Phys.org news
Phys.org / Testing tiny telescope robots reveals design changes that could improve galaxy maps
Astronomers have cataloged billions of stars and hundreds of billions of galaxies. We have found thousands of planets orbiting stars. We can also map where galaxies sit and trace how the universe changes over time.
Phys.org / New formulation helps RNA vaccines withstand high temperatures
RNA vaccines, which have proved effective against COVID-19, are now being developed for many other diseases, including cancer. One drawback is that they require ultracold storage, but MIT researchers have found a promising ...
Phys.org / How to balance quantum batteries' high power with stable energy delivery
Quantum batteries are an emerging area of research, with progress coming from theoretical studies and proof-of-principle experiments in small quantum systems. Unlike conventional chemical batteries used in everyday life, ...
Phys.org / Worm experiments reveal how epigenetic effects persist across generations
Every cell in an organism contains the same DNA, which carries all the instructions needed for it to function. Yet cells do not all use the same genes: A nerve cell, for example, does not activate the same genes as a muscle ...
Phys.org / Coast redwoods slow their 'breathing' and 'eating' when temperatures spike
California's iconic coast redwoods are used to growing in cool, coastal areas where the average temperature is around 59 degrees F (15 degrees Celsius). But as average yearly temperatures rise and heat waves push temperatures ...
Phys.org / When microbial DNA is scarce, new profiling method helps separate genuine signals from contamination
In acute, life-threatening infections, rapidly characterizing the microorganisms in a patient sample can help guide diagnosis and treatment. Computational methods known as taxonomic profilers can analyze metagenome sequencing ...
Phys.org / Shared DNA switch turns on genes in both bacteria and yeast
Microbial cell factories that produce pharmaceutical ingredients and other useful compounds include both the bacterium Escherichia coli and yeast, the organism used to leaven bread and ferment alcohol. The two organisms turn ...
Phys.org / Mediterranean rockrose extract shows fungicidal activity against common skin infections
A polyphenol-rich extract from Cistus salviifolius, a Mediterranean rockrose species traditionally used to treat skin conditions, has shown fungicidal activity against several dermatophytes, the fungi responsible for superficial ...
Phys.org / Halting plastic flows into oceans by 2050 may not stop microplastic buildup
Halting new marine plastic inputs by 2050 is the core objective of the Osaka Blue Ocean Vision, which was shared and endorsed alongside the G20 Implementation Framework for Actions on Marine Plastic Litter. However, stopping ...
Phys.org / Mapping the 'social network' of proteins in the cell to understand how genes shape living things
One of biology's fundamental questions is how our genes shape who we are. Adrian Serohijos and Stephen Michnick, professors in the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine at Université de Montréal's Faculty of Medicine, ...
Phys.org / Organic chemists harness AI to uncover how fast chemical reactions proceed
Chemists routinely optimize reactions to maximize the yield of their desired products, but understanding why those reactions work can require laborious experiments that track reactions over time. Researchers at the University ...
Phys.org / Hibernating bacteria can invade hospitals and survive outer space—but their energy budget reveals a weakness
A spore is a bacterium's survival capsule: dried almost solid and wrapped in protein armor, with its chemical processes shut down. Bacteria enter this state of hibernation when environmental conditions are unfavorable. What's ...
