Phys.org news

Phys.org / Reprogrammed poplar trees can make key industrial chemical for biodegradable plastics

A team led by scientists at the U.S. Department of Energy's (DOE) Brookhaven National Laboratory has engineered poplar trees to produce valuable chemicals that can be used to make biodegradable plastics and other products. ...

Nov 20, 2025 in Biology
Phys.org / Machine learning beats classical method in predicting cosmic ray radiation near Earth

Cosmic rays are high-energy particles that constantly bombard Earth from space and are influenced by the sun's magnetic activity. When the sun is active, fewer of these particles reach Earth; when the sun is quiet, more are ...

Nov 20, 2025 in Astronomy & Space
Phys.org / Multicellular cyanobacteria switch gene activity between day and night cycles

Cyanobacteria, also known as blue-green algae, occur worldwide in many varieties, including in single-cell form and in chains called filaments. While these tiny life forms can strongly influence many ecosystems, the details ...

Nov 20, 2025 in Biology
Phys.org / Chinese telescope captures 155 high-frequency bursts from fast radio burst 20240114A

Using the Tianma Radio Telescope (TMRT), researchers from the Shanghai Astronomical Observatory (SHAO) of the Chinese Academy of Sciences conducted 66 simultaneous dual‑frequency (2.25 GHz/8.60 GHz) observations of the ...

Nov 20, 2025 in Astronomy & Space
Phys.org / Isotope-based method can detect unknown selenium compounds

Although present in very small amounts, selenium (Se)-based compounds play important roles in protecting the body from oxidative stress, regulating thyroid hormones, strengthening the immune system, and even detoxifying heavy ...

Nov 20, 2025 in Chemistry
Phys.org / Little bettongs' dramatic nut-cracker performance

Native Australian animals range from high-hopping kangaroos to fast-running emus—but clever little bettongs also have a special ability to find and eat the food they love.

Nov 20, 2025 in Biology
Phys.org / How fish embryos first regulate their genes

A RIKEN researcher and his colleague have identified how genes are expressed in fish embryos when they first start using their own genetic material. If the same mechanisms apply to humans, they could shed light on developmental ...

Nov 20, 2025 in Biology
Phys.org / Hormone-free plant regeneration method works for multiple crops

Researchers at Wageningen University & Research (WUR), working in close collaboration with KeyGene, have developed a method that enables plant cells to regenerate into complete plants without the need for added hormones.

Nov 20, 2025 in Biology
Phys.org / 'Chocolate-flavored' honey created using cocoa bean shells

A group of researchers from the State University of Campinas (UNICAMP) in the state of São Paulo, Brazil, developed a product made from native bee honey and cocoa bean shells that can be consumed directly or used as an ingredient ...

Nov 19, 2025 in Chemistry
Phys.org / Discovery of rare protist reveals previously unknown branch of eukaryotic tree of life

A research team from the Faculty of Science, Charles University in Prague has discovered Solarion arienae, an extremely rare and morphologically unique unicellular eukaryote that sheds new light on early eukaryotic evolution.

Nov 19, 2025 in Biology
Phys.org / Scientist captures tiny particles for clues on what sparks lightning

Using lasers as tweezers to understand cloud electrification might sound like science fiction, but at the Institute of Science and Technology Austria (ISTA) it is a reality. By trapping and charging micron-sized particles ...

Nov 19, 2025 in Physics
Phys.org / Decapitated fossil fish with guts still intact reveal ancient predatory habits

In a study appearing in Fossil Record, researchers Martin Ebert and Martina Kölbl-Ebert analyzed the remains of a unique fossil type: the decapitated head of Aspidorhynchus, with its gastrointestinal tract (guts) still attached. ...

Nov 19, 2025 in Biology