Phys.org news

Phys.org / 'Not just hot water': Marine heat waves can create toxic relationship between seagrasses and microbes

Heat stress from marine heat waves can create a toxic relationship between seagrasses and a hidden ecosystem of bacteria, transforming a previously beneficial co-existence between marine plants and microbes into a harmful ...

May 6, 2026
Phys.org / Dynamic catalyst interfaces offer a smarter route for converting CO₂ into formic acid

Electroreduction offers a promising route for converting CO2 into value-added chemicals using renewable electricity. Among the possible products, formic acid is particularly attractive because it is an important chemical ...

May 6, 2026
Phys.org / On the ground or in the atmosphere? Swarm satellites help characterize and pinpoint destructive events

When solar storms strike Earth, they can disrupt power grids, rail systems, satellites, and even marine life. These effects arise because solar wind and geomagnetic activity disturb the magnetosphere–ionosphere system, generating ...

May 6, 2026
Phys.org / Deforestation may push Amazon degradation threshold below 2°C warming

Around two-thirds of the Amazon rainforest could shift into degraded forest or savanna-like ecosystems at 1.5–1.9°C of global warming if deforestation increases to roughly 22–28% of the Amazon, according to a new study from ...

May 6, 2026
Phys.org / Carbon-free ferrocene alternative opens up new possibilities for future materials

About 75 years ago, scientists accidentally synthesized a compound called ferrocene in which the iron (Fe) atom is sandwiched between two C5H5 rings—(C5H5)Fe(C5H5). This compound opened up a new era in transition metal chemistry, ...

May 6, 2026
Phys.org / The lost koala: New fossil species was hiding in plain sight for 100 years

In 2024, the Western Australian Museum received a donation. It was a koala skull collected from Moondyne Cave in Margaret River by Lindsay Hatcher, an avid caver. There was something a bit odd about this skull, and we were ...

May 6, 2026
Phys.org / Freshwater mussel protein offers new source of inspiration for medical-grade glues

Researchers at the University of Toronto have identified a protein from the quagga mussel that can stick to surfaces underwater, even though it lacks a chemical feature long thought to be essential for this kind of adhesion. ...

May 6, 2026
Phys.org / Bacterial protein map could open new path against drug-resistant infections

La Trobe scientists have made a pivotal discovery in the fight against dangerous drug-resistant bacteria, as the University launches a major research initiative focused on new ways to target antimicrobial resistance (AMR). ...

May 6, 2026
Phys.org / Federal grant terminations disproportionately impact minority scientists, study finds

Researchers from University of California San Diego Herbert Wertheim School of Public Health and Human Longevity Science have found that recent federal grant terminations targeting research on health equity and gender identity ...

May 6, 2026
Phys.org / 'Atomic snapshots' of proofreading enzyme could lead to better COVID-19 drugs

The closest-ever detailed look at a key enzyme inside the virus that causes COVID-19 could lead to more effective treatment of the disease. Nucleotide analogs are a common type of antiviral medication that mimic the genetic ...

May 6, 2026
Phys.org / Climate scientist finds large errors in a global climate pollution database

New research from Northern Arizona University found that a global greenhouse gas emissions database produced by the Climate TRACE consortium, co-founded by former Vice President Al Gore, is underestimating vehicle carbon ...

May 5, 2026
Phys.org / Almost all plant-based meat alternatives contain mycotoxins, new research finds

New research into plant-based food and drinks has found a prevalence of mycotoxins—naturally occurring poisonous compounds produced by fungi—in hundreds of vegetarian and vegan products. A total of 212 plant-based meat alternatives ...

May 5, 2026