Phys.org news

Phys.org / Plasma approach keeps catalysts working for longer in hydrogen production

Scientists from the University of Manchester have shown how a plasma-based approach, using nonthermal plasma—an electrically energized gas often described as the fourth state of matter—can prevent catalyst deactivation in ...

Jun 24, 2026
Phys.org / Scientists design 'tunable' biomolecules to probe how sugars behave

Sugars are not just a source of energy—they also play a crucial role in how cells communicate, how proteins interact and how materials behave in medicine and industry. But studying these processes is challenging because sugar ...

Jun 24, 2026
Phys.org / How mitochondria build their protein factories could help explain energy‑linked disease

In a study published in Nature Communications, researchers at Karolinska Institutet have mapped key steps in the assembly of the mitochondrial ribosome, offering new clues to how defects in this process can lead to disease.

Jun 24, 2026
Phys.org / Do hyenas eat livestock and rhinos? Behavioral biologists investigate a surprisingly charming population

For conservation and the management of human–wildlife conflicts, it is of great interest to know which species are eaten by carnivores. Scientists from the Ngorongoro Hyena Project at the Leibniz Institute for Zoo and Wildlife ...

Jun 24, 2026
Phys.org / Decades-long dataset shows which orcas are most at home in Puget Sound

Data spanning nearly half a century shows that endangered southern resident killer whales are spending less time in inland waters, whereas their larger cousins, Bigg's killer whales, are increasingly present in Puget Sound.

Jun 24, 2026
Phys.org / Fair Workweek laws improve work schedules without cutting pay or benefits, according to research

A study examining Fair Workweek laws across five major U.S. jurisdictions finds that labor regulations have made work schedules more predictable for service-sector workers, without triggering wage cuts or benefit reductions. ...

Jun 24, 2026
Phys.org / Oysters used as living labs reveal unexpected stability in ocean virus populations

Oysters filter seawater for food. In the process, they concentrate a wide variety of microorganisms from their environment—including bacteria and viruses—into a tiny space.

Jun 24, 2026
Phys.org / Piecing the puzzle of how proteins fit together: Simpler model outperforms leading methods

How the proteins in our bodies bind together to form protein complexes plays a critical role in numerous cell functions—staving off diseases, for instance, or transporting ions across cell membranes. A better understanding ...

Jun 24, 2026
Phys.org / Axolotl-inspired skin matrix may help heal wounds with less scarring

Researchers in Taiwan have developed a cell-free extracellular matrix material from axolotl skin that helped mouse burn wounds close faster and show signs of reduced fibrotic scarring. The findings suggest that one of nature's ...

Jun 24, 2026
Phys.org / Pop song lyrics grew more self-focused in the US and Germany over 50 years, research reveals

Over five decades, popular songs in the U.S. and Germany have become more self-focused—as indicated by the use of pronouns such as "I," "me" and "mine"—while no such trend was seen for the most popular songs in Japan and ...

Jun 24, 2026
Phys.org / New giant wormlion fly species identified on the southern slopes of the Himalayas

An enigmatic new species of wormlion fly, whose larvae construct clever pitfall traps to capture prey, has been revealed in a study led by researchers at Dali University in China.

Jun 24, 2026
Phys.org / Lavatory shaft reveals the cost of 17th‑century vanity in Germany

Four goose skulls were pulled from a former toilet shaft in Brandenburg, Germany, each of them riddled with strange holes. As it turns out, these holes were the telltale signs of fancy feathered crests, making them the first ...

Jun 23, 2026