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Phys.org / Compact CRISPR system unlocks targeted in-body gene editing, with up to 90% efficiency

A research team has discovered an enhanced CRISPR gene-editing system that could enable targeted delivery inside the human body—a key step toward broader clinical use. Researchers identified a naturally occurring enzyme, ...

Apr 13, 2026
Phys.org / Out of sight, but not out of trouble: Groundwater contamination in NZ reveals a legacy of human pressure

The latest official stocktake of the state of New Zealand's freshwater carries many of the headline messages we have come to expect.

Apr 17, 2026
Phys.org / Jelly-like plankton fuel bigger, faster-growing reef fish across the Indo-Pacific

New research led by James Cook University shows huge differences in fish biomass and fish productivity between Caribbean and Indo-Pacific coral reefs, driven by the consumption of jelly-like gelatinous plankton. For their ...

Apr 15, 2026
Medical Xpress / Emergency room survey uncovers measles vaccine gaps and hesitancy across the US

Measles remains one of the most contagious infectious diseases, spread through coughing and sneezing, with even small declines in vaccination coverage leading to outbreaks. As of 2026, California has reported its highest ...

Apr 18, 2026
Phys.org / AI spots hidden behavior patterns in self-organizing bacteria

Life moves in mysterious ways—and perhaps especially so for organisms that undergo dramatic shifts in levels of self-organization, such as Myxococcus xanthus. A custom-built artificial intelligence system developed by Rice ...

Apr 14, 2026
Phys.org / Scottish Neolithic tombs were used to trace kinship—including descent, DNA analysis reveals

Archaeologists have investigated genetic relationships between individuals buried in Neolithic chambered tombs in northern Scotland, suggesting monumental tombs may have been physical embodiments of prehistoric kinship, tracing ...

Apr 13, 2026
Medical Xpress / Weight loss leads to notable muscle loss, study finds

A new UNC School of Medicine study of incretin-based medications, including newer medications such as semaglutide and tirzepatide that are widely prescribed for type 2 diabetes and obesity, finds they are associated with ...

Apr 17, 2026
Phys.org / Pill bugs don't just use the minerals they eat—they rebuild them inside their bodies

Placing small stones in a bug cage is beneficial when raising pill bugs, a type of woodlouse. Researchers at the University of Tsukuba have discovered that pill bugs do not directly incorporate ingested calcium carbonate ...

Apr 15, 2026
Medical Xpress / New imaging tools help cancer researchers see inside living cells

A new study co-led by an Oregon Health & Science University researcher describes a breakthrough in microscopy tools that could dramatically expand how cancer biology labs study the inner workings of living cells. The research, ...

Apr 16, 2026
Phys.org / 'Cruelly hot': Japan devises new term for heat wave days

Blistering temperatures rising to 40°C and above will now be branded "cruelly hot" or "kokusho-bi" in Japan, the weather agency said Friday, as heat wave days become increasingly frequent in the region.

Apr 17, 2026
Medical Xpress / Maternal RSV vaccination cuts infant hospitalization risk by over 80%, major study finds

Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is a common virus that can cause severe respiratory illness in infants and young children, including lower respiratory tract infections (LRTIs) such as bronchiolitis and pneumonia. It is ...

Apr 17, 2026
Phys.org / Low-cost robotic chemistry system can be built and deployed in any lab

In a paper just out in Nature Synthesis, researchers led by Prof. Timothy Noël of the University of Amsterdam's Van 't Hoff Institute for Molecular Sciences presented a breakthrough in autonomous laboratory systems for synthesis ...

Apr 13, 2026