Phys.org news

Phys.org / Multiplexed method reveals protein energy landscapes across 10 domain families

Northwestern Medicine scientists have developed a new experimental method to analyze conformational fluctuations in protein domains on a uniquely large scale, which may improve data-driven modeling, biology and protein engineering, ...

May 21, 2026
Phys.org / Capturing an elusive step in molecular sandwich making

Since their discovery in the 1950s, metallocenes—chemical compounds where a metal atom sits "sandwiched" between two carbon rings—have been at the heart of organometallic chemistry research, finding applications in catalysis, ...

May 21, 2026
Phys.org / Cell-by-cell sodium mapping reveals astrocytes are far less uniform than believed

The element sodium plays a key role in nervous system function. An international research team headed by the Institute of Neurobiology at Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf (HHU) has now conducted a closer examination of ...

May 21, 2026
Phys.org / Is organic farming the solution to enhance natural drought resilience in crops?

A study led by researchers from the Department of Microbiology at the University of Malaga has revealed how organic farming—using natural substances and processes and avoiding the use of synthetic chemicals—can, in the long ...

May 21, 2026
Phys.org / Macrocyclic host molecules observed working together on a surface

A collaborative research team from Kanazawa University and Kyoto University reports the successful visualization of how densely assembled macrocyclic host molecules cooperatively capture guest molecules on a surface. Using ...

May 21, 2026
Phys.org / Developing seed atlas uncovers active genes tied to crop resilience and nutrition

Seeds like wheat, rice, and corn are at the center of the global food supply and provide most of the daily calories consumed worldwide. But despite their importance, scientists still do not fully understand many of the basic ...

May 21, 2026
Phys.org / Cell movement in the embryo: Zebrafish study shows that without keratin, nothing moves

Hair, nails, and horns, all made up of keratin, are some of the hardest and most resilient structures in animals. Inside zebrafish cells, keratin plays a distinct role, giving them the strength they need to move together ...

May 21, 2026
Phys.org / When noisy decision-making becomes a strategic advantage

A new study shows that apparently erratic or "sloppy" behavior in strategic situations is not necessarily a mistake. Under certain conditions, being less sensitive to one's own gains can become a long-term advantage.

May 21, 2026
Phys.org / Uncovering the link between epigenetic modifications and chromatin structure

Certain epigenetic modifications can directly control how genetic material is packed in the nucleus, RIKEN researchers have shown. This has important implications for our understanding of how genes are expressed in different ...

May 21, 2026
Phys.org / Scientists improve knowledge on sea level rise—and confirm it has been accelerating since 1960

Sea level rise is a direct consequence of human-induced climate change: global warming. It is relentless and very hard to stop. It arises from human-induced warming and the consequential expansion of the ocean, plus the addition ...

May 20, 2026
Phys.org / New insights into how the human hand evolved from our ape-like ancestors

The human hand is an evolutionary marvel. While other primates rely on their hands for locomotion and basic grasping, ours can shape tools, manipulate objects, and perform detailed tasks requiring great dexterity and precision. ...

May 20, 2026
Phys.org / What if the direction of a magnet could shape the building blocks of life?

In a new discovery, researchers from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem and the Weizmann Institute of Science have found that something in the direction of a magnetic field can influence how molecules of life behave at the ...

May 20, 2026