Phys.org news

Phys.org / Portable biosensor could enable on-site PFAS detection

A portable biosensor developed at La Trobe University may allow rapid, on-site detection of toxic "forever chemicals" in water, removing the need for samples to be sent to specialist laboratories.

Jan 8, 2026 in Earth
Phys.org / NASA cancels spacewalk due to medical issue and may bring the crew back early

NASA canceled its first spacewalk of the year and may bring its crew back early from the International Space Station due to an onboard medical issue.

Jan 8, 2026 in Astronomy & Space
Phys.org / Asteroid impact simulation reveals the hidden strength of space rocks

Physicists at the University of Oxford have contributed to a new study which has found that iron-rich asteroids can tolerate far more energy than previously thought without breaking apart—a breakthrough with direct implications ...

Jan 8, 2026 in Astronomy & Space
Phys.org / Frequent Arctic wildfires could cut snow cover by 18 days, impacting global climate and ecology

The correlation between Arctic wildfires and abnormal snow cover under global warming is of growing concern. A comprehensive quantitative assessment by researchers at The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) has shown ...

Jan 8, 2026 in Earth
Phys.org / What does 'everyday' peace look like? Mapping how people think about peacebuilding

A new study led by Yale anthropologist Catherine Panter-Brick examines how stakeholders in socially diverse, conflict-affected societies conceptualize everyday peace, drawing on a comparative analysis across different groups ...

Jan 8, 2026 in Other Sciences
Phys.org / Deformable adjuvants can enhance immune activation in new vaccine design

Conventional vaccine adjuvants primarily rely on molecular binding and biochemical stimulation to activate immune responses, which often leads to limited efficacy in elderly or low-responsive populations. How to introduce ...

Jan 8, 2026 in Biology
Phys.org / Long school breaks tied to dip in cognitive test performance

Researchers at UConn and the University of Minnesota have discovered that there may be more to the "summer slide" phenomenon following a break in schooling than just forgetting material. In fact, the researchers found reliable ...

Jan 8, 2026 in Other Sciences
Phys.org / Marine pollutants disrupt cellular energy production in seabirds

Common pollutants are disrupting energy production at the cellular level in wild seabirds, potentially affecting fitness, new research reveals. The study, published in Environment & Health, focused on Scopoli's shearwaters ...

Jan 8, 2026 in Biology
Phys.org / Lipids have their own VIP drivers for reaching cellular targets

In addition to providing energy, lipids are also essential building blocks of our cell membranes. However, despite their importance, they remain poorly understood.

Jan 8, 2026 in Biology
Phys.org / Antibodies' decoy tactics for outmaneuvering pathogens could inspire next-generation treatments

Pathogens can create sticky situations. When microbes invade the body to cause an infection, often one of their first lines of attack is to cling tenaciously to the surfaces of targeted human cells.

Jan 8, 2026 in Biology
Phys.org / Searching for the centromere: Diversity in pathways key for cell division

Despite the immense amount of genetic material present in each cell, around 3 billion base pairs in humans, this material needs to be accurately divided in two and allocated in equal quantities. The centromere, located in ...

Jan 8, 2026 in Biology
Phys.org / Understanding the link between nucleotide metabolism and chromatin assembly

A Northwestern Medicine study has revealed a previously unknown connection between two fundamental cellular processes, offering fresh insight into how human cells build and maintain chromatin, according to findings published ...

Jan 8, 2026 in Biology