Phys.org news

Phys.org / Oldest human brain cells grown in lab 'recorded passage of time'

Peppercorn-sized clumps of human brain cells grown in a lab for a record seven years aged similarly to those inside our heads, suggesting they "recorded the passage of time," scientists said Wednesday.

22 hours ago
Phys.org / Protein degradation rate helps explain why humans develop more slowly than mice

Humans develop at a slower rate than other mammalian species, like mice, but scientists are still trying to understand the molecular basis of these differences. Now, researchers from the Ebisuya Group at EMBL Barcelona and ...

18 hours ago
Phys.org / Collaborative drawing offers new insights into how strangers become friends

The closer two people grow, the more alike their brains work—or so the assumption goes. Two ETH Zurich studies challenge this idea by examining the brain activity of younger and older adults who drew together over several ...

20 hours ago
Phys.org / The superconducting gap of an ultrathin nickelate defies expectations

Superconductors are materials that carry electrical current with zero resistance below a specific critical temperature. In conventional superconductors, the transition to superconductivity generally occurs at very low temperatures.

Aug 23, 2026
Phys.org / Quantum computer microscope is set to significantly improve electron microscopy

Electron microscopes are used wherever particularly small details need to be imaged. But from a strictly physical point of view, every electron in a conventional electron microscope represents a missed opportunity: If all ...

Aug 23, 2026
Phys.org / Hot temperatures can dull blue morpho butterflies' iridescent scales

Blue morpho butterflies have captivated the human eye for centuries. We even have one as an emoji on our phones. In a recent experiment, researchers at the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute (STRI) documented for the ...

Aug 23, 2026
Phys.org / Blowing in the wind, humble balloon gets green makeover

A global symbol of parties and celebrations but an environmental headache, the humble balloon is undergoing a green revolution thanks to U.K. researchers.

Aug 23, 2026
Phys.org / A museum-shelf mystery reveals 6,500-year-old human tooth pendant in Serbia

More than 6,500 years ago, someone carefully drilled a hole in a human tooth, strung it on a cord and likely used it as a necklace. Found during field surveys at the Vinča cultural site of Jablanica in Serbia, the human tooth ...

Aug 22, 2026
Phys.org / AI decodes DNA initiator sequence found in about 60% of human genes

Precise activation of tens of thousands of genes is critical for healthy development and growth. Specialized segments of our DNA are responsible for carefully orchestrating genetic sequences that result in the production ...

Aug 22, 2026
Phys.org / Computer models pinpoint catalysts for replacing fossil-fueled ammonia production

Ammonia is one of the most important chemicals produced in the world, ranking second only to sulfuric acid in the total volume produced each year. It is used mostly to make fertilizer, which is essential to feeding the world's ...

Aug 22, 2026
Phys.org / Near-total lunar eclipse is coming up with the Americas in prime position

Now it's the moon's turn to pull a disappearing act. After being shut out of this month's total solar eclipse, the Americas will have the best seats in the celestial house when Earth's shadow briefly envelops the moon. Almost ...

Aug 22, 2026
Phys.org / Animal genomes follow irreversible 'evolutionary highways' across thousands of species

A human, an octopus, and a coral could hardly look more different—yet deep inside their cells, their chromosomes still carry recognizable pieces of a genome inherited from an animal ancestor that lived more than 600 million ...

Aug 22, 2026