Phys.org news

Phys.org / Soil-based method can stop locust swarms from destroying crops

"They're very destructive when there's a lot of them, but one-on-one, what's not to love?" says Arianne Cease. She's talking about locusts.

Jan 15, 2026 in Biology
Phys.org / Hybrid polymer nanocarriers improve pulmonary mRNA vaccine delivery

An LMU research team led by Professor Olivia M. Merkel, Chair of Drug Delivery at LMU, has developed a new delivery system for inhalable mRNA vaccines. Published in the journal Cell Biomaterials, the study presents a novel ...

Jan 15, 2026 in Nanotechnology
Phys.org / Same moves, different terrain: How bacteria navigate complex environments without changing their playbook

Just like every other creature, bacteria have evolved creative ways of getting around. Sometimes this is easy, like swimming in open water, but navigating more confined spaces poses different challenges.

Jan 15, 2026 in Biology
Phys.org / Monitoring beer fermentation at the single-cell level with a novel Raman method

Breweries typically monitor fermentation by analyzing broth composition. Alcohols, esters, acids and residual sugars are quantified via chromatography-based assays. While reliable, these tests are time-consuming and only ...

Jan 15, 2026 in Biology
Phys.org / How cholera virulence is activated: A long-sought structural explanation

Cholera remains a major global public health challenge, with an estimated 1.3 to 4 million cases and tens of thousands of deaths reported worldwide each year. Caused by the bacterium Vibrio cholerae, the disease spreads primarily ...

Jan 15, 2026 in Biology
Phys.org / Jupiter's hidden depths: Simulation suggests planet holds 1.5 times more oxygen than the sun

Spectacular clouds swirl across the surface of Jupiter. These clouds contain water, just like Earth's, but are much denser on the gas giant—so thick that no spacecraft has been able to measure exactly what lies beneath.

Jan 14, 2026 in Astronomy & Space
Phys.org / New state of matter discovered in a quantum material

At TU Wien, researchers have discovered a state in a quantum material that had previously been considered impossible. The definition of topological states should be generalized.

Jan 14, 2026 in Physics
Phys.org / Researchers solve mystery of universe's 'little red dots'

Since the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) went into operation, red dots in its images have puzzled researchers around the world. Now, researchers from the University of Copenhagen have explained these enigmatic findings, ...

Jan 14, 2026 in Astronomy & Space
Phys.org / How prolonged maternal care in horses builds better brains and improves social skills

As with humans, the maternal bond in nature is important for animals to find their way in the world. In mammals, a mother does not just provide milk; she also teaches her offspring survival skills and how to play well with ...

Jan 14, 2026 in Biology
Phys.org / Staying single for longer affects young people's well-being, study finds

Media increasingly portray being single as an expression of people's lifestyle, self-determination and empowerment, with expressions such as self-partnership, solo living, sologamy and singlehood dominating the discourse. ...

Jan 14, 2026 in Other Sciences
Phys.org / Woolly rhino genome recovered from Ice Age wolf stomach

Researchers from the Center for Paleogenetics have managed to analyze the genome from a 14,400-year-old woolly rhinoceros, recovered from a tissue sample found preserved inside the stomach of an ancient wolf.

Jan 14, 2026 in Biology
Phys.org / Two simple modifications cool Kenyan homes and keep mosquitoes out

Researchers in Kenya have identified two low-cost solutions that tackle the twin challenges of rising temperatures and malaria transmission.

Jan 14, 2026 in Earth