Phys.org news

Phys.org / Can we trust the science shaping our lives?

Improved methods for social and behavioral sciences research could help enhance public trust in science, says a new study that investigated the robustness of data analysis to understand whether it reliably stood the test ...

Apr 16, 2026
Phys.org / Scientists unlock shape-shifting living tissue, programming cells to fold flat sheets into precise 3D forms

Biological tissues have a remarkable ability to organize and change shape, driven by forces generated by their own cells. One of the major challenges in bioengineering is harnessing this natural behavior to design synthetic ...

Apr 16, 2026
Phys.org / Warmer winters and snow drought may threaten western US water by speeding flows

As future shifts in climate lead to more rain and less snow in the western United States, new research finds that water will move faster through a landscape, likely leading to negative impacts on summer water levels and water ...

Apr 16, 2026
Phys.org / Cancer's hidden switch may sit in the cell membrane, forcing growth receptors into permanent overdrive

Cells are enveloped by a lipid membrane that gives them structure and provides a barrier between the cell and its environment. However, evidence has recently emerged suggesting that these membranes do more than simply provide ...

Apr 16, 2026
Phys.org / A hidden Oregon basin and a shallower slab sharpen the Cascadia megaquake threat

A new look at the Juan de Fuca tectonic plate beneath the coast of northern Oregon suggests this subducting slab is shallower than previously thought, with impacts on potential peak ground shaking during a Cascadia megathrust ...

Apr 16, 2026
Phys.org / Gene discovery opens new path for disease-resistant rice breeding

Bacterial blight (BB) is a serious plant disease that mainly affects rice plants, especially in warm, humid regions. Due to the severity of BB, discovering and applying BB-resistance genes is strategically important for ensuring ...

Apr 16, 2026
Phys.org / Extensive faults beneath Nevada nuclear lab raise unanswered earthquake risks

The underground laboratory in Nevada where the U.S. conducts nuclear subcritical experiments is riddled with faults. Researchers have not confirmed whether any of these faults are active and could rupture during an earthquake, ...

Apr 16, 2026
Phys.org / Human sense of smell evolved with diets and lifestyle, genetic study suggests

From the ability to detect the smell of wet soil to the scent of ripe fruit, the human olfactory system has evolved over thousands of years in response to how people live and what they eat, according to a new genetic study ...

Apr 16, 2026
Phys.org / Warm-bodied sharks and tunas face 'double jeopardy' in warming seas

A new study reveals that some of the ocean's most powerful predators are running hotter, and that they are likely paying an increasingly steep price for it. The significance of this headline finding is the "double jeopardy" ...

Apr 16, 2026
Phys.org / Novel technique drills more detail into ice core records

Glaciers can reveal vast archives of information about Earth's environmental past, but deciphering the origins of the matter within them can be a challenge. Now, using a novel technique that enables researchers to directly ...

Apr 16, 2026
Phys.org / A regulatory loophole could delay ozone recovery by years

Often hailed as the most successful international environmental agreement of all time, the 1987 Montreal Protocol continues to successfully phase out the global production of chemicals that were creating a growing hole in ...

Apr 16, 2026
Phys.org / Ancient viruses serve as gene delivery couriers to help bacteria resist antibiotics

Research has shed important new light on the enemies-turned-allies that allow bacteria to exchange genes, including those linked to antimicrobial resistance (AMR). The insights, which expand our understanding of the major ...

Apr 16, 2026