Phys.org news

Phys.org / Using AI to thwart election misinformation

Election rumors, such as unverified accounts of voter fraud, have run rampant in the U.S. in recent years. Powered by the speed of social media and artificial intelligence (AI), it can be hard for people to know what messages ...

Aug 27, 2026
Phys.org / Boosting soybean protein: Zinc and sulfur essential in sustainable crop production

Soybean is a critical element of the global food supply: Between its use for animal feed and human consumption, it accounts for roughly two-thirds of plant-based protein meal output worldwide. Canada is a global leader in ...

Aug 27, 2026
Phys.org / MOF-coated catalyst converts CO₂ to CO nearly five times faster under ultrasonic vibration

Researchers at the University of Osaka have developed a catalyst that uses mechanical vibration to convert carbon dioxide (CO2) into carbon monoxide (CO), an important chemical feedstock. The catalyst consists of barium titanate ...

Aug 27, 2026
Phys.org / Beyond the Petri dish: Testing tomorrow's drugs in human blood

The COVID vaccine is perhaps the first thing many people think of when they hear about mRNA-based drugs. Small packages of genetic material are sent into the body, prompting cells to produce useful proteins in the fight against ...

Aug 27, 2026
Phys.org / Emperor penguin colonies reveal decades-long resilience and flexible breeding sites

With their charming waddles, heat-conserving huddles and tuxedo-like plumage, emperor penguins are among the world's most recognizable animals. Recent satellite surveys estimate that hundreds of thousands of the flightless ...

Aug 27, 2026
Phys.org / Fleeting sugar pairs may help curb abnormal cell-growth signals

Acting as armor, a scaffold and a communication platform in one, our cells' plasma membrane lies at the heart of many crucial cellular processes. Traditionally, it has been thought to function through interactions among its ...

Aug 27, 2026
Phys.org / Virtual cell model could accelerate protein-degrader therapy design

A team of Weill Cornell Medicine investigators has developed a computer model that will help scientists more efficiently develop protein-destroying therapies, a newer type of treatment that is particularly promising for cancer. ...

Aug 27, 2026
Phys.org / When the dust settles: Field experiments measure how everyday activity resuspends hazardous particles

Being prepared for an emergency is key to keeping people safe. This means more than just having supplies such as food, water and first-aid kits. Sometimes, the most important preparation is having the right data to help first ...

Aug 27, 2026
Phys.org / Heat-tolerant corals may be more vulnerable to disease

Corals that partner with heat-tolerant algae may be better equipped to survive warming oceans—but that resilience comes with an unexpected trade-off, according to a new study from Boston University published in Science Advances.

Aug 27, 2026
Phys.org / Reconstructed Jurassic insect calls evoke a 165-million-year-old forest soundscape

The sights and sounds of the Jurassic era are long gone, and we will never know for sure what that ancient world looked and sounded like. Fossils can offer clues, and reconstructions can give us a sense of the noises some ...

Aug 26, 2026
Phys.org / Dogs may use blinking as a subtle social signal

Blinking keeps eyes moist, sweeps away bits of dirt and dust, and helps the brain rest when processing visual information. But in dogs, it may also serve another function as a subtle social signal. That was one of the conclusions ...

Aug 26, 2026
Phys.org / Hyperdoped silicon photodiode advances short-wave infrared detection at room temperature

Detecting short-wave infrared (SWIR) light, a region of the electromagnetic spectrum just beyond the light visible to the human eye, could be advantageous for many real-world applications. For instance, it could enable more ...

Aug 26, 2026