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 ...
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 ...
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 ...
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 ...
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 ...
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 ...
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 ...
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, ...
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 ...
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 ...
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 ...
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 ...