Phys.org news

Phys.org / AI speeds chemists' search for better disinfectants

Chemists and computer scientists tapped AI to find new disinfectants to combat the growing threat of dangerous "superbugs." Their computational-experimental framework for developing quaternary ammonium compounds, or QACs, ...

Apr 29, 2026
Phys.org / Environmental DNA in NYC's East River reveals clues about nearby human and animal residents

Sequencing environmental DNA—or eDNA—from the East River in New York City can effectively monitor human diets and local wildlife, as well as the river's fish populations, report Mark Stoeckle and Jesse Ausubel of The Rockefeller ...

Apr 29, 2026
Phys.org / Single-molecule method rapidly screens custom enzymes from vast mutant libraries

Enzymes are proteins that catalyze chemical reactions in living organisms. They are widely applied in industries such as food production, detergents, pharmaceuticals, and chemicals. However, for commercial use, natural enzymes ...

Apr 29, 2026
Phys.org / Molecular quantum nanosensors reveal temperature and radical signals inside living cells

Researchers at the National Institutes for Quantum Science and Technology (QST), Japan, and The University of Tokyo, Japan, in collaboration with Kyushu University, Japan, have developed a new class of biocompatible molecular ...

Apr 29, 2026
Phys.org / Molecular probe upgrade could make off-target drug effects easier to measure

A UCLA-led international research collaboration has unveiled a new technology that may help scientists better understand how small molecules, including many drugs, bind to proteins. The invention works with an existing lab ...

Apr 29, 2026
Phys.org / An anomaly in global sea level rise is explained by deep ocean heating

Climate scientists like to keep their accounting books neat and balanced. As climate change alters energy flows all across the planet, which in turn causes effects like sea level rise, ice melt and more, keeping close track ...

Apr 28, 2026
Phys.org / Ancient farming clues may finally expose where humanity's most important wheat first emerged

The exact origin of bread wheat (Triticum aestivum) is still a mystery, but researchers believe they are edging closer to the source of one of the most important food staples worldwide. Using genetic studies and ancient plant ...

Apr 28, 2026
Phys.org / Scorpions' weapons are fortified with metal to suit their needs, research shows

Scorpions wield some of the natural world's most formidable built-in weapons, from crushing pincers to venomous stingers. Scientists have long known that these structures contain trace metals that strengthen them, but only ...

Apr 28, 2026
Phys.org / Invisible fertility crisis: Chemicals and climate change threaten reproduction across species

The rise in infertility is not limited to humans, as environmental stressors are quietly undermining the reproductive potential of different forms of life. A recent review published in npj Emerging Contaminants investigated ...

Apr 28, 2026
Phys.org / ALMA reveals giant molecular clouds across Needle galaxy's full disk

An international team of astronomers has employed the Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array (ALMA) to perform high-resolution observations of the Needle galaxy. Results of the new observational campaign, presented ...

Apr 28, 2026
Phys.org / AI slashes the time needed to design better heat-harvesting devices

From wearable technology to industrial heat recovery, thermoelectric generators which convert waste heat into electricity have an enormous range of potential applications. So far, however, designing high-performing versions ...

Apr 28, 2026
Phys.org / For decades, this bias test looked inside minds—now its biggest blind spot is coming into focus

People are known to implicitly create connections between different things or ideas in their mind, some of which can influence how they perceive others, themselves and the world at large. These implicit biases have been widely ...

Apr 28, 2026