Phys.org news

Phys.org / Marine sponge bacterium enzyme reveals a two-part route to make terpenoids

The molecular structure of an enzyme from a marine bacterium with potential industrial uses has been determined by RIKEN researchers. The insights they have gained could help make a range of useful compounds through genetic ...

Apr 15, 2026
Phys.org / Can naked mole rats peacefully hand over power?

Naked mole rats keep kingdoms underground. One queen bears all the children, while others maintain complex subterranean tunnels, forage for food, take care of newborns, and perform other necessary upkeep. This society hinges ...

Apr 15, 2026
Phys.org / Scientists turn AI-generated proteins into smart molecular sensors

An international team led by researchers at QUT has used artificial intelligence to create tiny "smart" proteins that switch on only when they detect a chosen target. Published in Nature Biotechnology, the research opens ...

Apr 15, 2026
Phys.org / Color test 'sniffs out' dangerous staph strains fast

Researchers have developed a rapid color-changing test that can distinguish between different strains of golden staph, including those likely to be virulent and antibiotic resistant. Golden staph is a major human pathogen ...

Apr 15, 2026
Phys.org / Hawai'i's songbirds are raiding neighbors' nests, and the losses could deepen a growing survival crisis

High in the forests of Hawai'i, songbirds are stealing twigs and moss from one another's nests. UC Riverside researchers found this quiet canopy crime is surprisingly common and could threaten species already struggling to ...

Apr 15, 2026
Phys.org / How a hidden receptor switch could open new paths for cancer and neurological treatments

A research team at Leipzig University has identified a mechanism in adhesion G protein-coupled receptors (adhesion GPCRs), a specific group of membrane receptors. This mechanism is essential for the activity of many of these ...

Apr 15, 2026
Phys.org / Self-propulsion or slow diffusion: How bacteria, cells, and colloids respond to stimuli

What physical processes govern the movement of microscopic structures capable of interacting with their environment? The answer lies in two mechanisms: self-propulsion, to escape unfavorable locations; and slow diffusion, ...

Apr 15, 2026
Phys.org / Rapid melatonin test can help astronauts and others easily monitor their biological rhythm

A simple test developed at Washington State University could eventually allow astronauts and others in round-the-clock occupations to monitor their biological rhythms in just minutes using a drop of blood, a paper test strip, ...

Apr 15, 2026
Phys.org / Referee decisions in soccer frequently overturned following VAR-assisted review: No external influences found

In an analysis of a video-assisted, pitch-side review of soccer (UK football) referee calls in the English Premier League, referees overturned their original call 95% of the time. However, these decisions had no statistical ...

Apr 15, 2026
Phys.org / Ocean eddies are amplifying climate extremes in coastal seas, study finds

New research reveals a powerful yet overlooked driver of climate change: intensifying ocean eddies. These swirling currents—that break off from major currents—are redistributing heat and nutrients in the ocean and amplifying ...

Apr 15, 2026
Phys.org / CO₂ emissions from cultivated peat soils may be lower than assumed

Organic soils cover less than 9% of Norway's land area, and about 65,000 hectares are currently used as agricultural land. Emissions from these areas are presently estimated at more than 2 million tons of CO₂ equivalents ...

Apr 15, 2026
Dialog / Not so dark with Alena Tensor: Math framework could explain dark matter without invisible particles

Alena Tensor is a relatively new mathematical approach that allows for arbitrary curving and straightening of analyzed spacetimes. As it turns out, generalizing this model to all known fields and fully describing matter, ...

Apr 14, 2026