Phys.org news

Phys.org / Scientists map development of pancreas transport channels that deliver digestive enzymes

Organs often have fluid-filled spaces called lumens, which are crucial for organ function and serve as transport and delivery networks. Lumens in the pancreas form a complex ductal system, and its channels transport digestive ...

Jan 9, 2026 in Biology
Phys.org / The vast majority of US rivers lack any protections from human activities, new research finds

The U.S. boasts more than 4 million miles of rivers, peppered with laws and regulations to protect access to drinking water and essential habitat for fish and wildlife. But in the first comprehensive review of river protection, ...

Jan 9, 2026 in Earth
Phys.org / Photographing climate change: Ice porters on the frozen Chadar river

Every winter in the Ladakh region in northwest India, the two roads that connect the small villages in the Zanskar Valley with the rest of the country close, overwhelmed by snow. But for centuries, locals have had a workaround: ...

Jan 9, 2026 in Earth
Phys.org / Important new source of oxidation in the atmosphere found

Hydroperoxides are strong oxidants that have a significant influence on chemical processes in the atmosphere. Now, an international research team involving the Leibniz Institute for Tropospheric Research (TROPOS) has shown ...

Jan 9, 2026 in Earth
Phys.org / Whale hunting began 5,000 years ago in South America, a millennium earlier than previously thought

The hunting of large whales goes back much further in time than previously thought. New research from the Institute of Environmental Science and Technology at the Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (ICTA-UAB) and the Department ...

Jan 9, 2026 in Other Sciences
Phys.org / Scientists call for 'systems reset' to redefine sustainable development

A new international study calls for a fundamental reset in how humanity understands and pursues sustainable development. The article is published in the journal Communications Sustainability.

Jan 9, 2026 in Earth
Phys.org / Scientists find more active black holes in dwarf and Milky Way-sized galaxies by cutting through glare of star formation

Astronomers have completed the most comprehensive census of active galactic nuclei (AGN) to date, providing the clearest picture yet of the probability that galaxies of different sizes host active black holes.

Jan 9, 2026 in Astronomy & Space
Phys.org / Reviving antibiotics with two-faced nanoparticles

Over the decades, many strains of disease-causing bacteria have evolved defenses to even the most potent antibiotics, setting off a growing health crisis. The rise of antibiotic-resistant "superbugs" has also set off an arms ...

Jan 9, 2026 in Nanotechnology
Phys.org / New chemical method makes it easier to select desirable traits in crops

Crops increasingly need to thrive in a broader range of conditions, including drought, salinity, and heat. Traditional plant breeding can select for desirable traits, but is limited by the genetic variation that already exists ...

Jan 9, 2026 in Biology
Phys.org / Identifying where lithium ions reside in a new solid-state electrolyte that could lead to improved batteries

Recent research published in Science introduces a promising solid electrolyte material that could improve the performance of next-generation lithium batteries, particularly at lower temperatures. Illinois Institute of Technology ...

Jan 9, 2026 in Chemistry
Phys.org / Experts say oceans soaked up record heat levels in 2025

The world's oceans absorbed a record amount of heat in 2025, an international team of scientists said Friday, further priming conditions for sea level rise, violent storms, and coral death.

Jan 9, 2026 in Earth
Phys.org / A tug-of-war explains a decades-old question about how bacteria swim

Scientists have uncovered a new explanation for how swimming bacteria change direction, providing fresh insight into one of biology's most intensively studied molecular machines.

Jan 9, 2026 in Biology