Phys.org news
Phys.org / Antibody cocktails could steer viruses into evolutionary dead ends
When a virus mutates, the world usually finds out the hard way. Variants of influenza and SARS-CoV-2 can slip past vaccines and antibody drugs before scientists fully understand what has changed. A new study from Harvard's ...
Phys.org / No cities on the moon—there isn't enough water, scientists say
The discovery of water in dark craters at the moon's poles has sparked a "moon rush" to establish bases there, followed by villages, cities and heavy industry. How sustainable is this rush?
Phys.org / Anger, hope and compassion do little to spur more climate donations
Emotional mechanisms are frequently used to inspire good environmental behavior. But how effective are they at inspiring actual sustainable change? Perhaps not as much as previously believed, according to a new study that ...
Phys.org / Structural study explains how cells stabilize protective membrane pockets
Our cells' membranes have many functions. They not only provide mechanical protection but also precisely control which substances enter or leave cells. If they fail to perform these tasks, disease can result. Their structure ...
Phys.org / Radiation-tolerant rotifers rebuild broken chromosomes over successive generations
DNA repair mechanisms are essential for maintaining the integrity of our genome. When they malfunction, they can cause disease or contribute to the development of cancer. Nature, however, offers remarkable examples of organisms ...
Phys.org / A painting signed 'L daVinci': Analysis reveals Renaissance pigments and later alterations
Researchers at Uppsala University have analyzed the color pigments in a historical painting signed "L daVinci." Most of the pigments are consistent with materials used during the Renaissance, while a more recent pigment appears ...
Phys.org / Peptide position determines whether gold nanoparticles branch or stay spherical
The position of biomineralization peptides within liposomes can influence how gold nanoparticles grow, reports a research team from the Institute of Science Tokyo. Peptides localized at the membrane interface promote branched ...
Phys.org / Cancer-linked protein binds to chromosome in unexpected way, study finds
A new 3D structure of a cancer-linked protein bound to its cellular partner reveals details of how the protein binds to chromosomes and could offer insights for future disease treatments. The protein—BRD4—plays a critical ...
Phys.org / Tiny 'whirlpools' discovered in atom-thin semiconductor
Monash University-led researchers have directly imaged tiny swirling structures inside an atomically thin semiconductor, opening new possibilities for future low-energy electronic technologies. Published in Science Advances, ...
Phys.org / Chocolate's new climate threat: Too much rain
Cocoa farmers in West Africa cannot stop intense downpours from damaging their crops. But they may be able to anticipate the risk and prepare, protecting both their livelihoods and their plants, the source of one of the world's ...
Phys.org / Three DNA loops prove essential for efficient wing tissue regeneration in fruit flies
After an injury, DNA not only changes its activity but also the way it is organized spatially within the cell nucleus. In this process, certain regions of DNA establish new physical contacts through chromatin loops that act ...
Phys.org / Common wastewater pollutant turns male minnows into poorer parents and fiercer rivals
A team of researchers has found that a common wastewater pollutant turned male fathead minnows into worse fathers and fiercer rivals, revealing ecological impacts that laboratory studies missed.
