Phys.org news

Phys.org / Ancient genetic 'start' signal found in bacteria, archaea and eukaryotes

A newly discovered promoter element "start" points to a shared regulatory syntax for controlling transcription initiation in bacteria, archaea, and eukaryotes.

Dec 15, 2025 in Biology
Phys.org / Synthetic key enzyme enables the conversion of CO₂ into formic acid

For a carbon-neutral bioeconomy, processes are needed that can efficiently capture CO2 and convert it into valuable products. Formic acid, or more specifically its salt, formate, is considered a promising candidate as it ...

Dec 15, 2025 in Chemistry
Phys.org / From cages to fields: Lab mice lose their anxiety after a week outdoors

When postdoctoral researcher Matthew Zipple releases lab mice into a large, enclosed field just off Cornell's campus, something remarkable happens.

Dec 15, 2025 in Biology
Phys.org / Deep-learning model predicts how fruit flies form, cell by cell

During early development, tissues and organs begin to bloom through the shifting, splitting, and growing of many thousands of cells.

Dec 15, 2025 in Biology
Phys.org / Iconic 'Little Foot' fossil may be new type of human ancestor

An international study led by researchers from Australia's La Trobe University and the University of Cambridge has challenged the classification of one of the world's most complete human ancestral fossils, raising the possibility ...

Dec 15, 2025 in Biology
Phys.org / NASA's Roman telescope will observe thousands of newfound cosmic voids

Our universe is filled with galaxies, in all directions as far as our instruments can see. Some researchers estimate that there are as many as 2 trillion galaxies in the observable universe. At first glance, these galaxies ...

Dec 15, 2025 in Astronomy & Space
Phys.org / Integrative quantum chemistry method unlocks secrets of advanced materials

A new computational approach developed at the University of Chicago promises to shed light on some of the world's most puzzling materials—from high-temperature superconductors to solar cell semiconductors—by uniting two ...

Dec 15, 2025 in Physics
Phys.org / A hormone can access the brain by 'hitchhiking' on extracellular vesicles, researchers discover

Researchers at Touro University Nevada have discovered that tiny particles in the blood, called extracellular vesicles (EVs), are a major player in how a group of hormones are shuttled through the body. Physical exercise ...

Dec 15, 2025 in Nanotechnology
Phys.org / Making lighter work of calculating fluid and heat flow

Scientists from Tokyo Metropolitan University have re-engineered the popular Lattice-Boltzmann Method (LBM) for simulating the flow of fluids and heat, making it lighter and more stable than the state-of-the-art.

Dec 15, 2025 in Physics
Phys.org / Heavy is the head that wears the crown: Dominant baboons miss out on restful nights

Dominant baboons rule the troops by day, but at night, they may pay a hidden cost. A study led by Swansea University has found that higher-ranking baboons get less and more fragmented rest at night than their lower-ranked ...

Dec 15, 2025 in Biology
Phys.org / Nanomotors drive protein network formation inside artificial cells

No one has yet created a fully functioning artificial cell. But a research team at Aarhus University has taken a step in that direction:

Dec 15, 2025 in Nanotechnology
Phys.org / Room-temperature electron behavior defies expectations, hinting at ultra-efficient electronics

Scientists have discovered a way to efficiently transfer electrical current through specific materials at room temperature, a finding that could revolutionize superconductivity and reshape energy preservation and generation.

Dec 15, 2025 in Physics