Phys.org news

Phys.org / Nanocomposite hydrogel adapts to multiple stimuli for targeted drug release
Researchers from the Institute of Polymer Science and Engineering, National Taiwan University, have developed a smart gel that responds to multiple stimuli for precise drug release.

Phys.org / Humpback whales' use of memory to time their migration could prove less effective amid climate change
A new study led by McGill University researchers indicates that humpback whales in the southeastern Pacific combine real-time environmental cues with their memories of conditions in their Antarctic feeding grounds to determine ...

Phys.org / Engineered microparticles mimic biological structures to track protein degradation
FAMU-FSU College of Engineering researchers have created a new method for studying protein degradation within immune cells that uses engineered microparticles to track and analyze degradation processes more effectively than ...

Phys.org / Polymerlike worms wriggle their way through mazes
In a crowded room, we naturally move slower than in an empty space. Surprisingly, worms can show the exact opposite behavior: In an environment with randomly scattered obstacles, they tend to move faster when there are more ...

Phys.org / Nanoscale ripples provide key to unlocking thin material properties in electronics
When materials are created on a nanometer scale—just a handful of atoms thick—even the thermal energy present at room temperature can cause structural ripples. How these ripples affect the mechanical properties of these ...

Phys.org / Cartilage and bone development: Three paths to skeleton formation
In vertebrates, the skeleton of different regions of the body arises from different precursor cells. Researchers at the University of Basel have now discovered that these skeletal cells do not just differ in their developmental ...

Phys.org / Cleaner fuels, greener industries: New approach synthesizes zeolites with diverse aluminum contents
A novel "zeolite blending" method has successfully produced CON-type zeolites with unprecedentedly high aluminum content, report researchers from the Institute of Science Tokyo. By combining multiple zeolite precursors to ...

Phys.org / Discovery reveals how a specialized structure in plant cells helps regulate photosynthesis
Purdue University scientists have discovered a key mechanism that regulates how plants develop chloroplasts, essential structures responsible for the photosynthesis that sustains life on Earth by producing oxygen and food.

Phys.org / Beyond ambiguous reflections: Bridging optical 3D metrology and computer vision
Accurate and robust 3D imaging of specular, or mirror-like, surfaces is crucial in fields such as industrial inspection, medical imaging, virtual reality, and cultural heritage preservation. Yet anyone who has visited a house ...

Phys.org / Unlocking rice's yield potential: Trio of genes holds the key, study shows
A research team led by Dr. Li Yunhai from the Institute of Genetics and Developmental Biology of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) has uncovered a novel genetic mechanism that controls grain size and yield in rice, offering ...

Phys.org / Coral diseases and water quality threaten restoration efforts
Coral diseases, particularly in the Caribbean, have caused major declines in coral populations, especially affecting staghorn (Acropora cervicornis) and Elkhorn (A. palmata) corals, which play a crucial role in reef ecosystems.

Phys.org / Happy job, happy life? Works both ways, new research shows
A major new international study exploring the long-term relationship between job and life satisfaction shows that personal happiness is the major driver for a satisfying work life, not the other way around.