Phys.org news

Phys.org / Nanoparticles overcome drug-resistant cancer via sequential drug release and photothermal therapy

Cancer cells frequently develop the ability to expel anticancer drugs before they can work—a phenomenon called multidrug resistance (MDR)—which is one of the leading reasons why chemotherapy fails in patients. Research published ...

May 8, 2026
Phys.org / Metamorphosis in newts proves costly, with one sex paying a heavier price

Metamorphosis, that profound transformation enabling certain animals to shift between habitats such as from an aquatic to a terrestrial environment, is generally viewed in terms of its benefits. A team of researchers from ...

May 8, 2026
Phys.org / This anti-CRISPR stops the protein assembly line in bacteria

Bacteria fend off invading viruses with molecular scissors that slice up viral DNA—a system called CRISPR that's become indispensable to gene editing. But viruses can fight back with a molecular trick that stops the scissors ...

May 8, 2026
Phys.org / Lab-evolved cyanobacteria survive minute-by-minute light swings, offering clues to hardier crops

Plant scientist Dario Leister and his team are investigating how cyanobacteria adapt to rapidly changing light intensities. This could help optimize photosynthesis in crops. Photosynthesis is one of the most complex processes ...

May 8, 2026
Phys.org / One fifth of flowering plant evolutionary history is at risk of extinction, experts warn

In a new study published in the journal Science, researchers from the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, ZSL (Zoological Society of London) and their international collaborators including Boise State University present the first ...

May 8, 2026
Phys.org / New task-setting study shows that male bumblebees are more active and adaptable

Male bumblebees are more active and flexible in behavior than female bees, new University of Chester–led research has found, after creating tasks to analyze how the insects explore, recognize colors and learn to earn rewards. ...

May 8, 2026
Phys.org / Ancient sea fossils indicate millipede and centipede ancestors evolved their legs while still underwater

The myriapoda group of arthropods includes the many-legged centipedes and millipedes that most people are familiar with. Although myriapods are all terrestrial creatures, researchers are unclear about when and how they evolved ...

May 7, 2026
Phys.org / Scientists unlock fungi's secret chemistry, offering a greener path to crop protection

Pesky pests can wreak havoc on plants by chewing leaves, boring into stems, and sucking sap from trees. Beyond the direct damage, they also spread harmful bacteria, viruses, and fungi that can infect and ultimately kill the ...

May 7, 2026
Phys.org / Testing quantum collapse theory with the XENONnT dark matter detector

Theories of quantum mechanics predict that some particles can exist in superpositions, which essentially means that they can be in more than one state at once. When a particle's state is measured, however, this superposition ...

May 7, 2026
Phys.org / Modern experiments suggest rhino teeth may have been part of Neanderthal toolkits

Neanderthals may not only have feasted on rhinoceroses, they may also have used their exceptionally hard teeth as specialized tools for a range of tasks, such as retouching the edges of stone tools.

May 7, 2026
Phys.org / Streetlights trigger bizarre 'death spirals' in thousands of isopods, scientists find

A new study led by Ph.D. student Idan Sheizaf, under the guidance of Prof. Ariel Chipman from The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, has documented a never-before-seen behavioral phenomenon: thousands of land-dwelling isopods ...

May 7, 2026
Phys.org / Ice Age butcher's tools are a sign of ancient humans' creativity during hard times

In central China, scientists have spent over a decade excavating and studying an archaeological site where ancient humans butchered animals. Amidst bones, archaeologists found complex stone tools that would have required ...

May 7, 2026