Phys.org news

Phys.org / What makes a genus real? Scientists use tree bats to evaluate a testable '2 Sigma Genus Concept'

Dr. Amy Baird, Professor of Biology at the University of Houston-Downtown (UHD), and her colleagues are seeking to change the attitude of biologists toward the meaning of taxonomic categories above the species level with ...

Mar 18, 2026
Phys.org / Plant survival under three simultaneous stressors may hinge on a single protein

Researchers at the University of Missouri have discovered certain proteins may be the key to saving plants' lives when multiple stressors hit at the same time. This knowledge may one day lead to crops that are more resistant ...

Mar 18, 2026
Phys.org / Beavers can convert stream corridors to persistent carbon sinks

Beavers could engineer riverbeds into promising carbon dioxide sinks, according to a new international study led by researchers at the University of Birmingham. The paper, published in Communications Earth & Environment, ...

Mar 18, 2026
Phys.org / Finding Easter eggs in entertainment boosts enjoyment and fan behavior, study finds

If you've watched popular movies or television shows in the last decade, there's a good chance you've found an Easter egg or two: not an actual brightly colored egg but a subtle reference to another movie or story in the ...

Mar 18, 2026
Phys.org / Snail-derived compound could be a safer anticoagulant compared to heparin

For more than a century, heparin has been the go-to anticoagulant to prevent harmful blood clots in blood vessels or the heart from forming or getting larger. However, a major side effect is an increased risk of excessive ...

Mar 18, 2026
Phys.org / Liquid biopsy method uses nanoparticle Raman signals to separate two lookalike enzymes

RIKEN researchers have demonstrated a method that can detect tiny amounts of biomarkers in liquid samples and can distinguish between highly similar biomarkers. This promises to boost the versatility and usefulness of liquid ...

Mar 18, 2026
Phys.org / Abalone shells could help trace seafood origins

The rocks beneath our feet are leaving a hidden signature in the shells of marine snails along Australia's ancient coastline, according to new research led by Adelaide University scientists. A study published in Proceedings ...

Mar 18, 2026
Phys.org / A 'two-factor authentication' system that controls microRNA destruction

Cells rely on tiny molecules called microRNAs to tune which genes are active and when. Cells must carefully control the lifespan of microRNAs to prevent widespread disruption to gene regulation. A new study led by researchers ...

Mar 18, 2026
Phys.org / Mystery of quinine biosynthesis solved with newly discovered enzymes

For over 350 years, quinine and other extracts from the cinchona tree (Cinchona spp.) were the only effective medicines against malaria, a tropical fever caused by single-celled parasites of the genus Plasmodium and transmitted ...

Mar 18, 2026
Phys.org / Mental health policy is emerging as a key voting issue for Americans, study suggests

A new University of Missouri study suggests mental health policies can play a significant role in how Americans choose political candidates. Past scholarly research has found that most Americans say they support mental health ...

Mar 18, 2026
Phys.org / Astronomers discover long-period radio transient of unknown origin

Using the Australian SKA Pathfinder (ASKAP), astronomers have discovered a new long-period radio transient source, which received the designation ASKAP J142431.2–612611 (ASKAP J1424 for short). The newfound transient has ...

Mar 17, 2026
Phys.org / Earth's toughest microbes could help save the planet and find life on other worlds

Extremophiles may well be tiny, but they are making a huge contribution to the health of our planet and our lives. A new review of these microorganisms, published in the journal Frontiers in Microbiology, explains how they ...

Mar 17, 2026