Phys.org news
Phys.org / A new kind of CRISPR could treat viral infection and cancer by shredding sick cells' DNA
A new kind of CRISPR that destroys cells rather than gene editing them has shown potential for killing sick cells while leaving healthy cells untouched. The technology has largely been tested in cells in a dish, but if it ...
Phys.org / How quasars shut down star formation in the early universe
Supermassive black holes lurk at the centers of massive galaxies, including our own Milky Way. Puzzlingly, supermassive black holes more than a billion times the mass of the sun appear to exist just a few hundred million ...
Phys.org / Space junk falls to Earth faster when sunspots peak, reshaping satellite collision forecasts
Solar emissions exert 'drag' on space junk orbiting Earth. From historical measurements across a period of 36 years, researchers have now shown that space junk begins to fall down much faster once the sun's activity across ...
Phys.org / Death-defying protein found in tardigrades preserves synthetic cells
A protein found only in microscopic tardigrades, one that allows them to survive extreme conditions like dehydration, can convey similar durability in synthetic cells, according to new research from University of Michigan ...
Phys.org / Hourglass nanographenes unlock strong, robust multi-spin entanglement
Researchers from the National University of Singapore (NUS) and collaborators have developed a predictive design strategy for creating graphene-like molecules with multiple interacting spins and enhanced resilience to magnetic ...
Phys.org / Light without electricity? Glowing algae could make it possible
Imagine a sea of glowing blue lights pulsing to the beat of the music. But instead of glow sticks filled with toxic chemicals, the luminescence comes from living algae, shimmering on demand. In a new study published in Science ...
Phys.org / DNA-guided CRISPR flips gene editing script, opening a new path for precise diagnosis and antivirals
A research team led by Prof. Hsing I-Ming, Professor of the Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering (CBE) at The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST), in collaboration with Prof. Zhai Yuanliang, ...
Phys.org / Fewer insects, fewer nutritious crops: Pollinator decline puts human health at risk
Biodiversity loss is directly threatening human health and welfare, according to new research led by the University of Bristol. The study, published in Nature reveals, for the first time, how the decline of insect pollinators ...
Phys.org / Roman Space Telescope poised to transform hunt for elusive neutron stars
Astronomers have long known that neutron stars, the crushed cores left behind after massive stars explode, should be scattered throughout the Milky Way galaxy. However, most of them are effectively invisible. A new study ...
Dialog / Hybrid vein networks in tree leaves reveal a new model of biological design
A leaf may appear to be one of the simplest structures in nature, thin, delicate and easily overlooked. At first glance, it seems far removed from the complex systems that scientists usually describe as networks. Yet, as ...
Phys.org / 'Indian Niño' drove record heat in 2023 and 2024, new study finds
In 2023 and 2024, Earth's average global surface temperature spiked nearly 0.3 degrees Celsius above what was already expected from climate change. Each year was declared the hottest on record and coincided with deadly wildfires, ...
Phys.org / AI matches human teachers: Brief pre-lecture chat boosts students' brain synchrony and learning outcomes
Millions of students worldwide have long relied on self-paced learning through pre-recorded video lectures, a model that forms the backbone of massive open online courses (MOOCs) and large-scale online education. Since the ...