Phys.org news

Phys.org / Comprehensive map reveals how E3 ligases organize protein cleanup in human cells

Maintaining cellular order is a major logistical challenge: Individual mammalian cells contain billions of protein molecules, which must be synthesized, deployed, and removed with precision. In the ubiquitin-proteasome system ...

Jan 15, 2026 in Biology
Phys.org / Charging gold nanorods with light energy

Gold nanorods are promising photocatalysts that can use light energy to drive chemical reactions—such as converting CO₂ into usable fuels or producing hydrogen from water. In this process, the nanorods act like tiny antennas ...

Jan 15, 2026 in Nanotechnology
Phys.org / The hidden risk of combined stressors for soils

Global change—a term that encompasses climate change and phenomena such as changes in land use or environmental pollution—is increasingly putting ecosystems around the world under pressure. Urban soils in particular are ...

Jan 15, 2026 in Earth
Phys.org / DNA's hidden 'traffic controller' protein may hold clues to cancer prevention

A new LUMC study has changed our understanding of how cells work. Researchers have discovered that the CFAP20 protein acts as a kind of "traffic controller" on DNA. Without this protein, chaos ensues, potentially causing ...

Jan 15, 2026 in Biology
Phys.org / Composing nanomaterials—open-source platform unites AI and automated synthesis

LMU researcher Professor Alexander Urban and his team have developed a tool that could revolutionize the design of new materials. Synthesizer is a platform that combines automated chemical synthesis, high-throughput characterization, ...

Jan 15, 2026 in Nanotechnology
Phys.org / Flowers shape the spread of viruses among wild bees, study finds

A recent study shows that viruses in wild bees are closely linked to the flowers they visit and the availability of floral resources across the landscape. Researchers found that certain floral communities increase the likelihood ...

Jan 15, 2026 in Biology
Phys.org / Exploring metabolic noise opens new paths to better biomanufacturing

Much like humans, microbial organisms can be fickle in their productivity. One moment they're cranking out useful chemicals in vast fermentation tanks, metabolizing feed to make products from pharmaceuticals and supplements ...

Jan 15, 2026 in Biology
Phys.org / Earth system models overestimate river flow increases, research reveals

Understanding how water moves through the Earth system is fundamental to predicting climate impacts and ensuring sustainable water management. Yet despite decades of research, uncertainties persist regarding how global precipitation ...

Jan 15, 2026 in Earth
Phys.org / Crowd sensing for the environment: Citizen science and plant apps map how urbanization alters city soils and climate

Plants reflect urban climate and soil conditions with remarkable precision. Using more than 80 million observations from plant identification apps, researchers at the Max Planck Institute for Biogeochemistry have produced ...

Jan 15, 2026 in Earth
Phys.org / Overcoming symmetry limits in photovoltaics through surface engineering

A recent study carried out by researchers from EHU, the Materials Physics Center, nanoGUNE, and DIPC introduces a novel approach to solar energy conversion and spintronics. The work tackles a long-standing limitation in the ...

Jan 15, 2026 in Physics
Phys.org / Fossils reveal 'latitudinal traps' that increased extinction risk for marine species

A new study led by researchers at the University of Oxford has shown that the shape and orientation of coastlines significantly influenced extinction patterns for animals living in the shallow oceans during the last 540 million ...

Jan 15, 2026 in Biology
Phys.org / Large parts of the tropics overlooked in environmental research, study says

Environmental research in the tropics is heavily skewed, according to a comprehensive study led by Umeå University. Humid lowland forest ecosystems receive a disproportionate amount of attention, while colder and drier regions ...

Jan 15, 2026 in Earth