Phys.org news

Phys.org / Honeybee metamorphosis map uncovers 842 active DNA switches that drive worker bee development

Researchers have identified "DNA switches" that become active as honeybee larvae grow into worker bees, offering new insight into the development of these important pollinators and the ecosystems they support.

Jun 23, 2026
Phys.org / New AI tool identifies wild animals by their unique patterns in real time

Patterns reveal the individual: A novel AI algorithm equips researchers with a powerful new tool to accurately identify individual jaguars, zebras and giraffes in real time based on their unique coat patterns. Biologists ...

Jun 23, 2026
Phys.org / New algorithm identifies disease-linked changes in cells without prior training

A new algorithm could drive breakthroughs in understanding cancer, Alzheimer's disease and other potentially fatal conditions. Researchers from the University of Waterloo developed the machine-learning algorithm, called RNovA, ...

Jun 23, 2026
Phys.org / Self-driving chemistry lab discovers catalysts that can switch products on demand

Researchers have developed a self-driving chemistry lab that can autonomously search through hundreds of catalyst recipes and reaction conditions to identify faster, more selective and more programmable ways to make important ...

Jun 23, 2026
Phys.org / Discovery of how cells maintain their DNA could shield key healthy cells from chemotherapy side effects

A new study conducted by scientists at the University of Sheffield in collaboration with researchers from UT Southwestern Medical Center in the U.S. has found a protein that could help guide which cells chemotherapies target. ...

Jun 23, 2026
Phys.org / Why warmer seas may not wipe out female fish in some species

In many fish species, water temperature determines the sex of the fry. This biological mechanism threatens to wipe out entire populations because of a shortage of females in the face of global warming. However, an international ...

Jun 23, 2026
Phys.org / Local species trends may flag global extinction risk, global study finds

New research from the University of St. Andrews has shown that higher extinction risk is associated with a higher frequency of decreasing local prevalence of species, in an analysis of one of the most comprehensive long-term ...

Jun 23, 2026
Phys.org / Sawdust, cellulose binders and beeswax combine into eco-friendly foam

Polystyrene—common in packing peanuts and box inserts—is manufactured from fossil fuels. To develop a sustainable alternative, researchers reporting in ACS Applied Polymer Materials tested an unconventional starting material: ...

Jun 23, 2026
Phys.org / Plant protein pair reveals new wood-formation mechanism

Researchers from the Biosciences Department at Durham University have discovered a previously unknown mechanism that helps plants control the formation of wood, a finding that could open new directions for research into plant ...

Jun 23, 2026
Phys.org / Controlling ice crystal growth using polymer nanoparticles

Ice formation can damage biological samples, tissues and materials during freezing and thawing. In nature, specialized molecules known as ice-binding proteins prevent ice crystals from growing too large, helping organisms ...

Jun 23, 2026
Phys.org / DNA loops reveal how immune cells build millions of antibodies from one genome

How does your body produce millions of antibodies from one genome? New research reveals how two closely related proteins help immune cells fold DNA, connecting distant genetic pieces to create diverse antibodies that help ...

Jun 23, 2026
Phys.org / Zebrafish and fruit flies share the same internal compass mechanism in a case of convergent evolution

Even in darkness, many animals retain a sense of orientation because their nervous system sustains a memory of heading encoded by the activity of head-direction (HD) cells. Animals continuously update this internal compass ...

Jun 23, 2026