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Phys.org / Amazonian cocoa has a new edge: Two standout cultivars could change how growers fight witches' broom

Witches' broom disease, caused by the fungus Moniliophthora perniciosa, decimated cocoa crops in southern Bahia state, Brazil, in the 1990s. It was even the subject of a local soap opera and continues to plague the chocolate ...

May 19, 2026
Phys.org / Listening to the rainforest: Researcher uses AI to monitor biodiversity through sound

In tropical forests, much of the biodiversity can be heard before it is seen. Birds call, insects buzz and frogs croak, creating complex soundscapes that reflect the presence of different species.

May 22, 2026
Phys.org / How countries can build effective DNA barcoding networks

Aligning with the International Day for Biological Diversity's theme of "Acting locally for global impact," researchers have released a comprehensive blueprint for building a robust, globally adaptable network of DNA barcoding ...

May 22, 2026
Phys.org / Integrated solar reactor paves way to make 'clean' chemicals, plastics and food using solar energy

A new study led by Dr. Lin Su of Queen Mary University of London, published today in the Journal of the American Chemical Society, describes a new integrated solar reactor in which engineered Escherichia coli (E. coli) are ...

May 19, 2026
Phys.org / Human cells can exchange genomic DNA that alters cell behavior

Scientists at Children's Medical Center Research Institute at UT Southwestern (CRI) have discovered that large pieces of DNA can transfer directly between human cells, and the DNA can persist and change how the recipient ...

May 19, 2026
Phys.org / Q&A: What can plant evolution teach people about breeding better crops?

Today (May 22) is United Nations International Day for Biological Diversity, drawing attention to a critical resource for developing crops that are resilient or resistant to extreme weather and other threats to their health, ...

May 22, 2026
Phys.org / What do the Commonwealth Writers Prize AI allegations mean for prizes—and short stories?

Another day, another literary scandal involving AI. It has been alleged that the judges of the Commonwealth Short Story Prize have been duped by an author using AI in his winning entry. Jamir Nazir's The Serpent in the Grove, ...

May 22, 2026
Phys.org / Ancient burial practices emerge from Laos' mysterious Plain of Jars

Hundreds of stone jars, some weighing several tons, are scattered across the remote uplands of northern Laos. Despite being researched for nearly a century, their purpose remains uncertain. "Archaeologists generally agree ...

May 18, 2026
Phys.org / Rare 567‑million‑year‑old fossils refine our understanding of early animal evolution

From butterflies to blue whales, corals and worms, Earth is home to an incredible diversity of animals. How all of these animals evolved from earlier, simpler ancestors is one of the most exciting stories in the history book ...

May 21, 2026
Medical Xpress / New AI tool may help personalize multiple myeloma treatment

An artificial intelligence-based tool may help physicians determine which newly diagnosed multiple myeloma patients are most likely to benefit from specific therapies, including immunotherapy and stem cell transplantation.

May 22, 2026
Phys.org / New spacecraft will watch Earth's shield take the hit as solar storms come roaring in

A joint European-Chinese spacecraft is set to blast off Tuesday to investigate what happens when extreme winds and giant explosions of plasma shot out from the sun slam into Earth's magnetic shield.

May 17, 2026
Phys.org / India generates record power as demand surges in severe heat wave

India's power producers have set a record for electricity generation as swaths of the world's most populous nation swelters in an intense heat wave, the Ministry of Power said.

May 22, 2026