Phys.org news

Phys.org / Hidden small RNA in cholera bacterium helps determine whether it can infect humans

Scientists from St. Jude Children's Research Hospital have uncovered what gives Vibrio cholerae, the bacterium that causes cholera, the ability to colonize the human gut. The researchers found that a small RNA embedded within ...

May 16, 2026
Phys.org / Common cancer protein may be therapeutic target, study finds

A protein doctors routinely use to measure how aggressively tumors are growing may also help prevent the chromosome errors that drive cancer, new research by academics at Brunel University of London suggests.

May 16, 2026
Phys.org / Saturday Citations: Prehistoric dentistry; sleep and aging; our photogenic sun

This week in science news: Are you a mosquito magnet? Here's why. Researchers using topological mathematics have uncovered a hidden rule in abstract art that corresponds to people's perceptions. And scientists developed a ...

May 16, 2026
Phys.org / Lobster embryo microbiomes remain resilient in future ocean conditions, sequencing reveals

As ocean temperatures rise and marine ecosystems change, scientists are working to understand how valuable species like the American lobster will respond. New research from William & Mary's Batten School of Coastal & Marine ...

May 16, 2026
Phys.org / Why is almost everyone right-handed? The answer may lie in how we learned to walk

It is one of the strangest puzzles in human evolution. About 90% of people across every human culture favor their right hand—with no other primate species showing a population-level preference on this scale. Despite decades ...

May 15, 2026
Phys.org / Coal pollution is cutting solar power output worldwide, study finds

New research led by the University of Oxford and University College London (UCL) has revealed that pollution from coal-fired power plants is significantly reducing the energy output of solar photovoltaic (solar PV) installations, ...

May 15, 2026
Phys.org / Neuron imaging captures unconventional receptor route that supports synaptic communication

All cells, whether big or small, short or long, rely on proteins to function properly. In most cells, transporting these proteins is relatively simple. Neurons in the brain, however, face a significant logistical challenge ...

May 15, 2026
Phys.org / Implantable bacteria can now be safely contained, clearing a major hurdle for fighting infection and cancer

Researchers have long known that bacteria could potentially be used to deliver therapeutic drugs inside the human body. However, safely and successfully carrying out such a feat in humans has been a challenge. But now, researchers ...

May 15, 2026
Phys.org / Scientists identify hidden accelerant in Antarctic ice loss

For years, scientists have warned that melting Antarctic ice could push sea levels dangerously higher by the end of this century. But a new study led by University of Maryland scientist Madeleine Youngs suggests those warnings ...

May 15, 2026
Phys.org / Sustainable chemistry: Iron substitutes noble metals in catalytic reactions

The production of many products used in everyday life and in industry, such as pharmaceuticals, plastics, and coatings, requires chemical catalysts, often expensive noble metals with limited availability. Researchers at the ...

May 15, 2026
Phys.org / RNA's first letter may shape antiviral alarms, with A outpacing G

Researchers at the International Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology in Warsaw (IIMCB), led by Prof. Gracjan Michlewski, have shown that a subtle difference at the very beginning of an RNA molecule can influence how strongly ...

May 15, 2026
Phys.org / New species of venomous box jellyfish discovered in Singapore

Finding highly venomous box jellyfish that are almost invisible in water is not an easy task—but researching them is crucial so that we can learn how to safely avoid them. Stings from these "sea-wasps" are extremely painful ...

May 15, 2026