Phys.org news

Phys.org / Superworms could be the future of skeleton cleaning

Superworms, a mealworm-like form of beetle larva commonly used as pet food, are efficient cleaners of skeletons, according to a study published in PLOS One by Fatemeh Rastekar of Ferdowsi University of Mashhad, Iran, and ...

Jul 1, 2026
Phys.org / Tree size, not age, may speed habitat recovery for endangered Indiana bats

Bugs run rampant in the summer, and if you have ever suffered a mosquito bite and regretted not putting on bug spray, you should know about nature's insect repellent: the Indiana bat. Federally endangered since 1967, the ...

Jul 1, 2026
Phys.org / From fields to space farming, new tool detects crop drought stress before it's visible

When it comes to drought stress, timing can be the difference between saving a crop and losing it, whether in a greenhouse or in the high-stakes environment of future space missions. In a recent study published in Plant Phenomics, ...

Jul 1, 2026
Phys.org / Evolutionary origins of 'junk DNA' may provide new clues to cancer

In cancer research, one person's junk is increasingly becoming another person's treasure. Scientists have uncovered new evidence showing how recently evolved "junk DNA" genetic elements can become integrated into ancient ...

Jul 1, 2026
Phys.org / Beyond 3-D: Data scientists introduce novel AI tool to interpret complex biological data

As humans, our eyes take in two-dimensional images that our brains convert to three-dimensional experiences. This ability enables us to be aware of our position in space, judge distances, possess depth perception, and visually ...

Jul 1, 2026
Phys.org / How giant earthquakes can form at fault planes where theory says they should not

A research group led by Satoshi Ide from the University of Tokyo has demonstrated that classic earthquake generation theory does not hold in areas where the angle at which a tectonic plate dips under another is sufficiently ...

Jul 1, 2026
Phys.org / Scrolling for science: How a Twitter post discovered a new wasp in Fukuoka, Japan

The next time you post a nature photo online, you might be contributing to a major scientific breakthrough—just as several citizen scientists did when they helped discover the wasp Eupelmus curvator in Japan.

Jul 1, 2026
Phys.org / Climate resilience of brown bears over 175,000 years revealed in 3D analyses of their jaws

European brown bears are masters of survival: These animals have weathered Pleistocene climate fluctuations and survived the cycles of ice ages and interglacial periods to the present day. Zoologists have now investigated ...

Jul 1, 2026
Phys.org / Researchers discover novel SRV2 envelope protein for efficient CAR immune cell production

A Korean research team has developed a new viral vector technology that significantly improves the production efficiency of next-generation cell and gene therapies known as CAR immune cell therapies, which are designed to ...

Jul 1, 2026
Phys.org / Tooth fossil analysis suggests 'brawn before bite' in early Asian mammals

An analysis of fossil teeth from mammals that lived in China following the most recent major mass extinction suggests size came before both shape and function as diets diversified.

Jul 1, 2026
Phys.org / Polymer network reconfigures in sequence, helping elastomers stay tough under strain

Shock-absorbing sneaker soles are likely made of polyurethane, a highly elastic and tough polymer. The ability of these elastomers to absorb impact without breaking is extremely important for practical applications. While ...

Jul 1, 2026
Phys.org / One amino acid may signal the 'point of no return' in dying leaves

Before a leaf dies, plants recover nutrients that the rest of the plant can reuse for growth and survival. Researchers at Umeå Plant Science Center have now identified a metabolic "point of no return" linked to the amino ...

Jul 1, 2026