Phys.org news

Phys.org / Chemists unlock first total synthesis of rare plant alkaloid tied to anticancer activity

Plants are undeniably one of nature's most promising sources of new medicines, with monoterpenoid indole alkaloids (MIAs) being a great example. Some intricate compounds are built from multiple-linked chemical units that ...

Jun 8, 2026
Phys.org / Van der Waals forces can play unexpected role in thin film properties

Researchers have demonstrated the ability to use van der Waals forces to tune the physical and electronic properties of ferroelectric thin films. The work opens the door to new techniques for engineering materials for use ...

Jun 8, 2026
Phys.org / Brazilian breadbasket's aquifers are falling, and new satellite maps show where water stress is growing

A collaboration of scientists from NASA and Brazilian research institutions has produced a detailed picture of groundwater change across Brazil. The images reveal significant declines in some of the aquifers that are critical ...

Jun 8, 2026
Phys.org / Peptide blocks DNA breaks tied to treatment-induced leukemia, offering new prevention route

Thanks to effective therapies, more and more people are now able to live with or after cancer in the long term. Consequently, the number of patients affected by the long-term effects of their treatment is also increasing. ...

Jun 8, 2026
Phys.org / Alien signal claims face stricter verification under updated disclosure rules

The IAA SETI Committee has updated rules for evaluating and revealing the detection of extraterrestrial intelligence.

Jun 8, 2026
Phys.org / NASA satellites reveal major ocean nutrient stress

A new study combining NASA satellite observations, ocean surveys and genetic testing of marine microorganisms found evidence that warming ocean waters may be limiting nutrient availability across much of the global ocean. ...

Jun 8, 2026
Phys.org / Magnesium transporter discovery could improve rice nutrition and taste

Rice is a staple food for nearly half the global population and an important dietary source of magnesium, a mineral essential for human health, plant growth and energy metabolism. Although magnesium is known to influence ...

Jun 8, 2026
Phys.org / Researchers craft a new, simple recipe for highly entangled quantum states

Building useful quantum technologies—from sensors to computers—requires generating highly complex entangled states, in which the properties of particles are deeply intertwined. Producing such states has traditionally required ...

Jun 8, 2026
Phys.org / Satellites reveal cities' 'urban pulse,' tracking neighborhood growth in near real time

For over a century, doctors have used electrocardiograms (EKGs) to render the invisible electrical activity of the human heart visible, using the pulse to diagnose disease before it becomes fatal. Now, scientists have invented ...

Jun 8, 2026
Phys.org / Plants could be used to grow medicines in space, study shows

Astronauts on long space missions may one day use plants to produce fresh stocks of medicines on demand, thanks to new research by engineers at the University of California San Diego. The team developed a simple method to ...

Jun 8, 2026
Phys.org / Ocean collapse triggered ancient wildfires, research suggests

Research led by the University of Alabama found that widespread wildfires during one of Earth's ancient environmental crises did not trigger an ocean collapse but were a consequence of it.

Jun 8, 2026
Phys.org / Research uncovers novel electronic properties in quantum material

Florida State University physicists are part of a team that has discovered unusual superconducting states in parts of graphene, with the potential to drive unexpected quantum technologies.

Jun 8, 2026