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Phys.org / Silica nanocomposite can generate biocides on demand

A surface capable of responding to chemical signals generated by microorganisms and automatically producing biocidal substances—this is not a futuristic vision, but a description of how the B-STING silica nanocomposite ...

Jan 29, 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 / When Toronto paused for COVID, a key 'forever chemical' rapidly declined

A new study out of York University has found that the amount of atmospheric trifluoroacetic acid (TFA), the tiniest forever chemical, significantly declined in Toronto during COVID in 2020, which researchers say is good news ...

Jan 29, 2026 in Earth
Phys.org / Biodegradable polymers used to develop eco-friendly, high-performance gas sensors

Air pollutants like nitrogen dioxide (NO2), primarily produced during fossil fuel combustion, pose a serious concern for human health, contributing to respiratory diseases like pulmonary edema, bronchitis, and asthma. Effective ...

Jan 29, 2026 in Chemistry
Medical Xpress / Map of autism mutations shows diverse genes converge on shared brain pathways

UCLA Health researchers have created a comprehensive map showing how eight different genetic mutations associated with autism spectrum disorder affect early brain development, providing new insights into the ways diverse ...

Jan 28, 2026 in Genetics
Tech Xplore / Three-in-one process recycles spent lithium batteries, captures CO₂ and generates catalysts—all at room temperature

Scientists from China have developed a new way to recycle lithium batteries that is a triple win for the planet. It not only extracts nearly all the lithium for reuse but also traps carbon dioxide and converts the remaining ...

Jan 24, 2026 in Engineering
Phys.org / 'Goldilocks size' rhodium clusters advance reusable heterogeneous catalysts for hydroformylation

Recent research has demonstrated that a rhodium (Rh) cluster of an optimal, intermediate size—neither too small nor too large—exhibits the highest catalytic activity in hydroformylation reactions. Similar to the concept ...

Jan 27, 2026 in Chemistry
Phys.org / Scientists develop technique to identify malfunctions in our genetic code

An international team of researchers including scientists from The Australian National University (ANU) have developed a way to reveal the smallest of malfunctions in the biochemical machinery that makes proteins in our bodies. ...

Jan 27, 2026 in Biology
Phys.org / Study finds imported ozone blunted Europe, US gains from NOx cuts

In North America and Europe, emissions of ozone precursors such as nitrogen oxides (NOx) and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) declined by half between 2000 and 2018. However, the ozone content of the air—and thus the risk ...

Jan 29, 2026 in Earth
Medical Xpress / Being a night owl may increase your heart risk, research suggests

Middle-aged and older adults who were more active in the evenings had poorer cardiovascular health compared to their peers who were more active during the day. This may be especially true among women, according to new research ...

Jan 28, 2026 in Cardiology
Phys.org / AI unlocks hundreds of cosmic anomalies in Hubble archive

A team of astronomers has employed a cutting-edge, artificial intelligence–assisted technique to uncover rare astronomical phenomena within archived data from NASA's Hubble Space Telescope. The team analyzed nearly 100 ...

Jan 27, 2026 in Astronomy & Space
Medical Xpress / When should dentists prescribe antibiotics? Some countries don't even have guidelines to answer this question

We're all familiar with the idea that we have to use antibiotics wisely. You've probably seen a poster at your local health center warning about their loss of effectiveness, and with good reason—bacterial resistance to ...

Jan 29, 2026 in Medications