Phys.org news

Phys.org / 'Lock-and-key' chemistry keeps cancer drugs inactive until they reach tumor sites

Many therapeutic molecules used in cancer treatments are highly toxic, often harming healthy tissues and causing significant side effects. This creates a critical need for strategies that localize their toxic activity to ...

Feb 25, 2026 in Chemistry
Phys.org / Ion bombardment triggers a reliable quantum switch in tantalum disulfide crystals

When you toss a coin, you put it into a higher-energy state until it falls back down again. It can then end up in one of two possible states: heads or tails. No matter which state the coin was in before, after the toss both ...

Feb 25, 2026 in Physics
Phys.org / Mother's breasts may protect a newborn from the cold—a new perspective on breast evolution

Humans differ from other primates due to their relatively large, permanent breasts, and their development has so far not been conclusively explained. According to a study conducted at the University of Oulu, Finland, the ...

Feb 25, 2026 in Biology
Phys.org / Plants stay neatly patterned as they grow, and PLETHORA proteins may explain why

How do plants achieve their remarkably regular arrangement of leaves and flowers? And why does this pattern remain so stable, even as plants grow and respond to their environment? Researchers at Wageningen University & Research ...

Feb 25, 2026 in Biology
Phys.org / How a 3D-printed synthetic sea lion pelvis enhances veterinary capabilities to counter ongoing beaching

Scores of sea lions continue to beach themselves along the Southern California coastline, stricken with sickness. Toxic algae blooms are to blame, though a mechanical engineering innovation could shift the tide in favor of ...

Feb 25, 2026 in Biology
Phys.org / Lab tests investigate how house fire emissions differ from forest fires

Wildfires have increased in frequency and severity over the past few decades. More fires are burning at the wildland-urban interface (WUI), where homes and other buildings meet the natural landscape—but our understanding ...

Feb 25, 2026 in Earth
Phys.org / First cases of highly pathogenic avian influenza in northern elephant seals confirmed in California

Seven weaned elephant seal pups in California's Año Nuevo State Park tested positive for highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) H5N1, the U.S. Department of Agriculture's National Veterinary Services Laboratory confirmed ...

Feb 25, 2026 in Biology
Phys.org / An endangered natural pharmacy hidden in coral: Hundreds of reef-dwelling microbes reveal untapped potential

Coral reefs are teeming with life: they are home to over a third of all marine animal and plant species on Earth, despite covering less than one percent of the ocean floor. However, this immense diversity is under threat ...

Feb 25, 2026 in Biology
Phys.org / Robot pollinator uses computer vision to shake flowers and boost indoor farm yields

Indoor farms, also known as vertical farms, are popular among agricultural researchers and are expanding across the agricultural industry. Some benefits they have over outdoor farms include the year-round production of food ...

Feb 25, 2026 in Biology
Phys.org / Boat traffic alters marine megafauna behavior, stress and population trends, global analysis finds

A new study provides a comprehensive global synthesis of how vessel traffic affects large marine wildlife, including whales, dolphins, seals, manatees, sea turtles, sharks and rays. The study, "Charting the Course for Management: ...

Feb 25, 2026 in Biology
Phys.org / Ocean warming drives a nearly 20% annual decline in fish biomass, research confirms

According to a new study by the Museo Nacional de Ciencias Naturales (MNCN-CSIC) and the National University of Colombia, chronic ocean warming is driving a nearly 20% annual decline in fish biomass. However, the researchers ...

Feb 25, 2026 in Biology
Phys.org / Which cell measurements matter most? AI tool helps researchers see the bigger picture

Studying gene expression in a cancer patient's cells can help clinical biologists understand the cancer's origin and predict the success of different treatments. But cells are complex and contain many layers, so how the biologist ...

Feb 25, 2026 in Biology