Phys.org news

Phys.org / Assembling more than 1,000 human genomes affordably: New method could power genetic screening's future

A research team led by Zhen-Xing Endowed Professor Jian Yang at the School of Life Sciences, Westlake University, has developed a pangenome-informed genome assembly (PIGA) method. By combining a cost-effective hybrid sequencing ...

Apr 3, 2026
Phys.org / Exposing secret night operations between hawkmoths and Japan's black-nectar flowers

Researchers Soma Chiyoda, Ko Mochizuki, and Atsushi Kawakita from the University of Tokyo have discovered that nocturnal hawkmoths are the main pollinators of Jasminanthes mucronata, a plant species native to Japan that produces ...

Apr 3, 2026
Phys.org / Small quantum system outperforms large classical networks in real-world forecasting

Can a handful of atoms outperform a much larger digital neural network on a real-world task? The answer may be yes. In a study published in Physical Review Letters, a team led by Prof. Peng Xinhua and Assoc. Prof. Li Zhaokai ...

Apr 3, 2026
Phys.org / Can unpaved roads and watersheds co-exist? Researchers wade into the question

Imagine a dump truck dropping 13 tons of dirt into the waters of Brush Creek, a waterway that feeds northwest Arkansas' primary drinking water source, Beaver Lake. That's how much soil and sediment researchers measured going ...

Apr 3, 2026
Phys.org / 3D root model captures mangroves' capacity to protect coastal communities from storm waves

Mangrove forests are natural wonders that protect coastal areas, particularly in tropical and subtropical regions. They are able to dissipate wave energy and limit flooding, which can even mitigate tsunamis and coastal inundations ...

Apr 3, 2026
Phys.org / Engineering the bite of ancient marine predators

An international team of researchers, led by paleontologists of the University of Liège, has investigated the biting capabilities of extinct predatory marine reptiles, revealing how these formidable predators could coexist ...

Apr 3, 2026
Phys.org / High-throughput platform helps engineer fast-acting covalent protein drugs

A team led by principal investigators Bobo Dang and Ting Zhou at Westlake University/Westlake Laboratory have developed a high-throughput platform for engineering fast-acting covalent protein therapeutics. Their study, titled ...

Apr 3, 2026
Phys.org / Bacterial enzyme uses a donut-shaped ring to shred tough collagen, study reveals

Collagen is an important protein that helps build the tissues of humans and animals. It is very strong because it is made of three protein strands twisted tightly together like a rope. Because of this sturdy structure, ordinary ...

Apr 3, 2026
Phys.org / Seed banks may complicate gene drives aimed at controlling weeds

Gene drives—a genetic engineering approach that quickly spreads specific genetic changes throughout a population, whether to kill it off or add a new trait—may have potential for controlling weeds. But so far, gene drives ...

Apr 3, 2026
Phys.org / Artemis II astronauts rocket toward the moon after spending a day around Earth

NASA's Artemis II astronauts fired their engines and blazed toward the moon Thursday night, breaking free of the chains that have trapped humanity in shallow laps around Earth in the decades since Apollo.

Apr 3, 2026
Phys.org / Bumblebees can perceive rhythm, despite their brains being the size of a sesame seed

Humans are creatures of rhythms. As far as we know, humans have always sung and always danced. We can recognize a song by its rhythm alone, regardless of whether it is played fast or slow.

Apr 3, 2026
Phys.org / Domino polymerization provides a new route to versatile, degradable plastics

Plastic, once ingenious for its durability and versatility, has become a global environmental issue that is affecting every aspect of life. This, in turn, is fueling the development of degradable polymers as alternative solutions. ...

Apr 3, 2026