Phys.org news

Phys.org / Scientists design artificial pain receptor that senses pain intensity and self-heals

All over the body are tiny sensors called nociceptors whose job is to spot potentially harmful stimuli and send warning signals to the brain and spinal cord, helping protect us from injury or tissue damage.

Jan 18, 2026 in Chemistry
Phys.org / Two harmful gene variants can restore function when combined, study reveals

Sometimes, in genetics, two wrongs do make a right. A research team has recently shown that two harmful genetic variants, when occurring together in a gene, can restore function—proving a decades-old hypothesis originally ...

Jan 18, 2026 in Biology
Phys.org / More than 55% of Cerrado native vegetation already lost, new review reveals

A comprehensive new review synthesizing decades of research warns that the Brazilian Cerrado—a biodiversity hotspot, known for its vast inverted forests—is facing a massive, multi-faceted ecological crisis.

Jan 18, 2026 in Biology
Phys.org / How a respiratory bacterium obtains essential lipids from the human body and targets fat-rich tissues

A multidisciplinary team has uncovered a key mechanism that allows the human bacterium Mycoplasma pneumoniae—responsible for atypical pneumonia and other respiratory infections—to obtain cholesterol and other essential ...

Jan 18, 2026 in Biology
Phys.org / New fluorescent labels offer clearer, high-contrast imaging of live cell processes

Thanks to a recent study by researchers at IOCB Prague, it is now possible to monitor processes in living cells more effectively than before, including responses to drugs and changes in cellular structures.

Jan 18, 2026 in Biology
Phys.org / Horses can smell human fear when we sweat

Horses can smell your fear. If you are experiencing this emotion while standing near a horse, they will be able to detect it through your scent alone, which changes their behavior and physiology. That's the conclusion of ...

Jan 17, 2026 in Biology
Phys.org / Study finds albumin, the most abundant blood protein, acts as a shield against deadly fungal infections

Scientists at the Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology (IMBB-FORTH) and the University of Crete, together with collaborators from Greece, Europe, the U.S., and India, have discovered a novel role of albumin, the ...

Jan 17, 2026 in Biology
Phys.org / Mysterious iron 'bar' discovered in famous nebula

A mysterious bar-shaped cloud of iron has been discovered inside the iconic Ring Nebula by a European team led by astronomers at University College London (UCL) and Cardiff University.

Jan 17, 2026 in Astronomy & Space
Phys.org / Detecting single-electron qubits: Microwaves could probe quantum states above liquid helium

One intriguing method that could be used to form the qubits needed for quantum computers involves electrons hovering above liquid helium. But it wasn't clear how data in this form could be read easily.

Jan 17, 2026 in Physics
Phys.org / Two-step genome editing enables creation of full-length humanized mouse models

Understanding human gene function in living organisms has long been hampered by fundamental differences between species. Although mice share most protein-coding genes with humans, their regulatory landscapes often diverge, ...

Jan 17, 2026 in Biology
Phys.org / Living together with differences: Mathematical model shows how to reduce social friction without forcing consensus

Opinion polarization is often considered as the primary driver of social friction, leading to exhaustive efforts to force a consensus. However, new research suggests a more pragmatic goal: reducing the friction of disagreement ...

Jan 17, 2026 in Other Sciences
Phys.org / Decoded rules of microRNA strand selection reveal conserved, programmable features

MicroRNAs, whose discovery was recognized with the 2025 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine, are central regulators of gene expression, yet a fundamental question has remained unanswered: how cells choose between the two ...

Jan 17, 2026 in Biology