Phys.org news

Phys.org / Before the melt begins, sea stars show hidden immune collapse and tissue failure driving a coastal die-off

Scientists are homing in on a mysterious wasting disease that has killed billions of sea stars along the Pacific coast of North America since 2013. Sea star wasting disease can rapidly wipe out entire populations, leaving ...

47 minutes ago
Phys.org / Breathing new life into an ancient mystery: Unlocking the trilobite's respiratory secrets

For more than 270 million years, trilobites were among the most successful and diverse creatures on Earth, with over 22,000 known species spanning the Paleozoic Era. Yet, despite their abundance in the fossil record and their ...

47 minutes ago
Phys.org / Self‑replicating circular RNA persists in extreme environments: Insights from hot spring microbiomes

Although the genetic material of most living organisms is DNA, various self-replicating agents rely instead on RNA, including RNA viruses and viroids, which are infectious RNA molecules that are smaller and structurally simpler ...

27 minutes ago
Phys.org / Penguin muscle map reveals how waddles and underwater 'flight' both work

Penguins may look charmingly awkward on land, but new research shows their bodies are finely tuned for powerful, efficient movement both on land and underwater. A team of anatomists from Midwestern University, in collaboration ...

57 minutes ago
Phys.org / Malaria rebound spurs AI-driven hunt for parasite genes linked to deadly cases

Despite decades of efforts to combat it, malaria remains a major global health threat. According to the World Health Organization's (WHO) 2025 World Malaria Report, about 282 million cases and approximately 610,000 deaths ...

7 minutes ago
Phys.org / A few extra minutes of daily play can strengthen your bond with your dog in four weeks

Playing a little extra with your dog improves the emotional bond between owner and dog, according to a new study from Linköping University. However, training did not give the same results. The study is relevant for all dog ...

37 minutes ago
Phys.org / North African-linked stone tools reached Iberia 700,000 years ago, evidence suggests

Members of the Atapuerca Research Team from the Institut Català de Paleoecologia Humana i Evolució Social (IPHES), the Centro Nacional de Investigación sobre la Evolución Humana (CENIEH), the University of Burgos, and the ...

1 hour ago
Phys.org / Cell membranes may store memories after electrical stimulation

The science of memories has been pursued and studied since the days of ancient Greece and Aristotle. Today, research conducted by Dima Bolmatov, assistant professor in the Department of Physics & Astronomy at Texas Tech University, ...

1 hour ago
Phys.org / Collagen analysis finds wider prey use by Neanderthals and modern humans

The Centro Nacional de Investigación sobre la Evolución Humana (CENIEH) has taken part in a study published in the International Journal of Osteoarchaeology that provides new insights into subsistence strategies during the ...

1 hour ago
Phys.org / Bacteria's 'two-way door' revealed: How antimicrobials cross cell membranes

Researchers at Durham have helped unlock a new understanding of how bacteria import antimicrobial peptides—the molecules that can kill or inhibit microbes. The research sheds new light on SbmA, a key transporter protein found ...

2 hours ago
Phys.org / Rose pangenome maps 55,000 genes, opening new path for breeding

Roses are among the most economically significant ornamental plants worldwide, with widespread applications in the cut flowers, garden, and cosmetics industries. Yet fewer than 10% of rose species have contributed to modern ...

1 hour ago
Phys.org / Crabs' iconic sideways walk evolved from common ancestor, study suggests

Researchers have provided new insights into the evolutionary origin of sideways walking in crabs. Their study, published today as a Reviewed Preprint in eLife, presents the largest comparative dataset on crab locomotion to ...

3 hours ago