Phys.org news

Phys.org / First human DNA-cutting enzyme that senses physical tension discovered

An international research team has identified a human protein, ANKLE1, as the first DNA-cutting enzyme (nuclease) in mammals capable of detecting and responding to physical tension in DNA. This "tension-sensing" mechanism ...

1 hour ago in Biology
Phys.org / Like living cells, oil-in-water droplets form 'arms' in response to their environment

Oil-in-water droplets respond to chemical cues by forming arm-like extensions that resemble filopodia, which are used by living cells to sense and explore their environment.

16 minutes ago in Chemistry
Phys.org / Antarctica's only native insect is already eating microplastics

A global research team led by researchers from the University of Kentucky Martin-Gatton College of Agriculture, Food and Environment has found that Antarctica's only native insect is already ingesting microplastics, even ...

21 minutes ago in Earth
Phys.org / Connections between coral reefs boost their health

Coral reefs may seem like paradise, but they are being degraded by a range of global and local factors, including climate change, poor water quality, and overfishing. New research reveals that connections between reefs help ...

21 minutes ago in Biology
Phys.org / New nanomagnet production process improves efficiency and cuts costs

Researchers at HZDR have partnered with the Norwegian University of Science and Technology in Trondheim, and the Institute of Nuclear Physics in the Polish Academy of Sciences to develop a method that facilitates the manufacture ...

49 minutes ago in Nanotechnology
Phys.org / Artificial photosynthesis catalyst converts carbon dioxide into fuel using sunlight

A joint research team has developed a highly efficient photocatalyst that can convert carbon dioxide into the high-value-added fuel, methane, using sunlight, while explaining its operating principles. The work is published ...

57 minutes ago in Chemistry
Phys.org / Limitations of AI-based material prediction: Crystallographic disorder represents a stumbling block

Computer simulations and artificial intelligence often make significant errors when predicting the properties of new, high-performance materials, according to a new international study led by the University of Bayreuth. In ...

44 minutes ago in Chemistry
Phys.org / Fast-tracking a natural climate solution by compressing millennia of carbon capture into hours

What if it were possible to take a very slow geological process, one that takes thousands of years in nature, and speed it up so that it happens within hours, in order to slow the rate of global warming?

31 minutes ago in Earth
Phys.org / K-DRIFT pathfinder: A compact telescope for observing faint galactic structures

Conventional telescopes are limited in detecting low-surface-brightness (LSB) structures, which are essential for studying galaxy evolution. Now, researchers have developed a new telescope system featuring a confocal off-axis ...

1 minute ago in Astronomy & Space
Phys.org / Mini-vortices in nanopores accelerate ion transport for faster supercapacitor charging

Tiny cavities in energy storage devices form small vortices that help with charging, according to a research team led by TU Darmstadt. This previously unknown phenomenon could advance the development of faster storage devices.

1 hour ago in Nanotechnology
Phys.org / Durable catalyst shields itself for affordable green hydrogen production

An international research team led by Professor Philip C.Y. Chow at The University of Hong Kong (HKU) has unveiled a new catalyst that overcomes a major challenge in producing green hydrogen at scale. This innovation makes ...

1 hour ago in Chemistry
Phys.org / Viruses help drive carbon cycling in deep-sea ecosystems, study reveals

A research team led by Prof. Sun Chaomin from the Institute of Oceanology of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (IOCAS) has unveiled the crucial role of viruses in deep-sea carbon cycling and microbial community structure. Their ...

1 hour ago in Biology