Phys.org news

Phys.org / Tale of the lava heron: Student describes new Galapagos species

The Galapagos Islands are famous for the discoveries that shaped Charles Darwin's theory of evolution. Now an SFSU graduate has added one more: Ezra Mendales (M.S., '23) describes a new species as part of his master's thesis. ...

Mar 26, 2026
Phys.org / 'Near-misses' in particle accelerators can illuminate new physics, study finds

Particle accelerators reveal the heart of nuclear matter by smashing together atoms at close to the speed of light. The high-energy collisions produce a shower of subatomic fragments that scientists can then study to reconstruct ...

Mar 26, 2026
Phys.org / Why cells respond 'incorrectly' in old age

Some of the signs of aging in human cells originate in the cell nucleus, because the packaged form of DNA changes with age. This has now been demonstrated by PSI researchers. It means that older cells can no longer react ...

Mar 26, 2026
Phys.org / New model finds complex earthquake patterns of the Phlegraean Fields near Naples

The Phlegraean Fields volcanic complex, located beneath the metropolitan area of Naples—a city of 900,000 inhabitants in Italy—has been rising increasingly since 2005, accompanied by a growing number of small earthquakes. ...

Mar 26, 2026
Phys.org / Tiny LED design could power next-generation technology

From 3D movie screens to augmented-reality devices, many modern technologies rely on our ability to manipulate light. Doing so in a cost-effective and efficient way, however, is often a formidable task. In an article published ...

Mar 26, 2026
Phys.org / From engineered fungal molecules to drug leads, chem-bio hybrid synthesis enables antiparasitic drug discovery

Amebiasis is a parasitic disease caused by the microscopic protozoan Entamoeba histolytica. Infection occurs through the ingestion of cysts from contaminated water or food. Worldwide, approximately 50 million symptomatic ...

Mar 26, 2026
Phys.org / New synthetic origin of replication lets multiple plasmids coexist in one bacterial cell

"If it ain't broke, don't fix it," goes the old adage, which Rice University professor James Chappell completely ignored in a recent Nature Communications publication. In the study, Chappell describes an innovation in plasmids, ...

Mar 26, 2026
Phys.org / Programmable superconducting diode can flow on command

A team of researchers led by the University of Pittsburgh demonstrated a programmable superconducting diode at the LaAlO3/KTaO3 (LAO/KTO) interface, an advance that holds potential to enhance/help usher in the future of next-generation ...

Mar 26, 2026
Phys.org / Quantum computer accurately simulates real magnetic materials, reproducing national laboratory data

Studying and designing novel materials is a central application of quantum mechanics. Chemists, materials scientists, and physicists focus on subtle interactions in quantum materials and to uncover them they rely on sophisticated ...

Mar 26, 2026
Phys.org / Bioluminescent bacterial partner proves essential for squid development

The Hawaiian bobtail squid, a small, multi-colored native of coastal waters in Hawai'i, uses bioluminescence to camouflage itself and evade predators. However, the costume change is only possible through an exclusive symbiotic ...

Mar 26, 2026
Phys.org / Beyond lipid nanoparticles: How custom polymers and AI may reshape gene therapies

Nucleic acids such as DNA and RNA play a central role in gene therapies and vaccines. They store and transmit biological information. In order for them to work in the body, they must enter the cells using chemical carrier ...

Mar 26, 2026
Phys.org / DNA shape explains crucial gene-therapy challenges

CRISPR is a powerful DNA-editing tool that has underpinned huge advancements in human health care in the last decade. It is a precision tool, but is not perfect, and misplaced DNA edits can compromise safety and efficacy, ...

Mar 26, 2026