Phys.org news

Phys.org / Non-biologic processes don't fully explain Mars organics collected by Curiosity, researchers say

In a new study, researchers say that nonbiological sources they considered could not fully account for the abundance of organic compounds in a sample collected on Mars by NASA's Curiosity rover. The paper is published in ...

Feb 10, 2026 in Astronomy & Space
Phys.org / New dataset reveals how US law has grown more complex over the past century

A century ago, the section of U.S. federal law governing public health and welfare was relatively small and loosely connected to the rest of the legal system. Today, it is one of the largest and most interconnected parts ...

Feb 10, 2026 in Other Sciences
Phys.org / Software tool can detect hidden errors in complex tissue analyses

A new software tool, ovrlpy, improves quality control in spatial transcriptomics, a key technology in biomedical research. Developed by the Berlin Institute of Health at Charité (BIH) in international collaboration, ovrlpy ...

Feb 10, 2026 in Biology
Phys.org / Trace gases play previously unseen role in cloud droplet formation, research reveals

Tiny, invisible gases long thought to be irrelevant in cloud formation may actually play a major role in determining whether clouds form—and possibly whether it rains.

Feb 10, 2026 in Earth
Phys.org / When heat flows backwards: A neat solution for hydrodynamic heat transport

When we think about heat traveling through a material, we typically picture diffusive transport, a process that transfers heat from high-temperature to low-temperature as particles and molecules bump into each other, losing ...

Feb 10, 2026 in Physics
Phys.org / New nanoparticles remove melanoma tumors in mice with low-power near-infrared laser

Researchers at Oregon State University have developed and tested in a mouse model a new type of nanoparticle that enables the removal of melanoma tumors with a low-power laser. After the systemically administered nanoparticles ...

Feb 10, 2026 in Nanotechnology
Phys.org / 'Increase' framing makes research results seem bigger and more important, experiments show

Scientific findings are in the news. They're cited on food packages and beverage labels. They are discussed in podcasts and argued over by politicians and pundits. And each finding sits within a specific frame. If researchers ...

Feb 10, 2026 in Other Sciences
Phys.org / Deep learning detects foodborne bacteria within three hours by eliminating debris misclassifications

Researchers have significantly enhanced an artificial intelligence tool used to rapidly detect bacterial contamination in food by eliminating misclassifications of food debris that looks like bacteria. Current methods to ...

Feb 10, 2026 in Biology
Phys.org / Egalitarianism among hunter-gatherers? What a food-sharing experiment reveals about self-interest

Hunter-gatherers like the Hadza of Tanzania are famous for their egalitarianism. A resource redistribution experiment conducted with the Hadza suggests many tolerate inequality—as long as it benefits themselves. Published ...

Feb 10, 2026 in Other Sciences
Phys.org / Researchers rebuild microscopic circadian clock that can control genes

Our circadian clocks play a crucial role in our health and well-being, keeping our 24-hour biological cycles in sync with light and dark exposure. Disruptions in the rhythms of these clocks, as with jet lag and daylight saving ...

Feb 10, 2026 in Biology
Phys.org / Most of Hawaii's birds contribute to avian malaria transmission, study finds

New research on avian malaria, which has decimated Hawaii's beloved birds, explains how non-native birds play a key role in transmission and contribute to the widespread distribution of the disease. This disease threatens ...

Feb 10, 2026 in Biology
Phys.org / Half of the world's coral reefs suffered major bleaching during the 2014–2017 global heat wave, estimates suggest

Benefits to society from coral reefs, including fisheries, tourism, coastal protection, pharmaceutical discovery and more, are estimated at about $9.8 trillion per year. For the first time, an international team led by Smithsonian ...

Feb 10, 2026 in Earth