Phys.org news

Phys.org / Too much RNA can starve cells of energy, study finds

A new study from researchers at the Texas A&M College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences (VMBS) has uncovered a previously unknown consequence of viral infection: Too much RNA inside a cell can disrupt its ability ...

Aug 19, 2026
Phys.org / Fastest known Milky Way star offers new test of supermassive black hole's spin

Astronomers have discovered the fastest known star in our galaxy, the Milky Way, orbiting the black hole at its center. The star, named S301, was detected with the European Southern Observatory's Very Large Telescope Interferometer ...

Aug 19, 2026
Phys.org / Beijing's isoprene-emitting trees highlight ozone risks in greener, hotter cities

Amid current heat waves, urban greening is once again moving to the center of public debate. Greener cities are generally expected to have cleaner air because trees capture airborne particles, absorb gaseous pollutants and ...

Aug 19, 2026
Phys.org / Peru's highest mountain confirms tropics were a major methane source before the industrial era

A new analysis of ice cores collected from the Andes in Peru has produced the first global record of historical tropical methane, filling a critical gap in our understanding of the origins of Earth's greenhouse gases.

Aug 19, 2026
Phys.org / Foreign tariffs made U.S. whiskey cheaper... depending on where you live

A new study finds that one side effect of Trump-era trade wars has been cheaper whiskey in much of the United States. But if you live in whiskey hubs Kentucky or Tennessee, your prices actually went up.

Aug 19, 2026
Phys.org / AI prompts offer a new tool for mapping how emotion concepts relate

How similar are "joy" and "surprise"? Conversely, how far apart are "joy" and "sadness"? We naturally organize words that express emotions—such as "happy," "afraid," and "angry"—according to similarities and differences in ...

Aug 19, 2026
Phys.org / 'Ecology of fear' can dramatically change the behavior of blue mussels

For a blue mussel, a good meal does not come entirely without risk. Blue mussels feed by filtering microscopic algae from seawater. But some unwelcome guests can slip in along with their food. Tiny parasite larvae can hitch ...

Aug 19, 2026
Phys.org / AI flood map reveals 11 million Americans may be omitted from official risk zones

Official flood maps shape disaster preparedness, insurance decisions and urban planning, but large parts of the United States remain unmapped or under-mapped. This means some communities may be left unaware of the risks they ...

Aug 19, 2026
Phys.org / Rye reference genome uncovers diversity that could strengthen wheat breeding

Rye is not only a hardy and high-yielding crop, but also possesses a valuable gene pool for wheat breeding. An international research team led by the IPK Leibniz Institute has significantly improved the foundations for research ...

Aug 19, 2026
Phys.org / Climate taxonomy tool turns risk assessments into practical adaptation guidance

As climate impacts such as heat waves, floods and fires intensify worldwide, there is an urgent demand for information on how to respond. IIASA researchers and partners have developed a new tool that meets that need, integrating ...

Aug 19, 2026
Phys.org / Microbial clocks can accurately estimate time since death across different climates

New research reveals that microbial clocks—forensic tools that track the succession and development of bacteria and fungi involved in decomposition after death—are highly accurate for estimating time since death, or postmortem ...

Aug 19, 2026
Phys.org / Neutron capture experiment sheds light on ancient stardust

Niobium-94, an isotope of niobium with 41 protons and 53 neutrons, is a critical crossroads in the complex nuclear processes that forge heavy elements under the intense pressures and temperatures of dying stars. In an article ...

Aug 19, 2026