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Phys.org / Sourdough starters reveal a recipe for predicting microbial species survival

People have long said that "bread is life." Now, researchers at Tufts University are using the bubbling mixtures of flour and water known as sourdough starters to explore what shapes life at the microscopic level. Their findings, ...

Jan 22, 2026 in Biology
Phys.org / Mining genomes for cyst nematode resistance could enable better soybean harvests

Soybean farmers around the world face a persistent and costly enemy hidden beneath the soil: soybean cyst nematode (SCN), a microscopic roundworm that attacks plant roots and drains yields. SCN is one of the most damaging ...

Jan 24, 2026 in Biology
Phys.org / Molecular surgery: 'Deleting' a single atom from a molecule

Inserting, removing or swapping individual atoms from the core of a molecule is a long-standing challenge in chemistry. This process, called skeletal editing, can dramatically speed up drug discovery or be applied for upcycling ...

Jan 22, 2026 in Chemistry
Phys.org / Stress-reduction molecule has potential to treat aging and metabolic disorders

University of Queensland researchers say the discovery of a new stress reduction role for a naturally occurring molecule in the body could lead to new drugs and treatment for metabolic disorders and aging.

Jan 22, 2026 in Biology
Medical Xpress / Whole-food diet adherence means you really can eat much more and be well-nourished but still consume far fewer calories

Research led by scientists at the University of Bristol and co-authored by top US nutritional experts reveals that people following a completely unprocessed diet ate more than 50% greater amounts of food than those eating ...

Jan 20, 2026 in Health
Phys.org / Space station crew credits ultrasound machine for handling in-orbit health crisis

The astronauts evacuated last week from the International Space Station say a portable ultrasound machine came in "super handy" during the medical crisis.

Jan 22, 2026 in Astronomy & Space
Phys.org / Why some messages are more convincing than others

What kinds of marketing messages are effective—and what makes people believe certain political slogans more than others? New research from the University of California San Diego Rady School of Management explores how people ...

Jan 24, 2026 in Other Sciences
Tech Xplore / AI is already writing almost one-third of new software code, study shows

Generative AI is reshaping software development—and fast. A new study published in Science shows that AI-assisted coding is spreading rapidly, though unevenly: in the U.S., the share of new code relying on AI rose from ...

Jan 22, 2026 in Software
Tech Xplore / High-performance solar evaporator rapidly transforms seawater into fresh drinking water

A research team affiliated with UNIST has unveiled a new technology that can convert seawater into clean drinking water using only sunlight, without any external power source. This breakthrough could play a crucial role in ...

Jan 22, 2026 in Energy & Green Tech
Medical Xpress / Machine learning can predict patients' responses to antidepressants—while disentangling drug and placebo effects

Depression is one of the most widespread mental health disorders worldwide, affecting approximately 4% of the global population. It is characterized by a persistent low mood, disruptions in typical sleeping and/or eating ...

Jan 19, 2026 in Psychology & Psychiatry
Phys.org / Teen girls cannot escape unrealistic beauty ideals on social media, researchers say

Girls between the ages of 13 and 19 are widely exposed to beauty content online that promotes products unsuitable for young skin—even when they are not actively seeking beauty-related information. Moreover, they believe ...

Jan 19, 2026 in Other Sciences
Phys.org / New study sheds light on the threat of 'marine darkwaves' to ocean life

Life in the ocean runs on light. It fuels photosynthesis, shapes food webs and determines where many marine species can live.

Jan 24, 2026 in Biology