Phys.org news

Phys.org / New AI framework reveals chemistry driving high-conductivity lithium-ion electrolytes

A new artificial intelligence framework developed at Cornell can accurately predict the performance of battery electrolytes while revealing the chemical principles that govern them, providing engineers with a new tool for ...

2 hours ago in Chemistry
Phys.org / Scientists unlock a massive new 'color palette' for biomedical research by synthesizing non-natural amino acids

Ozempic has been making headlines for its remarkable success in treating obesity and diabetes. Yet it is just one in a rapidly growing class of drugs called peptide therapeutics that sits between small molecules (like aspirin) ...

3 hours ago in Chemistry
Phys.org / Transistor-like MXene membranes enhance ion separation

By applying voltage to electrically control a new "transistor" membrane, researchers at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL) achieved real-time tuning of ion separations—a capability previously thought impossible. ...

3 hours ago in Nanotechnology
Phys.org / Lab-in-the-loop framework enables rapid evolution of complex multi-mutant proteins

The search space for protein engineering grows exponentially with complexity. A protein of just 100 amino acids has 20100 possible variants—more combinations than atoms in the observable universe. Traditional engineering ...

3 hours ago in Biology
Phys.org / Expands the genetic alphabet: Artificial DNA base pair uses halogen bonds to form stable structures

For the first time, researchers have succeeded in developing an artificial DNA base pair that is based on a different chemical force than natural genetic material. While the common natural DNA building blocks are held together ...

3 hours ago in Chemistry
Phys.org / Why some objects in space look like snowmen: Gravitational collapse may shed light on contact binaries

Astronomers have long debated why so many icy objects in the outer solar system look like snowmen. Michigan State University researchers now have evidence of the surprisingly simple process that could be responsible for their ...

3 hours ago in Astronomy & Space
Phys.org / Flickering glacial climate may have shaped early human evolution

Researchers have identified a "tipping point" about 2.7 million years ago when global climate conditions switched from being relatively warm and stable to cold and chaotic, as continental ice sheets expanded in the Northern ...

3 hours ago in Earth
Phys.org / Social pressure forces baby clownfish to lose their bars faster, study shows

Growing up, you probably changed your style based on your social influences. It turns out, such pressures affect the appearance of young clownfish (anemonefish) too. A new study from the Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology ...

3 hours ago in Biology
Phys.org / Uncovering evolution at the center of cell division

Centromeres play virtually the same central role across the entire tree of life: They ensure the faithful segregation of chromosomes during cell division. Yet the striking diversity in centromere architecture—from large, ...

3 hours ago in Biology
Phys.org / Stronger scents and healthier crops: Unlocking plants' hidden potential through precision gene editing

Scientists have long sought to understand why some plants are fragrant powerhouses while others remain subtle. Now, a research team from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem has cracked a genetic "bottleneck," using precision ...

3 hours ago in Biology
Phys.org / Webb maps the mysterious upper atmosphere of Uranus

For the first time, an international team of astronomers have mapped the vertical structure of Uranus's upper atmosphere, uncovering how temperature and charged particles vary with height across the planet. Using Webb's NIRSpec ...

4 hours ago in Astronomy & Space
Phys.org / Hiding in plain sight: Discovery of cryptic species could double the number of vertebrates

There may be twice as many vertebrates on the planet as previous estimates claimed, according to a new study published in the journal Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences. That's not because of any errors ...

7 hours ago in Biology