Phys.org news

Phys.org / Mitotic chromosomes may assemble from pre-existing chromatin 'building blocks' during cell division

Inside each human cell, about 2 meters (6.6 feet) of genomic DNA must be accurately copied and equally transmitted to two daughter cells during cell division. To achieve this, the copied DNA is condensed into thick, short ...

Sep 15, 2026
Phys.org / New peanut genome map uncovers hidden gene, boosts dense-planting yields 20%

An international team that includes researchers from Murdoch University's Centre for Crop and Food Innovation (CCFI) has built the most comprehensive genetic map of the peanut yet and used this new genomic resource to breed ...

Sep 15, 2026
Phys.org / A 5,000-year-old royal mystery: Digital clues point to Meretneith as Egypt's female king

More than 5,000 years ago, a royal woman named Meretneith (also written as Merneith) lived in ancient Egypt. She was possibly the daughter of Djer, the third king of the First Dynasty, a period when the first kings ruled ...

Sep 15, 2026
Phys.org / Home advantage or pastures new? High-Arctic shorebirds rarely return to the same breeding area

Shorebirds are capable of some of the longest migrations on Earth, yet most return year after year to the same area to breed. Coming back has distinct advantages, including knowing the best spots to feed or roost, having ...

Sep 15, 2026
Phys.org / Bubbles the food-stealing dolphin finds shortcut to easy meal

A dolphin that harasses fish until they regurgitate their food—then swoops in to steal it—has astonished University of the Sunshine Coast researchers who have documented this novel feeding strategy.

Sep 15, 2026
Phys.org / Adaptive crystal can selectively capture CO₂ and recognize similar molecules

Chemical separation can be energy-intensive when molecules have similar sizes and properties. Researchers from Shibaura Institute of Technology, Japan, have now developed an interlayer adaptive crystal that changes its spacing ...

Sep 15, 2026
Phys.org / How individual cells 'surf' chemical waves to form a collective

Researchers have developed an innovative imaging technique to visualize the transition of single cells into multicellular organisms in new detail.

Sep 15, 2026
Phys.org / Avoiding a sticky situation: How cells stop messenger RNAs from clumping together

Messenger RNA, or mRNA, is best known for carrying genetic instructions from DNA to the cellular machinery that makes proteins. But all RNA molecules have another, less appreciated property: They are naturally sticky.

Sep 15, 2026
Phys.org / Satellite data reveal ESG scores track public image more than actual forest loss

Environmental sustainability researchers at NUS found that widely used environmental, social and governance (ESG) ratings often fail to reflect companies' actual exposure to deforestation, highlighting the need to integrate ...

Sep 15, 2026
Phys.org / Fertilizer study reveals where the world can boost food production and cut pollution

Global consumption of fertilizer has doubled since 1980, but some regions that have historically overused fertilizer, including China and parts of Europe, have taken steps to reduce use. Those are some of the findings of ...

Sep 15, 2026
Phys.org / Ultracold cesium atoms reveal Bethe strings predicted nearly a century ago

In 1931, physicist Hans Bethe predicted that, in certain one-dimensional quantum systems, particles can bind together to form multi-particle states known as Bethe strings. Unlike ordinary molecules, which are held together ...

Sep 14, 2026
Phys.org / How prehistoric coastal flooding shaped the Northern Adriatic

Researchers have shown how dramatic sea-level rise over a 5,000-year period profoundly changed the coasts of northern Italy, Slovenia and northern Croatia. Successive shaping and reshaping of coastal features influenced the ...

Sep 14, 2026