Phys.org news

Phys.org / ATCA observations probe peculiar pulsar wind nebula Vela X

Astronomers have employed the Australia Telescope Compact Array (ATCA) to investigate a peculiar pulsar wind nebula known as Vela X. Results of the new observations, published March 2 on the arXiv pre-print server, provide ...

Mar 15, 2026
Phys.org / Rising seas threaten barrier islands, but seabird guano could speed recovery

Birds that live and breed in vegetated coastal areas, such as dunes and small islands, not only build nests but also—unintentionally—shape their own surroundings. This was discovered by Utrecht-based Earth scientist Floris ...

Mar 15, 2026
Phys.org / Pi Day: From rockets to cancer research, here's how the number pi is embedded in our lives

Math nerds and dessert enthusiasts unite to celebrate Pi Day every March 14, the date that represents the first three digits of the mathematical constant pi.

Mar 14, 2026
Phys.org / Dry ice detected in a planetary nebula for the first time

An international team of astronomers has employed the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) to observe a complex planetary nebula known as NGC 6302. The observations, detailed in a paper published Feb. 25 on the arXiv pre-print ...

Mar 14, 2026
Phys.org / Enhanced fluorescence technique illuminates rapid, coordinated protein folding

A team of US researchers has gained new insights into how large protein molecules consistently fold themselves into useful shapes. Using a new approach to fluorescence microscopy, Hoi Sung Chung and colleagues at the National ...

Mar 14, 2026
Phys.org / Deep-sea natural compound targets cancer cells through a dual mechanism

A collaborative research team has uncovered a previously unknown mechanism of action of yaku'amide B, a structurally complex peptidic natural product derived from deep-sea sponge found in the waters near Yakushima Island, ...

Mar 14, 2026
Phys.org / Not one ring but many: Antioxidant enzyme family can assemble in far more diverse ways than previously thought

Peroxiredoxins are among the most abundant enzymes involved in managing oxidative stress. They control the levels of peroxides such as hydrogen peroxide, relay redox signals, and help protect other proteins during stress. ...

Mar 14, 2026
Phys.org / Bacteria that generate electricity: How a shellfish-based gel could monitor wastewater and food

Microbial bioelectronic sensors use living bacteria that can create an electrical signal in response to the presence of a target substance, or analyte. These types of sensors offer many advantages over other types of biosensors ...

Mar 14, 2026
Phys.org / New Panama tree species identified after 25 years is already endangered

In 2000, a group of STRI botanists collected samples of all the plants from the genus Clusia they could find in Panama to find out how the different species in this group are related.

Mar 14, 2026
Phys.org / Saturday Citations: Neurology of boring sounds; one huge croc; Travels With Sol

The More You Know: This week, researchers successfully reconstructed videos from the brain activity of mice. According to a new study, female birds are more likely to sing when their extended families help with childcare. ...

Mar 14, 2026
Phys.org / Study documents record 118-kilometer dispersal by young female fisher in New Hampshire

Researchers at the University of New Hampshire have documented the farthest trek of a young female fisher (Pekania pennanti) moving 118 kilometers (over 73 miles) from Durham to the outskirts of Lincoln, a small town in New ...

Mar 14, 2026
Phys.org / Cell death in photoreceptor cells is reversible, study finds

Photoreceptors are specialized cells in the eye that convert light energy into neural signals. Several diseases that cause irreversible vision loss, including age-related macular degeneration, retinitis pigmentosa and retinal ...

Mar 14, 2026