Phys.org news

Phys.org / New lab technique can reverse chemical process linked with Alzheimer's disease

An Oregon State University scientist and a team of undergraduate students have uncovered real-time insights into a chemical process linked with Alzheimer's disease, paving the way toward better drug designs. The researchers ...

Feb 24, 2026 in Chemistry
Phys.org / Enzymes work as 'Maxwell's demon' by using memory stored as motion

Living cells are sustained by countless chemical reactions that must be carefully regulated to maintain internal order and function. Enzymes play a central role in this process, accelerating reactions that would otherwise ...

Feb 24, 2026 in Chemistry
Phys.org / Why do microbes team up? A new model explains nutrient sharing in fluctuating environments

Depending on others for something you need may feel like a risky proposition—and perhaps a human one. It is actually a survival strategy found in the microbial world, and far more frequently than one might expect. Discovering ...

Feb 24, 2026 in Biology
Phys.org / Synthetic RNA 'nanostars' create programmable compartments in bacteria

Researchers at the Department of Chemical Engineering and Biotechnology (CEB) have found a new way to organize molecules inside living cells, opening possibilities for more controlled and efficient biomanufacturing. The team ...

Feb 24, 2026 in Nanotechnology
Phys.org / Engineered bacteria can consume tumors from the inside out

A research team led by the University of Waterloo is developing a novel tool to treat cancer by engineering hungry bacteria to literally eat tumors from the inside out. "Bacteria spores enter the tumor, finding an environment ...

Feb 24, 2026 in Biology
Phys.org / Nine-city study finds richer neighborhoods get more sidewalk shade

One of the best forms of heat relief is pretty simple: trees. In cities, as studies have documented, more tree cover lowers surface temperatures and heat-related health risks. However, as a new study led by MIT researchers ...

Feb 24, 2026 in Earth
Phys.org / AI model analyzes 52 factors to flag extinction risks for 10,000 fish species

Whether it's redfin pickerel in the Kennebec River or sturgeon in the Great Lakes, nearly one-third of freshwater fish species are facing possible extinction, threatening food supplies, ecosystems and outdoor recreation. ...

Feb 24, 2026 in Biology
Phys.org / AI develops easily understandable solutions for unusual experiments in quantum physics

Researchers at the University of Tuebingen, working with an international team, have developed an artificial intelligence that designs entirely new, sometimes unusual, experiments in quantum physics and presents them in a ...

Feb 24, 2026 in Physics
Phys.org / Tokyo Bay's night lights reveal hidden boundaries between species

A key characteristic of modern human society is rapid urbanization, a process that can reshape natural environments and disrupt the habitats of many organisms. One widespread byproduct of urbanization is artificial light ...

Feb 24, 2026 in Biology
Phys.org / AI-powered platform accelerates discovery of new mRNA delivery materials

Integrating AI with advanced robotics to create self-driving labs (SDL) is a promising approach to tackling molecular discovery. A new SDL system, called LUMI-lab, combines large-scale molecular pretraining, active learning, ...

Feb 24, 2026 in Nanotechnology
Phys.org / Targeted climate policies are successfully cutting carbon, study shows

Countries with stricter and better-targeted climate policies cut carbon emissions faster, according to a major new study by researchers in the UK and EU. The study draws on the most comprehensive climate policy dataset ever ...

Feb 24, 2026 in Earth
Phys.org / Cannabis essential oils unlock how camphor repels mosquitoes

From summer evenings to global disease prevention, mosquito repellents are a daily defense for billions of people, yet until now, scientists didn't fully understand how mosquitoes themselves perceive these "keep away" signals. ...

Feb 24, 2026 in Biology