Phys.org news
Phys.org / Stolen chloroplasts maintained by host-made proteins offer clues to plant cell origins
Every plant cell is the product of a biological merger billions of years ago. Chloroplasts are key structures in plants and algae that capture sunlight, but originally they were free-living bacteria that took up residence ...
Phys.org / New lipid nanoparticle design improves precision of mRNA vaccine delivery
Penn Engineers have redesigned a key component of lipid nanoparticles (LNPs), the delivery vehicles behind mRNA vaccines, to steer the particles toward lymph nodes while reducing off-target delivery to the liver. The advance ...
Phys.org / Highly and casually active citizen scientists contribute equally valuable data
The word "nemotia" is a neologism, a newly coined term that in this case, describes the sense of overwhelmingness and disconnect accompanying the thought that nothing you do will ever make a difference. If this describes ...
Phys.org / Why cooperative workplaces boost your sense of freedom
Jack Welch, the legendary General Electric CEO, was infamous for firing the bottom 10% of his workforce every year, without exception. The company's market cap rose substantially during Welch's tenure, but his "rank and yank" ...
Phys.org / Preparing for the next pandemic: Scientists discover a new class of influenza antivirals
Researchers from Leiden University, University of York, University of Barcelona/IQTCUB/ICREA and The Francis Crick Institute report a new class of experimental compounds that powerfully block influenza viruses. The findings ...
Phys.org / Snow flies produce bursts of heat and proteins to avoid freezing, new study finds
In a new study, Northwestern University scientists explored how snow flies—small, wingless insects that crawl across snow to find mates and lay eggs—survive in freezing cold temperatures. They discovered this snow-dwelling ...
Phys.org / The truth of timekeeping lies within: Key developments in understanding circadian rhythms
Almost all living things have an internal 24-hour clock that remains accurate regardless of temperature or other environmental changes. This clock is a highly sophisticated yet simple timekeeping mechanism that is critically ...
Phys.org / 'Gray-box' AI reveals why catalysts work while speeding discovery
Self-driving laboratories (SDLs) powered by artificial intelligence (AI) are rapidly accelerating materials discovery, but can they also explain their results? Researchers from the Theory Department of the Fritz Haber Institute, ...
Phys.org / GNSS stations reveal fourfold turbulence during Antarctica's Ross Ice Shelf melt
Global navigation satellite systems (GNSS), which include GPS, are traditionally used for positioning, timing, and mapping information. In an open-access study published Feb. 27 in Geophysical Research Letters, MIT Haystack ...
Phys.org / Overlooked microbial network may drive methane production in the seafloor
Deep below the surface in coastal sediments, microorganisms use conductive particles as tiny natural "wires" to exchange electrons. This enables them to convert organic carbon into methane in a way not previously documented. ...
Phys.org / Genomic test could help stop destructive Asian spongy moth in its tracks
Invasive species cost Canada billions of dollars each year. Now, a team led by UBC researchers has developed a new genomic test that can trace the Asian spongy moth—one of the biggest threats to North America's forests—back ...
Phys.org / New imaging technique maps membrane lipids in 3D at nanoscale
Biological membranes of cells and their subunits (organelles) are organized into tiny regions (nanodomains) made up of fats (lipids) and proteins. Those specialized regions carry out important tasks for the cell, such as ...
