Phys.org news

Phys.org / Genetic analysis of Deep Maniot Greeks reveals a unique lineage in the Balkans

A new genetic study has revealed that the people of Deep Mani, who inhabit one of the remotest regions of mainland Greece, represent one of the most genetically distinctive populations in Europe, shaped by more than a millennium ...

Feb 4, 2026 in Other Sciences
Phys.org / Honest or deceptive? What a new signaling model means for animal displays and human claims

For decades, scientists have tried to answer a simple question: why be honest when deception is possible? Whether it is a peacock's tail, a stag's roar, or a human's résumé, signals are means to influence others by transmitting ...

Feb 4, 2026 in Biology
Phys.org / Nanocrystal biohybrids harvest light to reduce N₂ gas to ammonia

Ammonia, a key part of nitrogen fertilizers, is central to sustaining global food production. However, its manufacture is also energy intensive: Ammonia production requires 2% of global energy to meet global demand. Approximately ...

Feb 4, 2026 in Nanotechnology
Phys.org / Engineered antibody targets bacteria-specific sugar, clears lethal drug-resistant infection in mice

Australian researchers have developed a powerful new way to target deadly, drug-resistant bacteria by designing antibodies that recognize a sugar found only on bacterial cells—an advance that could underpin a new generation ...

Feb 4, 2026 in Biology
Phys.org / Lab-grown beef: Novel line of bovine embryonic stem cells shows promise

Researchers in the College of Agriculture, Health and Natural Resources have developed a novel line of bovine embryonic stem cells, which have significant potential for a variety of new innovations, from lab-grown meat to ...

Feb 4, 2026 in Biology
Phys.org / From cryogenic to red-hot: Optical temperature sensing from 77 K to 873 K

An international collaboration involving researchers from the University of Innsbruck has developed a novel luminescent material that enables particularly robust and precise optical temperature sensing across an exceptionally ...

Feb 4, 2026 in Physics
Phys.org / Scientists use RNA nanotechnology to program living cells, opening a new path for cancer cure

Scientists at Rutgers University–Newark have developed a first-of-its-kind RNA-based nanotechnology that assembles itself inside living human cells and can be programmed to stop propagation of harmful cells. The findings, ...

Feb 4, 2026 in Nanotechnology
Phys.org / Oysters play unexpected role in protecting blue crabs from disease

Oysters famously filter their surrounding water, but it turns out they are removing more than algae and excess nutrients. New research from William & Mary's Batten School of Coastal & Marine Sciences & VIMS shows they can ...

Feb 4, 2026 in Biology
Phys.org / Well-behaved dogs generally have lower cortisol and higher serotonin, study finds

Dogs who scored well on the Wesen test, which is used to analyze a dog's temperament, tended to have lower levels of cortisol, often called the "stress hormone," and higher levels of serotonin, often called the "happiness ...

Feb 4, 2026 in Biology
Phys.org / 2024 total eclipse subtly shifted animal calling across three Ohio prairies, study finds

No natural phenomenon provides a rarer chance to study the secrets of the animal world than a total solar eclipse. This was recently demonstrated by researchers investigating how a total solar eclipse might affect the soundscape ...

Feb 4, 2026 in Biology
Phys.org / Platinum nanostructure sensor can differentiate mirror-image volatile scent compounds

Terpenes are volatile organic compounds that are responsible for, among other things, the typical scents of plants, resins or citrus fruits. These compounds occur naturally in the environment and influence chemical processes ...

Feb 4, 2026 in Chemistry
Phys.org / From single queens to mega-colonies: How ant societies are shaped by the environment

A single queen in the tropics; large colonies in deserts; workers with uniform morphology in temperate regions; ant social structures vary according to environmental conditions. This is shown, for the first time at a global ...

Feb 4, 2026 in Biology