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Phys.org / Lipids have their own VIP drivers for reaching cellular targets

In addition to providing energy, lipids are also essential building blocks of our cell membranes. However, despite their importance, they remain poorly understood.

Jan 8, 2026 in Biology
Phys.org / Long school breaks tied to dip in cognitive test performance

Researchers at UConn and the University of Minnesota have discovered that there may be more to the "summer slide" phenomenon following a break in schooling than just forgetting material. In fact, the researchers found reliable ...

Jan 8, 2026 in Other Sciences
Phys.org / Asteroid impact simulation reveals the hidden strength of space rocks

Physicists at the University of Oxford have contributed to a new study which has found that iron-rich asteroids can tolerate far more energy than previously thought without breaking apart—a breakthrough with direct implications ...

Jan 8, 2026 in Astronomy & Space
Medical Xpress / Your genes determine how fast your DNA mutates with age, study shows

An analysis of genetic data from over 900,000 people shows that certain stretches of DNA, made up of short sequences repeated over and over, become longer and more unstable as we age. The study found that common genetic variants ...

Jan 7, 2026 in Genetics
Medical Xpress / Teens use cellphones for an hour a day at school, study finds

U.S. adolescents spend more than one hour per day on smartphones during school hours, with social media accounting for the largest share of use, according to research published in JAMA. The findings have relevance for educators, ...

Jan 10, 2026 in Pediatrics
Phys.org / NASA cancels spacewalk due to medical issue and may bring the crew back early

NASA canceled its first spacewalk of the year and may bring its crew back early from the International Space Station due to an onboard medical issue.

Jan 8, 2026 in Astronomy & Space
Medical Xpress / Insurance data can help fill gaps between longer medical trials for patients up against the clock

Randomized clinical trials remain the gold standard for establishing a medication's effects, producing the evidence by which most drugs and interventions in the U.S. are approved.

Jan 10, 2026 in Medical research
Medical Xpress / Twin study ties childbearing timing to biological aging

A study based on Finnish twins shows that reproductive history is associated, at the population level, with women's lifespan and biological aging. In the study, mothers of large families, women who had no children, or women ...

Jan 8, 2026 in Obstetrics & gynaecology
Phys.org / The (metabolic) 'cost of life': New method quantifies hidden energy costs of maintaining metabolic pathways

There are "costs of life" that mechanical physics cannot calculate. A clear example is the energy required to keep specific biochemical processes active—such as those that make up photosynthesis, although the examples are ...

Jan 6, 2026 in Biology
Phys.org / Engineers create water-saving sand layer to improve plant resilience during drought

The Anasazi, a once-flourishing tribe in the American Southwest, lived on bounties of corn, squash and beans. In 1276 A.D., however, a long, unforgiving drought made agriculture untenable, forcing them to migrate away from ...

Jan 7, 2026 in Chemistry
Tech Xplore / Detecting 'hidden defects' that degrade semiconductor performance with 1,000X higher sensitivity

Semiconductors are used in devices such as memory chips and solar cells, and within them may exist invisible defects that interfere with electrical flow. A joint research team has developed a new analysis method that can ...

Jan 8, 2026 in Engineering
Phys.org / Electrons that lag behind nuclei in 2D materials could pave way for novel electronics

One of the great successes of 20th-century physics was the quantum mechanical description of solids. This allowed scientists to understand for the first time how and why certain materials conduct electric current and how ...

Jan 6, 2026 in Physics