Phys.org news

Phys.org / A protein engineering method may lead to more exact cancer treatments

Enzymes called proteases act like molecular scissors for proteins in the body and play a role in therapies to stop viruses from replicating and to kill cancer cells. The development of these medicines, however, has been slowed ...

Apr 20, 2026
Phys.org / AI algorithm identifies cells across diverse biological images, cutting hours of manual labeling

Imaging is a critical technique in biology—from identifying cancerous cells in biopsies to observing how immune cells like macrophages hunt down and destroy pathogens. Traditionally, distinguishing and labeling individual ...

Apr 20, 2026
Phys.org / Why so many mollusks sound Greek—their naming evolves at a snail's pace

"A rose by any other name would smell as sweet," said Juliet Capulet in William Shakespeare's famous play. And the same is presumably true for mollusks, albeit with different odors. When you think about the scientific names ...

Apr 20, 2026
Phys.org / Tiny structural shift leads to big leap in solar fuel

Researchers have uncovered that an orthogonal molecular architecture directs the formation of a rare double-cable structure, offering a new blueprint for advancing the fundamental design of energy-active materials. By guiding ...

Apr 20, 2026
Phys.org / Total solar eclipse quiets seismic noise for cities within its path

A seismic hush fell over U.S. and Canadian cities that were in the "path of totality" during the 8 April 2024 total solar eclipse, according to new research presented at the 2026 SSA Annual Meeting.

Apr 20, 2026
Phys.org / Self-assembling luminophores reveal new design principle for efficient light-energy transport

In biological systems, especially for protein molecules, the formation of nanotubular structures is often guided by molecular folding. The folding process organizes interaction sites and enables the formation of complex architectures ...

Apr 20, 2026
Phys.org / How maze-like magnetic patterns form and evolve in materials

The rapid increase in electric vehicle adoption in recent years has highlighted a crucial issue: the energy conversion efficiency of electric motors. In electric motors, iron loss or magnetic hysteresis loss is a primary ...

Apr 20, 2026
Phys.org / Migratory blackcap bird brain mapped for the first time, opening a new era of 3D digital atlases

A migratory bird brain, the Eurasian blackcap (Sylvia atricapilla), has been mapped for the first time using high-resolution light microscopy. The open-source software tools developed, and the detailed processes published, ...

Apr 20, 2026
Phys.org / Cells 'switch' on protein factories after injury, study finds

Scientists have uncovered a novel mechanism through which skin cells organize and control protein production during homeostasis and wound healing, according to a new study published in Developmental Cell. The findings offer ...

Apr 20, 2026
Phys.org / 'Tis the season: Sharing resources sustains ocean microbial biodiversity

Oceanographers from the University of Hawai'i at Mānoa discovered that microbial communities—from the sunlit surface to extreme depths—in the North Pacific Subtropical Gyre exhibit robust seasonal cycles. The study provides ...

Apr 20, 2026
Phys.org / Emojis trigger brain responses like real faces within 160 milliseconds, study finds

Facial expressions are a fundamental aspect of human social interaction. While emojis are an extremely popular way for people to communicate, very little is known about the psychological response that they can generate. A ...

Apr 20, 2026
Phys.org / Atlantic current shows two-decade decline across four deep-ocean monitoring sites

A paper published in the journal Science Advances is adding to the growing body of research showing that the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation (AMOC) is weakening. In this new study, instead of relying mainly on ...

Apr 19, 2026