Phys.org news

Phys.org / Natural-language AI helps chemists design molecules step by step

Designing molecules is one of chemistry's most complex challenges. From life-saving drugs to advanced materials, each compound requires a precise sequence of reactions. Planning these steps demands both technical knowledge ...

20 hours ago
Phys.org / Bipartisan-cited science is rarely used by policymakers, study finds

Past research has shown that even though science is commonly viewed as essential for effective policymaking, Democrats and Republicans cite different scientific research when creating policy—even when addressing the same ...

19 hours ago
Phys.org / Machine learning identifies catalyst 'sweet spot' for greener urea from waste gases

Urea is an extremely important chemical, especially for fertilizers. But, making urea is energy intensive and relies heavily on fossil fuels. However, new findings from Griffith University and the Queensland University of ...

20 hours ago
Phys.org / A mother's gift: Plastid-derived structures help sea urchin development and dispersal

During the development of marine organisms—from fertilization through to juvenile stages—it is often observed that the eggs released into the water column are initially supplied with only a small fraction of the energy they ...

22 hours ago
Phys.org / Human-altered estuaries now drive stronger tides farther inland

A study led by Wageningen University & Research shows that human interventions have significantly changed tides in river estuaries over the past centuries. In many regions around the world, the difference between high and ...

21 hours ago
Phys.org / Sombrero Galaxy's vast halo emerges in rare detail 30 million light-years away

Messier 104, nicknamed the Sombrero Galaxy, is a popular target for amateur observing and astronomical research. Its recognizable extended halo, as well as a faint stellar stream, are captured in exquisite detail in this ...

Apr 24, 2026
Phys.org / Self-regulating process governs cosmic order inside star clusters

A team of astrophysicists from Nanjing University and University of Bonn have demonstrated that, rather than being random, the mass of new stars born inside a star cluster is actually governed by a defined process of self-regulation. ...

23 hours ago
Phys.org / Promising H5N1 vaccine protects dairy calves and mice against severe disease

Researchers at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln have developed a vaccine approach that shows promise in protecting against highly pathogenic bird flu, demonstrating strong efficacy in both mice and cattle. Avian influenza ...

21 hours ago
Phys.org / Chromosomes condense in three timed chemical waves during cell division, study shows

DNA does not float freely in the cell. Instead, it is wrapped around histone proteins to form structures called nucleosomes. These histones carry numerous chemical modifications that act as molecular signals, controlling ...

21 hours ago
Phys.org / Why delaying climate action now means higher seas by 2100

Imagine your favorite sunny beach. Anywhere will do. You look out and see the ocean stretching to the horizon. To a glaciologist, that view is not just water; it's melted ice. Our new study shows that the best case sea-level ...

23 hours ago
Phys.org / Extra sets of chromosomes may help aggressive tumor cells spread, study finds

One of the biggest challenges in cancer research is understanding why some tumor cells become especially aggressive, invasive and resistant to treatment. Scientists have increasingly linked these dangerous traits to polyploid ...

22 hours ago
Phys.org / Scientists map hidden magnetism on the sun's far side

For observers on Earth, the sun appears as a bright, familiar disk—but what we see is only half the story. Like the moon, one half of the sun is permanently hidden from our direct view: the far side beyond the visible solar ...

23 hours ago