Phys.org news

Phys.org / How cells turn mechanical forces into biochemical signals

Cells constantly probe their environments, searching for physical cues that guide their behavior. And yet a cell's response to its environment is always biochemical, mediated by the chemistry of its internal protein machinery. ...

Apr 22, 2026
Phys.org / Turning vibrations into value—a new catalyst converts CO₂ into useful CO

Researchers at The University of Osaka have developed a catalyst that uses vibrational energy to convert carbon dioxide (CO2) into carbon monoxide (CO), an important industrial feedstock. The work, published in the Journal ...

Apr 22, 2026
Phys.org / AI for molecular simulations may not need built-in physics to deliver strong results

Simulating how atoms and molecules move over time is a central challenge in computational chemistry and materials science. Classical machine learning approaches to molecular dynamics (MD) encode fundamental physical principles ...

Apr 22, 2026
Phys.org / ATLAS sets record limits on Higgs boson's self-interaction

One of the biggest open questions in particle physics today is how the Higgs boson interacts with itself. This "self-coupling" could help explain the evolution of the early universe and the mechanism that gives mass to elementary ...

Apr 22, 2026
Phys.org / Tiny satellites face big data limits: How foldable antennas could change CubeSat missions

An origami-inspired reflectarray antenna developed by researchers at Institute of Science Tokyo enables CubeSats to achieve high antenna gain while fitting within the tight size constraints of small satellites. Weighing just ...

Apr 22, 2026
Phys.org / Hidden nest cameras debunk long-standing myth about how cuckoos lay their eggs

An international team of ornithologists has overturned one of the oldest assumptions in natural history by directly documenting how common cuckoos lay their eggs in host nests located inside cavities. The findings, published ...

Apr 22, 2026
Phys.org / Elusive tularemia proteins reveal possible treatment target in rare tick-borne disease

Tularemia is a rare but highly infectious disease caused by Francisella tularensis, a bacterium that can evade immune defenses. Symptoms of infection can include fever, swollen lymph nodes, and—in some cases—pneumonia. What ...

Apr 22, 2026
Phys.org / The 'resource curse': Why natural resource abundance can be a double-edged sword

Natural resources—such as fossil fuels, water, and minerals—are materials found in the environment that are essential for life and highly utilized in production. Though these resources are viewed as essential to economic ...

Apr 22, 2026
Phys.org / Promiscuity and parental behavior in birds are driven by demographics, not the other way around

New research shows that variation in mating behaviors, parental care and differences in ornamentation of the sexes in bird species is driven by demographics rather than vice versa. An international team of researchers from ...

Apr 22, 2026
Phys.org / Sun simulations reveal how cool prominences survive in million-degree corona

At more than one million degrees, the sun's atmosphere—the corona—is incredibly hot; but not everywhere. Time and again, huge structures of significantly cooler solar plasma—about 10,000 degrees—appear within the corona. ...

Apr 22, 2026
Phys.org / Q&A: Scientists decode the logic behind cells' mysterious protein stockpiles

As far as research subjects go, it's not always easy to find common ground with a single-celled bacterium. Yet the more Paul Wiggins studies his model bacteria, Acinetobacter baylyi, the more he sees surprising commonalities ...

Apr 22, 2026
Phys.org / First direct nanomagnet measurement finds switching attempts far slower than long-assumed

A compass always points north—or does it? Magnets normally maintain a stable direction of magnetization, pointing from south to north (S→N). However, this direction can change under strong magnetic fields or heat. For example, ...

Apr 22, 2026