Phys.org news

Phys.org / 3D analysis of wrist ligaments reveals locomotion clues in human ancestors

When studying how fossil hominids moved, researchers usually analyze the morphology of bones—which is crucial for understanding the evolution of bipedalism—focusing mainly on muscle insertion sites. However, the potential ...

Dec 17, 2025 in Biology
Phys.org / Detailed cell map unlocks secrets of how reproductive organs form

New research has mapped the cell types that specialize to form reproductive organs in both sexes, identifying key genes and signals that drive this process. The findings offer important insights into conditions affecting ...

Dec 17, 2025 in Biology
Phys.org / Drone-mounted lab monitors fertilizer runoff in real time

What if, instead of taking a water or soil sample to the lab, you could take the lab to the sample? That's what a team of researchers reporting in ACS Sensors did with a new nitrate-monitoring "lab-on-a-drone" system. The ...

Dec 17, 2025 in Earth
Phys.org / Enzyme disables bacterial toxin by cleaving key chemical ring structure

A research team at Leibniz-HKI has described a new enzyme that renders the highly toxic molecule malleicyprol harmless. Malleicyprol is considered an important virulence factor of Burkholderia bacteria, which causes, among ...

Dec 17, 2025 in Chemistry
Phys.org / Fruit ripeness predicted by reading leaf chemistry: Light-based technique avoids crop loss

How can you tell if fruit has reached its optimal ripeness without picking it, touching it or carrying out any test that might damage it? A research team from the Department of Analytical Chemistry and Organic Chemistry at ...

Dec 17, 2025 in Biology
Phys.org / Young shark species more vulnerable to extinction, fossil record reveals

Whether a species has just freshly emerged, or it has been around for millions of years does not dictate its vulnerability. This has been the assumption of an old debate on whether species' age plays a role in extinction ...

Dec 17, 2025 in Biology
Phys.org / Data bias reduces reliability of AI models predicting antimicrobial resistance

Experts are increasingly turning to machine learning to predict antibiotic resistance in pathogens. With its help, resistance mechanisms can be identified based on a pathogen's genetics. However, the results should be viewed ...

Dec 17, 2025 in Biology
Phys.org / Spot the males: New gene-editing method could transform mosquito control

Researchers have developed a new "color-coded" genetic method that makes it easy to distinguish male and female mosquitoes. This innovation can help solve a major bottleneck in mosquito control strategies that rely on releasing ...

Dec 17, 2025 in Biology
Phys.org / Low-temperature greenhouse gas conversion: Direct current reveals charge-driven mechanism

Catalytic dry reforming of methane (DRM) offers a promising strategy for the sustainable utilization of greenhouse gases, CH4 and CO2. However, its practical application has long been hampered by severe catalyst deactivation ...

Dec 17, 2025 in Chemistry
Phys.org / Chemists develop unique tool for studying RNA in live cells

An innovative three-color method for capturing images of mRNA inside live mammalian cells has been developed by UMass Amherst chemists. Because RNA is both incredibly important to human life and health and poorly understood, ...

Dec 17, 2025 in Chemistry
Phys.org / How the ocean's most abundant bacteria diversify into ecologically distinct groups

A study led by the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa's Hawaiʻi Institute of Marine Biology (HIMB) has revealed critical new details about one of the ocean's most abundant life forms—SAR11 marine bacteria. Understanding ...

Dec 17, 2025 in Biology
Phys.org / Laser light and the quantum nature of gravity: Proposed experiment could measure graviton energy exchange

When two black holes merge or two neutron stars collide, gravitational waves can be generated. They spread at the speed of light and cause tiny distortions in space-time. Albert Einstein predicted their existence, and the ...

Dec 16, 2025 in Physics