Phys.org news

Phys.org / US could exhaust domestic phosphorus within 40 years, but waste offers reserves

The United States could exhaust its domestic phosphorus supply within 40 years. Europe, Latin America and Southeast Asia already depend on imports from China and Morocco to meet their needs. Without phosphorus, crops cannot ...

Aug 14, 2026
Phys.org / Stable RNA elements open new possibilities for mRNA therapeutics

A research team led by Director Kim V. Narry at the Center for RNA Research within the Institute for Basic Science (IBS) has discovered compact viral RNA elements that can make mRNA more stable and increase protein production. ...

Aug 14, 2026
Phys.org / New AI model detects hidden signs of solar eruptions hours before they emerge

Long before dark sunspots appear on the sun's surface, a new active region—where powerful solar eruptions can originate—begins showing subtle signs of its formation. Now, researchers say a new artificial intelligence model ...

Aug 14, 2026
Phys.org / Long-lost convent rediscovered under a soccer field in Denmark

A medieval monastery complex, long believed to be lost, has now been identified using ground-penetrating radar (GPR) in Roskilde, Denmark. The investigations have uncovered extensive and well-preserved remains of the St Clare's ...

Aug 14, 2026
Phys.org / Tiny DNA rotor lets microscopes track gene transcription one base pair at a time

Scientists often describe life as a series of chemical reactions. Pallav Kosuri, Ph.D., describes life as movement. Chemical reactions are how you drive the movement of atoms, proteins, cells and bodies—without movement, ...

Aug 14, 2026
Phys.org / Doomscrolling at work wastes time, but the real cost is what happens after

Whether on lunch break or on the clock, many employees scroll through the news and social media during the workday. Researchers found that employees who "doomscroll" at work suffer hidden costs that extend beyond lost productivity.

Aug 14, 2026
Phys.org / Europe's mountain summits are warming—vegetation is responding in surprisingly different ways

Decades of climate change have not left Europe's mountain vegetation unscathed. However, the changes observed do not always match expectations. As a new international study by a research team led by researchers from the University ...

Aug 14, 2026
Phys.org / Butterfly-inspired technology could change the way we monitor air

Respiratory infectious diseases and air pollution remain persistent global health challenges. Yet the tools used to monitor airborne threats are often expensive, power-hungry and difficult to deploy outside laboratories.

Aug 14, 2026
Phys.org / Cells pulse together as they grow—and malignant cells pulse the longest

Epithelial cells are the tiny shields that line and protect our bodies. In a developing embryo, epithelial cells grow, divide and move into positions to form the outer layers of our skin and the surfaces of our organs and ...

Aug 14, 2026
Phys.org / Wheat gene behind Hessian fly resistance cloned after 50-year search

Researchers at the University of Maryland and their collaborators have cloned a gene that makes wheat resistant to feeding by Hessian fly larvae and demonstrated its direct interaction with a protein produced by the insect. ...

Aug 14, 2026
Phys.org / Arctic balloon samples trace marine sugars from the ocean to cloud-forming heights

Salt and sugar from the sea can rise as far as the free troposphere, thereby influencing both cloud formation and the Arctic climate. This is the finding of balloon measurements carried out by a team of researchers on Spitsbergen ...

Aug 14, 2026
Phys.org / A new way to beat jet lag? Engineered cells speed circadian adjustment

Adjusting to a new time zone or work schedule can leave the body's internal clock out of sync for days, contributing to sleep disruption, metabolic changes and other health consequences. Researchers at Rice University and ...

Aug 14, 2026