Phys.org news

Phys.org / System can diagnose infections in 20 minutes, aiding fight against drug resistance

A new technique which slashes the time taken to diagnose microbial infections from days to minutes could help save lives and open up a new front in the battle against antibiotic resistance, researchers say.

Jan 9, 2026 in Biology
Phys.org / Single-cell testing shows which antibiotics actually kill bacteria, not just stop growth

Drugs that act against bacteria are mainly assessed based on how well they inhibit bacterial growth under laboratory conditions. A critical factor, however, is whether the active substances actually kill the pathogens in ...

Jan 9, 2026 in Biology
Phys.org / Hybrid parasites threaten progress against one of the world's most widespread neglected diseases

New research led by Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine (LSTM) warns that hybrid forms of the parasites that cause schistosomiasis are undermining existing disease control strategies and could accelerate the spread of infection ...

Jan 9, 2026 in Biology
Phys.org / Commercially viable biomanufacturing: Designer yeast turns sugar into lucrative chemical 3-HP

Using a tiny, acid-tolerant yeast, scientists have demonstrated a cost-effective way to make disposable diapers, microplastics, and acrylic paint more sustainable through biomanufacturing.

Jan 9, 2026 in Biology
Phys.org / Engines of light: New study suggests we could increase useful energy obtained from sunlight

Physicists from Trinity College Dublin believe new insights into the behavior of light may offer a new means of solving one of science's oldest challenges—how to turn heat into useful energy.

Jan 9, 2026 in Physics
Phys.org / Seaweed farms boost long-term carbon storage by altering ocean chemistry, study shows

Seaweeds are versatile algae. They are sources of food, medicine, and many other products, and they have the added benefit of being extremely efficient at removing CO2 from the atmosphere as they grow.

Jan 9, 2026 in Earth
Phys.org / Laser pulse 'sculpting' unlocks new control over particle acceleration

In high-intensity laser–matter interactions, including laser-induced particle acceleration, physicists generally want to work with the highest possible focused laser peak power, which is the ratio of energy per unit area ...

Jan 9, 2026 in Physics
Phys.org / Scientists map development of pancreas transport channels that deliver digestive enzymes

Organs often have fluid-filled spaces called lumens, which are crucial for organ function and serve as transport and delivery networks. Lumens in the pancreas form a complex ductal system, and its channels transport digestive ...

Jan 9, 2026 in Biology
Phys.org / Whale hunting began 5,000 years ago in South America, a millennium earlier than previously thought

The hunting of large whales goes back much further in time than previously thought. New research from the Institute of Environmental Science and Technology at the Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (ICTA-UAB) and the Department ...

Jan 9, 2026 in Other Sciences
Phys.org / Important new source of oxidation in the atmosphere found

Hydroperoxides are strong oxidants that have a significant influence on chemical processes in the atmosphere. Now, an international research team involving the Leibniz Institute for Tropospheric Research (TROPOS) has shown ...

Jan 9, 2026 in Earth
Phys.org / Scientists find more active black holes in dwarf and Milky Way-sized galaxies by cutting through glare of star formation

Astronomers have completed the most comprehensive census of active galactic nuclei (AGN) to date, providing the clearest picture yet of the probability that galaxies of different sizes host active black holes.

Jan 9, 2026 in Astronomy & Space
Phys.org / Reviving antibiotics with two-faced nanoparticles

Over the decades, many strains of disease-causing bacteria have evolved defenses to even the most potent antibiotics, setting off a growing health crisis. The rise of antibiotic-resistant "superbugs" has also set off an arms ...

Jan 9, 2026 in Nanotechnology