still abyss far removed from everyday experience.

Jan 29, 2026 in Earth
Phys.org / How mining legacy dust leaves a uranium fingerprint in children's hair

For decades, families in communities around Johannesburg have been living close to huge gold mining waste dumps. For many residents, the dust that is released there is just part of everyday life—but it can contain natural ...

Jan 29, 2026 in Earth
Phys.org / 443-million-year-old fossils reveal early vertebrate eyes

Scientists analyzing 443-million-year-old Scottish fossils have uncovered the early evidence that some of the first groups of vertebrates possessed surprisingly advanced eyes and traces of bone, reshaping our understanding ...

Jan 28, 2026 in Biology
Phys.org / Weakening the soy moratorium in Brazil: A political choice that ignores the science

In the first days of 2026, the Brazilian Association of Vegetable Oil Industries (ABIOVE), which represents the largest soybean traders in Brazil, announced its withdrawal from the Amazon soy moratorium.

Jan 29, 2026 in Biology
Phys.org / Climate change is reshaping how companies do business

Climate change is not only disrupting supply chains and asset values, it is also quietly reshaping companies' choice of business partners. New research based on nearly two decades of data from thousands of US-listed firms ...

Jan 29, 2026 in Other Sciences
Medical Xpress / DNA research uncovers 22 genes that could put people at risk of long-term health conditions

Baylor College of Medicine researchers are part of a collaborative research group with AstraZeneca and Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center that have identified 22 genes which increase the risk of developing a range of ...

Jan 28, 2026 in Genetics
Medical Xpress / Tiny peptide shows promise in slowing epilepsy progression

Epilepsy is one of the most common neurological disorders in the world. According to the World Health Organization, around 50 million people live with epilepsy, a condition marked by recurring seizures that can also affect ...

Jan 28, 2026 in Neuroscience
Medical Xpress / In schizophrenia, altered oral microbiome may signal cognitive impairment

An association between oral microbiota and cognitive performance in schizophrenia has been reported by researchers at Science Tokyo. By analyzing saliva samples and cognitive test scores from patients with schizophrenia and ...

Jan 29, 2026 in Psychology & Psychiatry
Phys.org / Alfvén waves act as the power source behind Earth's auroral displays, research reveals

The dazzling lights of the aurora are created when high-energy particles from space collide with Earth's atmosphere. While scientists have long understood this process, one big mystery remained: What powers the electric fields ...

Jan 28, 2026 in Astronomy & Space