Phys.org news

Phys.org / First human SMUG1 atomic snapshots reveal how cells repair DNA

Researchers have captured the first atomic structures of human SMUG1, an enzyme that helps cells repair damaged DNA. The findings provide new insight into how cells recognize and remove harmful DNA bases, and may support ...

2 hours ago
Phys.org / Antarctic 'sky rivers' deliver up to 90% of snowfall, 3D algorithm suggests

Atmospheric rivers act like "rivers in the sky," shuttling intense bands of warm, heavy moisture from lower to higher latitudes. When an atmospheric river encounters cold air or mountainous terrain, the moisture it carries ...

1 hour ago
Phys.org / Cutting a photon in two creates an infinite swarm of particles

By definition, elementary particles can't be broken into smaller pieces. But in a new theoretical study published in Physical Review Letters, Johannes Skaar and colleagues have revealed what would happen if you tried anyway ...

8 hours ago
Phys.org / Clean drinking water gaps linked to hunger and unsafe food worldwide

A new global study has found that people without access to clean drinking water are significantly more likely to experience food insecurity and food safety threats, underscoring the urgent need for coordinated global action ...

2 hours ago
Phys.org / Bees can swim and use visual cues to survive water crashes

When a bee crashes into water, it may still be able to swim to safety. New research from Michigan State University confirms that honeybees can propel themselves across the water's surface, and their movement is purposeful ...

1 hour ago
Phys.org / Six roads to safety: A critical threshold for wildfire survival

If your community was threatened by a wildfire, would you be able to quickly evacuate? A new study from UC Santa Barbara reveals that the number of roads out of a community may be one of the strongest predictors of wildfire ...

2 hours ago
Phys.org / Lab evolution recreates COVID's path to omicron in months, reveals key conditions

A key step in the origin of many pandemics occurs when an animal-borne virus infects humans and then evolves to spread more efficiently from person to person. That is why scientists and physicians keep a close watch on viruses ...

2 hours ago
Phys.org / How a Richard Feynman formula could explain your dining habits in a new city

One of the dilemmas facing anyone in a new and unfamiliar city is where to dine out. You might consult guides, speak to locals, check reviews, and ultimately, try your luck. But if you're there for a while, at some point ...

6 hours ago
Phys.org / 'Genetic brakes' reveal how embryos shape their limbs

Canadian scientists have made a significant advance in understanding the mechanisms that enable embryos to properly form their limbs, thanks to new research led by Université de Montréal medical professor Marie Kmita at the ...

3 hours ago
Phys.org / Britain's oldest cave art may have been rediscovered in Bacon Hole cave

The oldest cave art in Britain may have been discovered, or more likely rediscovered, in a cave on the Gower Peninsula in South Wales, possibly dating back around 17,000 years.

6 hours ago
Phys.org / Fluorescent nanosensor detects key gut biomarker in minutes for faster testing

A research collaboration has developed a novel fluorescent nanosensor capable of rapidly detecting indole-3-propionic acid (IPA), an emerging biomarker linked to gut health and disease. The breakthrough is described in the ...

3 hours ago
Phys.org / Extreme weather is making Antarctic research harder, but new technology is providing some answers

When you think of Antarctica, you might imagine a stark, otherworldly continent of endless, white ice, with the only sound being the wind punctuated by the crack of a glacier calving in the distance.

3 hours ago