Phys.org news

Phys.org / Decades-old problem in classical geometry solved: First compact pair of bonnets found

For over 150 years, a rule of thumb dating back to the French mathematician Pierre Ossian Bonnet has been accepted in surface theory: If the metric and mean curvature of a compact surface are known at every point, then the ...

Mar 13, 2026
Phys.org / Bright pink insect stands out to blend in, scientists say

A tropical insect has been found to change color from vivid hot pink to green within a fortnight, which scientists believe may mimic the young leaves of rainforest plants. The findings, published this week in the journal ...

Mar 13, 2026
Phys.org / Physicists observe rare nuclear isomer in ytterbium-150 for first time

Nuclear isomers are crucial probes for studying the structure of nuclei. Unlike chemical isomers—which have the same chemical formula but different arrangements of atoms—nuclear isomers are nuclei that exist in a long-lived ...

Mar 13, 2026
Phys.org / Bacterial strain breaks decades-old bottleneck in chemotherapy drug manufacturing

An international team of researchers has achieved a breakthrough in the production of doxorubicin, a vital chemotherapy agent. The study identifies and resolves molecular "bottlenecks" that have limited the natural production ...

Mar 13, 2026
Phys.org / Improperly disposed wet wipes could shed microplastics in rivers

Wet wipes conveniently clean and sanitize soiled surfaces and skin. Because some labels do not clearly indicate how consumers should dispose of them, these small cloths are often flushed down the toilet and released by sewage ...

Mar 13, 2026
Phys.org / Ultrasound-based approach to delivering potent drugs into cancer cells shows promise in benchtop experiments

Engineers at Duke University have demonstrated a technique that uses microbubbles and ultrasound to help relatively large cancer drugs enter tumor cells and cause them to self-destruct. Dubbed "Sonoporation-assisted Precise ...

Mar 13, 2026
Phys.org / Researchers realize room-temperature two-dimensional multiferroic metal

Multiferroic metals are materials that exhibit both electric polarization and magnetic order in the same crystal—a state known as multiferroicity. Because these properties coexist, they can interact through magnetoelectric ...

Mar 13, 2026
Phys.org / In a South Carolina swamp, researchers uncover secrets of firefly synchrony

In the middle of the old-growth forests of Congaree National Park in South Carolina, fireflies put on an otherworldly display every May. Thousands of male insects belonging to the species Photuris frontalis flash together ...

Mar 13, 2026
Phys.org / Can plants count? Study suggests they can track the number of events they experience

It's long been assumed that for an organism to learn, remember or draw conclusions, it needs a brain. But mounting evidence, including a recent Cognitive Science study, challenges that assumption, suggesting that neurons ...

Mar 13, 2026
Phys.org / From plastics to pharmaceuticals, a new discovery sparks chain reactions

After years of research, international experts have confirmed the discovery of a new chemical reaction, launching new opportunities for rapid advances in a range of fields—from recycled plastics to pharmaceuticals. In the ...

Mar 13, 2026
Phys.org / Real-time protein quality control keeps cells healthy

Scientists from the National University of Singapore (NUS) have developed a biochemical technique that captures fleeting "handshakes" between newly made proteins and the cellular helpers. These short interactions are important ...

Mar 13, 2026
Phys.org / Safer space travel: Scientists create a cosmic ray simulator

Cosmic rays are one of the greatest challenges for space travel and pose a considerable risk to humans and materials. For the first time on European soil, an international research team in collaboration with the European ...

Mar 13, 2026