Phys.org news

Phys.org / MOF-coated catalyst converts CO₂ to CO nearly five times faster under ultrasonic vibration

Researchers at the University of Osaka have developed a catalyst that uses mechanical vibration to convert carbon dioxide (CO2) into carbon monoxide (CO), an important chemical feedstock. The catalyst consists of barium titanate ...

Aug 27, 2026
Phys.org / Tomatoes get flavor boost from green bin compost

Commercially farmed tomatoes taste sweeter when food and garden waste compost is added to their soil, a University of Queensland study has found. Researchers in the School of Agriculture and Food Sustainability grew tomatoes ...

Aug 27, 2026
Phys.org / How bacteria develop resistance to programmable antibiotics

Antimicrobial resistance is one of the greatest challenges facing modern medicine. A new class of programmable antibiotics known as asobiotics can be used to treat bacterial infections when classical antibiotics fail. A team ...

Aug 27, 2026
Phys.org / Cellular 'glue' helps epithelial tissues engulf dead cells while staying sealed

A protein that sticks cells and tissues together has been found to have a surprising second job: helping cells that are packed into a continuous sealed layer, also known as epithelial cells, engulf nearby dead cells.

Aug 27, 2026
Phys.org / The wisdom of the egg cell: Oocyte epigenetic mark may help prevent excessive placental growth after fertilization

The genome—which contains genes encoded in DNA—acts as the fundamental blueprint of life. But what you might not know is that, in addition to this genetic information, we have something akin to an "instruction manual" for ...

Aug 27, 2026
Phys.org / Using AI to thwart election misinformation

Election rumors, such as unverified accounts of voter fraud, have run rampant in the U.S. in recent years. Powered by the speed of social media and artificial intelligence (AI), it can be hard for people to know what messages ...

Aug 27, 2026
Phys.org / Planting fake customer reviews hurts businesses big time, study finds

The capital of any business comes in (at least) two categories. There's the kind that has a price—land, cash holdings, etc.—and a less tangible, priceless kind. Reputational capital falls squarely into the latter category. ...

Aug 27, 2026
Phys.org / Beyond the Petri dish: Testing tomorrow's drugs in human blood

The COVID vaccine is perhaps the first thing many people think of when they hear about mRNA-based drugs. Small packages of genetic material are sent into the body, prompting cells to produce useful proteins in the fight against ...

Aug 27, 2026
Phys.org / Geomimicry offers a new framework for engineering sustainable materials

When engineers look to nature for inspiration, they often turn to living systems. The flight of birds has influenced aircraft design, gecko feet inspired new adhesives and lotus leaves led to the development of self-cleaning ...

Aug 27, 2026
Phys.org / Heat-tolerant corals may be more vulnerable to disease

Corals that partner with heat-tolerant algae may be better equipped to survive warming oceans—but that resilience comes with an unexpected trade-off, according to a new study from Boston University published in Science Advances.

Aug 27, 2026
Phys.org / Emperor penguin colonies reveal decades-long resilience and flexible breeding sites

With their charming waddles, heat-conserving huddles and tuxedo-like plumage, emperor penguins are among the world's most recognizable animals. Recent satellite surveys estimate that hundreds of thousands of the flightless ...

Aug 27, 2026
Phys.org / When the dust settles: Field experiments measure how everyday activity resuspends hazardous particles

Being prepared for an emergency is key to keeping people safe. This means more than just having supplies such as food, water and first-aid kits. Sometimes, the most important preparation is having the right data to help first ...

Aug 27, 2026