Phys.org news

Phys.org / Targeting the tiniest divide: Research reveals potential vulnerability in bacterial reproduction

A Université de Montréal study has found a previously unknown mechanism in bacterial reproduction that could be attacked by future antibiotics. Bacteria reproduce by dividing into two: they form a wall, or septum, between ...

Mar 31, 2026
Phys.org / Legged robot could accelerate resource prospecting on the moon and the search for life on Mars

Planetary surface missions currently operate cautiously. On Mars, communication delays between Earth and rovers (typically between four and 22 minutes), as well as data transfer constraints due to uplink and downlink limitations, ...

Mar 31, 2026
Phys.org / Getting a glimpse of viral dances in the dark in the Sargasso Sea

In a new study of viral abundance over a short time frame in the Sargasso Sea, researchers found that almost all viruses with cyclical changes in abundance were most active at night—somewhat surprising when the team expected ...

Mar 31, 2026
Phys.org / Income rank predicts well-being worldwide, but social capital can buffer its effects

An individual's position in the income hierarchy is a stronger predictor of well-being than either how much they earn or how large the income gap is between them and others, finds new research from the University of Leeds, ...

Mar 31, 2026
Phys.org / What builds cohesion in diverse societies? Brain scans point to shared national identity cues

The brain? It has a flexible social perception. In interactions with people from different ethnic groups, it tends to respond more inclusively when a shared national identity is made salient. A study, by the University of ...

Mar 31, 2026
Phys.org / College students struggle to identify problematic gray zones in academic practice, study finds

Students across education levels have a blind spot for identifying situations that might bring their academic integrity into questionable territory, a study finds. When navigating questions on citation, collaboration, and ...

Mar 31, 2026
Phys.org / Say what? New study debunks belief that introverts are better listeners

New Minnesota Carlson research debunks the idea that introverts are better listeners than extroverts. In fact, extroverts may have a slight perceived advantage as listeners. The study authors suggest moving past personality-based ...

Mar 31, 2026
Phys.org / By 2100, climate change could make unhealthy air routine for 100 million Americans

New modeling shows almost one in three Americans will routinely breathe air considered unhealthy for sensitive people by the year 2100 due to climate change, a seven-fold increase compared to the turn of the century.

Mar 31, 2026
Phys.org / Phylogenetically diverse Central China proposed as newest global biodiversity hotspot

Taxonomic endemism and phylogenetic endemism are both important measures of biodiversity. The former describes the number of distinct species found nowhere else, whereas the latter shows the amount of evolutionary branch ...

Mar 31, 2026
Phys.org / Towards smarter agriculture: Durable nanofilm electrodes for monitoring leaf health

Nanofilm electrodes capable of detecting stress in plants through bioelectric potentials could pave the way for more resilient agriculture, report researchers from Institute of Science Tokyo. Thanks to the electrode's small ...

Mar 31, 2026
Phys.org / Antibacterial soaps and wipes can fuel antimicrobial resistance, scientists warn

An international team of scientists is warning that everyday antibacterial soaps, wipes, sprays, and other "germ-killing" products are quietly contributing to the global rise of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) while providing ...

Mar 31, 2026
Phys.org / Viruses 'eavesdrop' on each other—but it can backfire

University of Exeter scientists studied chemical communication by phages (viruses that infect bacteria). The phages assessed in the study have two choices when they enter a cell: lie dormant or kill the cell and release new ...

Mar 31, 2026