Phys.org news

Phys.org / Scientists solve 50-year mystery of plant immunity by unlocking debneyol's blueprint

In a silent war that has raged for millions of years, plants have evolved a sophisticated chemical arsenal to fight back against invading pathogens. Now, a team of researchers from Peking University and Tsinghua University ...

May 20, 2026
Phys.org / When Mendel's rules don't apply: Mouse study reveals hidden epigenetic inheritance

Scientists have long known that the DNA code in genes is not the only way to pass genetic traits from parents to offspring. "Epigenetic" marks—chemical modifications to DNA that don't change the DNA code itself—can also be ...

May 20, 2026
Phys.org / Glowing fungi expose final enzyme that could make bioluminescent tools more efficient

Like fireflies and many deep-sea creatures, certain fungi can naturally emit light through bioluminescence pathways in which specialized enzymes convert chemical energy into visible light. Medical researchers have used fungal ...

May 20, 2026
Phys.org / Urban aerosols grow faster in polluted air, sharpening climate model gaps

Aerosols and clouds play a key role in Earth's climate budget. However, the extent to which they reflect solar energy depends heavily on how much water the particles can absorb. This so-called hygroscopicity has so far been ...

May 20, 2026
Phys.org / Could future Mars settlers print their own tools?

If humans one day settle Mars, they will need tools and parts to build structures on the planet. Carrying heavy, bulky supplies 34 million miles from Earth would be impractical. A better plan, says Zane Mebruer, a recent ...

May 20, 2026
Phys.org / The fungus that spoils nearly everything: Gray mold secret revealed

Even if you haven't heard of Botrytis cinerea, you've likely seen it—slowly growing in your store-bought blueberries, tomatoes or even on your beautiful orchids. Commonly known as gray mold, the fungus attacks hundreds of ...

May 20, 2026
Phys.org / Forbidden friends become former friends after moms voice disapproval

It's a tale as old as time: parents don't like the company their children keep—and don't hesitate to say so. Often, parents openly state their disapproval, hoping that children will abandon unwelcome affiliates and seek out ...

May 20, 2026
Phys.org / Astronomers uncover why some solar eruptions die

A team of scientists has recorded one of the most detailed views ever of a failed solar eruption, a powerful blast from the sun that never broke free. Their work is published in the journal Nature Astronomy.

May 20, 2026
Phys.org / Carbon markets underestimate the risks U.S. forests face from climate change, researchers warn

The world's forests form a vast network of carbon reservoirs, keeping carbon sequestered from the atmosphere where its presence is disrupting Earth's climate systems. Many corporate, national and state climate policies rely ...

May 20, 2026
Phys.org / Dominant fish face higher microplastic risk than subordinates in social groups

Fish who display dominant traits are more at risk of consuming microplastic pollution than others in their social group, according to new research. The study, led by the University of Glasgow and published in Proceedings ...

May 20, 2026
Phys.org / Fragility found in a high value shark population

The vulnerability of a shark population to losing even small numbers to fishing has been highlighted by researchers from the University of Chester and partners in the Philippines using a remote stereo camera system. The team ...

May 20, 2026
Phys.org / How climate change is destroying Arctic cultural heritage sites

Climate change is rapidly destroying cultural heritage sites across the Arctic, as exemplified in a 17th century "whalers' graveyard" which provides invaluable insights into early whalers' way of life, according to a study ...

May 20, 2026