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Phys.org / Protein 'dark energy' provides insight into form vs. function in structure

Astronomers use the term dark energy to refer to energy in the universe that is unaccounted for by ordinary matter but necessary to explain cosmology. Astronomy, however, isn't the only field with missing energy. Rice University ...

Jan 27, 2026 in Biology
Phys.org / One single protein, one big decision: How brown algae know when to reproduce

Scientists at the Max Planck Institute for Biology have discovered a remarkably streamlined strategy for developmental control in brown algae. They have shown that a single ARGONAUTE (AGO) protein orchestrates the transition ...

Jan 29, 2026 in Biology
Medical Xpress / Study examines prediction of surgical risk in growing population of adults with congenital heart disease

Heart specialists at Mayo Clinic today presented new research at the 2026 Society of Thoracic Surgeons Annual Meeting that redo surgery for adults with congenital heart disease (CHD) remains high-risk, and a clinically applicable ...

Jan 31, 2026 in Cardiology
Tech Xplore / Synthetic 'muscle' with microfluidic blood vessels shows promise for soft robotics

Researchers are continuing to make progress on developing a new synthetic material that behaves like biological muscle, an advancement that could provide a path to soft robotics, prosthetic devices and advanced human-machine ...

Jan 27, 2026 in Robotics
Medical Xpress / Brain 'hazmat' protein cleans up tau: Could it prevent dementia?

Researchers at UC San Francisco have identified a hazardous waste collector in the brain that disposes of the toxic clumps of tau protein that can lead to dementia. Neurons with more of this garbage collector, technically ...

Jan 29, 2026 in Neuroscience
Phys.org / 443-million-year-old fossils reveal early vertebrate eyes

Scientists analyzing 443-million-year-old Scottish fossils have uncovered the early evidence that some of the first groups of vertebrates possessed surprisingly advanced eyes and traces of bone, reshaping our understanding ...

Jan 28, 2026 in Biology
Phys.org / How defects make permanent magnets even more efficient

Rare-earth magnets are essential for electric motors in vehicles, drones, and trains, forming the backbone of modern, environmentally friendly mobility. These are not simple blocks of metal, but carefully engineered materials ...

Jan 27, 2026 in Nanotechnology
Phys.org / Hafted stone tools in China suggest early hominins were more inventive than thought

A newly excavated archaeological site in central China is reshaping long-held assumptions about early hominin behavior in Eastern Asia. Led by the Chinese Academy of Sciences, an international team of researchers conducted ...

Jan 27, 2026 in Other Sciences
Medical Xpress / One in 1,000 dies: Framing matters for communicating medical numbers, experts say

Similar—yet not the same: Many studies show that patients often struggle to interpret numerical information in medical contexts, especially probabilities related to recovery and side effects. In a recently published Letter ...

Jan 29, 2026 in Health
Phys.org / Tapping into risk in America's drinking water

When you turn on the tap, you can typically expect clean, safe water to flow out. But behind that simple action lies a complex system of pipes, pumps, governance, and financials that, for millions of Americans, is at risk ...

Jan 26, 2026 in Earth
Phys.org / Swimming in a shared medium makes particles synchronize without touching

Several years ago, scientists discovered that a single microscopic particle could rock back and forth on its own under a steady electric field. The result was curious, but lonely. Now, Northwestern University engineers have ...

Jan 26, 2026 in Physics
Medical Xpress / Findings support additional lymph node evaluation to better detect lung cancer spread

Breakthrough research presented at the 2026 Society of Thoracic Surgeons Annual Meeting shows that additional lymph node evaluation is needed during surgery for non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) to accurately identify cancer ...

Jan 31, 2026 in Oncology & Cancer