Phys.org news

Phys.org / Phosphorus spikes linked to ancient marine mass extinctions

Researchers have uncovered new evidence that short-lived spikes in ocean phosphorus may have played a major role in two of the most severe marine extinctions in Earth's history. Dr. Matthew Dodd from The University of Western ...

Apr 1, 2026
Phys.org / Atomic-level simulations reveal rotational mechanism behind a critical biomolecular motor

The way a key cellular motor works at an atomic level has been uncovered by simulations conducted by RIKEN biophysicists. This finding, published in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, provides important ...

Apr 1, 2026
Phys.org / One of cholera's great enemies is found in the human gut

Cholera-causing bacteria are locked in an evolutionary arms race with a viral nemesis, according to a new genomic study. Researchers have found that, in the Ganges Delta, cholera bacteria rapidly gain and lose special armor ...

Apr 1, 2026
Phys.org / Analysis tracks 20 years of coastal species shifts in the Gulf of Maine

Researchers from the University of Maine, in partnership with the Maine Department of Marine Resources (DMR), are analyzing more than 20 years of fishery survey data from the Gulf of Maine to examine how environmental change ...

Apr 1, 2026
Phys.org / Soil biodiversity linked to lower human infectious disease risk

Diverse soil microbial communities may help suppress pathogens naturally, acting as a biological barrier against their establishment and spread, according to a new study. Professor Brajesh Singh, from The University of Western ...

Apr 1, 2026
Phys.org / How plants fight back against bacteria that promote waterlogging in leaves

Farmers, gardeners, and botanists have long observed that plant diseases tend to flare up during periods of high humidity, particularly after rainfall. Humid conditions help bacteria enter plant leaves, and once inside, certain ...

Apr 1, 2026
Phys.org / Are relationship surveys measuring the wrong thing? How one 'Q-factor' shapes most answers

Commonly used self-report measures of romantic relationships may capture people's overall appraisal of their relationship more than measuring distinct relationship facets such as communication, conflict and affection, according ...

Apr 1, 2026
Phys.org / Air surveillance reveals hidden reservoirs of antibiotic resistance genes

A review finds that antibiotic resistance genes—capable of undermining modern medicine—can travel through the air across both cities and farmland, and argues that airborne spread represents an overlooked public health risk.

Apr 1, 2026
Phys.org / 'Canary in the coal mine': Superb fairy-wrens in Canberra could go extinct within 30 years

Superb fairy-wrens are facing "imminent danger," and a well-studied population in Canberra could go extinct in the next 30 years if we don't urgently curb greenhouse gas emissions, according to an international team of scientists ...

Apr 1, 2026
Phys.org / Millions-of-years-old insect symbioses are surprisingly fragile

Many insects have lived in close symbiosis with bacteria for millions of years, during which time the bacteria have provided them with vital nutrients, making the mutualistic relationship so close that neither partner can ...

Apr 1, 2026
Phys.org / Vegetation patterns and ecosystem resilience: Why their relationship status is 'complicated'

In dryland ecosystems, increased environmental stress often triggers a change from a uniform vegetation cover to patchy vegetation patterns. Some theoretical studies suggest that this spatial self-organization of vegetation ...

Apr 1, 2026
Phys.org / Terraforming Mars: Modeling engineered aerosols to warm the planet

Whenever humans arrive on Mars, they're going to find it a difficult place to exist. Mars is cold, with an average surface temperature of -55°C; temperatures can plunge to -125°C with dust storms lasting months; its atmosphere ...

Mar 31, 2026