Phys.org news

Phys.org / Early-life challenges and experiences shape how boldly bats behave as adults

What makes one bat take risks and venture far from its roost in search of food, while another stays close to familiar, safer areas? A new study from Tel Aviv University's School of Zoology reveals that the environment in ...

Feb 23, 2026 in Biology
Phys.org / A new method reveals hidden rules of gene control

Inside every cell, thousands of molecular signals collide, overlap, and compensate, obscuring the true drivers of gene expression. Scientists have now developed a way to silence that cellular noise, revealing transcription ...

Feb 23, 2026 in Biology
Phys.org / EPA criminal sanctions align with a county's wealth, not pollution, study finds

When the federal government brings its toughest environmental enforcement actions against polluters, they tend to be in communities of greater wealth, not the most polluted places. That's the takeaway from a new paper co-authored ...

Feb 23, 2026 in Other Sciences
Phys.org / How cells manage nitric oxide: Research uncovers dynamic 'gate' that tames powerful signaling molecule

Cornell researchers have uncovered a built-in molecular "gate" that controls the production of the molecule nitric oxide, a crucial signaling molecule throughout biology that in humans helps regulate blood pressure, brain ...

Feb 23, 2026 in Biology
Phys.org / Scientists isolate climatic fingerprints of wildfires and volcanic eruptions

Volcanoes and wildfires can inject millions of tons of gases and aerosol particles into the air, affecting temperatures on a global scale. But picking out the specific impact of individual events against a background of many ...

Feb 23, 2026 in Earth
Phys.org / Study reveals hidden climate impact of digital industries

Digital technologies are widely viewed as drivers of efficiency, growth, and innovation. However, their contribution to climate change is significantly greater than previously understood. A new study published in the journal ...

Feb 23, 2026 in Earth
Phys.org / How the echolocation of bats has shaped their skulls

Bats are some of the most highly specialized mammals to have ever evolved. This includes not only the evolution of active flight, but also their echolocation. This ability requires the bats to produce high frequency noises ...

Feb 23, 2026 in Biology
Phys.org / Between flood and drought: The metric that could better explain what happens to water in the age of climate change

A key question in any discussion about climate is "How much rain fell?" But perhaps there is an even more important one. Like any household budget, the global water economy is based on "income," that is, water entering the ...

Feb 23, 2026 in Earth
Phys.org / Big broods, better manners: What a fish study suggests about siblings and social skills

For many animals, siblings are a key component of their social environment during early life. Previous research has shown that the early social environment is important, but it has not yet been clear whether the number of ...

Feb 23, 2026 in Biology
Phys.org / From algae to biofuel: Study opens doors to cheaper, cleaner fuel sources

A researcher's keen eye and spirit of curiosity led to the discovery of a new method for cell engineering—a finding that opens doors to more sustainable sources for everything from fuel to vitamin supplements.

Feb 23, 2026 in Biology
Phys.org / Ultrafast X-rays reveal physical principles behind lipoprotein motion within egg yolk plasma

Egg yolk may appear runny and uniform, but on the nanoscale, it is one of the most crowded biological fluids in nature. Packed with proteins and fats, it serves as a dense storage reservoir for a developing embryo. Yet the ...

Feb 23, 2026 in Nanotechnology
Phys.org / Stretchy plastics conduct electricity via tiny, whisker-like fibers

A stretchy, conductive type of plastic could help power the next generation of implantable biomedical devices, like longer-lasting pacemakers or glucose monitors, according to Enrique Gomez, professor of chemical engineering ...

Feb 23, 2026 in Nanotechnology