Phys.org news
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 ...
Phys.org / Dual-atom fuel cell catalysts break single-peak rule, exposing two optima
Researchers have uncovered a new principle that could accelerate the development of cheaper and more efficient fuel cells by revealing how dual-atom catalysts behave during a key energy conversion reaction. The study, led ...
Phys.org / Musk's SpaceX bonus comes with unique condition: Colonize Mars
SpaceX's blockbuster IPO filing included some out-of-this-world details, including a provision that founder Elon Musk's massive bonus only kicks in if one million humans settle on Mars.
Phys.org / Central Asia's record-breaking ice loss in 2025 raises water risks for millions
A new international study led by Lander Van Tricht (Vrije Universiteit Brussel, ETH Zürich), shows that glaciers in Central Asia experienced their most extreme mass-loss year on record in 2025, designated as the International ...
Phys.org / Saturn-sized exoplanet with Earth-like temperature reveals methane-rich atmosphere
A planet that is about the size of Saturn, but with a temperature more like Earth's, has an atmosphere rich in methane, according to a new study using NASA's James Webb Space Telescope (JWST).
Phys.org / Coupled DNA nanopores control molecular traffic inside synthetic cell microreactors
Living systems such as cells rely on membrane pores and channels to transport molecules, exchange signals, and organize biochemical reactions. These functions emerge from dynamic interactions between molecular components. ...
Phys.org / Wildlife is watching us, too—and changing behavior in response
A new large-scale study led by a research team from the Yale Center for Biodiversity and Global Change has found that wildlife responds not only to how humans reshape their habitats, but also to the simple presence of humans—and ...
Phys.org / Bacteria found in artisan cheeses may ease disease
Blessed are the tiny cheesemakers: scientists have mapped out the bacteria responsible for giving three British cheeses their distinct flavor, which may also be beneficial to human health. Scientists in the Food Microbial ...
Phys.org / Why some antibiotics fail in the body—pH conditions can dramatically change how bacteria respond
When researchers test whether an antibiotic will work, they usually do so in a controlled laboratory environment. But when an infection happens inside the human body, things aren't so clean and tidy. New research from the ...
Phys.org / Astronomers de-fog exoplanet atmospheres with new cloud-detecting method
Sand clouds form every morning but clear up by nightfall on WASP-94A b, a well-studied gas giant in a constellation located nearly 700 light years away from Earth. Using data from the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST), research ...
Phys.org / How does gold keep its glitter? Researchers uncover why it resists tarnish
Gold has been prized for thousands of years for its enduring shine, but Tulane University researchers have discovered that gold's resistance to tarnishing depends on more than its chemistry.
Phys.org / Extraterrestrial life may be slipping past space missions, astrobiologists warn
Suppose there are signs of extraterrestrial life and we have not yet been able to detect them. What does that mean? In Nature Astronomy, researchers discuss the consequences of these so-called false-negative results. "We ...
