Phys.org news
Phys.org / The way a cell fails to divide after copying its DNA can determine its fate
Cell division is one of the most fundamental and complex processes underpinning life. In human cells, thousands of molecules coordinate with one another in highly precise steps, all within a fraction of a second. But things ...
Phys.org / How photosynthetic bacteria pass light along: Two major energy pathways identified
RIKEN researchers have found out how light energy harvested by pigments besides chlorophyll is transferred to the molecular site where photosynthesis occurs in cyanobacteria. The work is published in the journal Plant and ...
Phys.org / Bigger, faster, but still outfoxed: How prey escape predators
Predators are typically larger, faster, and more powerful than the animals they hunt. Yet in nature, most attacks fail. A new study published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, by researchers from the ...
Phys.org / Azide-to-diazo reaction unlocks safer path to versatile nitrogen-rich compounds
In the world of organic chemistry, nitrogen-containing organic compounds are ubiquitous, forming the backbone of pharmaceuticals, agrochemicals, dyes, and functional materials. To build these important molecules, chemists ...
Phys.org / Living near a gas station raises childhood cancer risk, study shows
Childhood cancers are devastating. Even when the disease is not fatal, its long-term effects can be severe. Not enough is known about the risk factors. "Research suggests that only 5% to 10% of childhood cancers are attributable ...
Phys.org / Slower access, faster chemistry: Nanoreactor design improves catalysis by balancing molecular flow
A new study by a team at Tohoku University, published in Chemical Engineering Journal, has shown that more isn't always better when it comes to nanoscale chemical reactions. One might think that giving reactants completely ...
Phys.org / How genetic information helps cells resist chaos and stay alive
A Moffitt Cancer Center researcher has introduced a new model that addresses one of biology's most fundamental questions: How does genetic information keep living systems organized and therefore alive?
Phys.org / Long-term study of COVID lockdown and family life shows unexpected, lasting effects on fatherhood
In the years following the COVID-19 pandemic, much has been said about how the lockdowns created conditions for dual-parent families to spend more time at home with their children. In an ideal vision of family life, this ...
Phys.org / When the Schuylkill swallowed the city: Lessons from Hurricane Ida's historic flood
New Penn research shows that Hurricane Ida wasn't a once-in-a-century anomaly but a preview of how climate change, urbanization, and aging infrastructure are rewriting flood risk.
Phys.org / Under crushing hypergravity, fruit flies adapt—and recover
Expose an animal to extreme physical stress, and the expectation is simple: It will break down. But when UC Riverside scientists subjected fruit flies to forces many times stronger than Earth's gravity—a condition called ...
Phys.org / How oak trees outwit their predators
Spring in the forest: Many insects, particularly caterpillars, hatch just when the trees' nutrient-rich leaves are still young and soft. This means they find a table laden with food and can start eating straight away. If ...
Phys.org / After flames strip hillsides bare, the next storm can unleash something far more destructive downstream
Wildfires can increase flooding risks in and downstream of burned areas by removing vegetation and disturbing hydrologic processes. As the climate changes, the severity of both wildfires and heavy rainfall events is increasing, ...