Phys.org news

Phys.org / How a protein pair ensures that faulty mRNA is destroyed

Nonsense-mediated mRNA decay (NMD) is one of the most important processes in our cells to ensure that no faulty or incomplete proteins are produced. Scientists have now identified a central mechanism behind this control system.

23 hours ago
Phys.org / Quantum entanglement offers route to higher-resolution optical astronomy

Researchers in the US have demonstrated how quantum entanglement could be used to detect optical signals from astronomical sources at the single-photon level. Published in Nature, a team led by Pieter-Jan Stas at Harvard ...

Mar 8, 2026
Phys.org / Engineered magnetic films follow graphene's equations for massless electron waves

The electronic and magnetic properties of two-dimensional materials both have strong potential for technological applications. Researchers have long assumed that they are distinct phenomena, but Illinois Grainger engineers ...

Mar 8, 2026
Phys.org / How long does it take to get last liquid drops from kitchen containers? These physicists know the answer

At some point, most people have found themselves holding a tilted carton of milk or bottle of cooking oil, patiently waiting for the last drops to drip out. Now, physicists at Brown University have done the math to show just ...

Mar 8, 2026
Phys.org / Philippines' 'Cockroach Lord' goes to bat for misunderstood bugs

A thin band of light from Cristian Lucanas's headlamp pierces the blackness of a Philippine rainforest as he digs through the underbrush before gently scooping up a cockroach with his bare hands.

Mar 8, 2026
Phys.org / Twenty-nine years of warming linked to soil fungi shift in Colorado plots

Long-term ecosystem warming changes not only plants but the fungi in the soil below, according to a new study including researchers from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville. "Hidden mycorrhizal fungi below ground are ...

Mar 8, 2026
Phys.org / Heat-tolerant corals may help some reefs persist, but most still erode

A recent report on global tipping points warned that coral reefs face widespread dieback and have reached a point from which they cannot recover.

Mar 8, 2026
Phys.org / High-resolution ocean models better capture Atlantic-driven European heat waves

Europe is struggling more and more with extreme heat in the summer. While climate change is the main reason for this increase, what specific physical mechanisms cause a heat wave? One important driver of weather conditions ...

Mar 8, 2026
Phys.org / 'Superconducting dome' hints at high-temperature superconductivity in thin nickelate films

Superconductivity is a quantum state of matter characterized by an electrical resistance of zero and the expulsion of magnetic fields at low temperatures below a critical point. Superconductors, materials in which this state ...

Mar 7, 2026
Phys.org / V615 Vul shows rare hybrid nova signature after rapid two-day rise

Italian astronomers have performed extensive spectroscopic monitoring of a recently discovered nova known as Vulpeculae 2024, also known as V615 Vul. Results of the new observations, presented in a paper published in the ...

Mar 7, 2026
Phys.org / Plant mitochondria actively pull oxygen from chloroplasts, researchers discover

A new study from the University of Helsinki reveals how plant mitochondria draw molecular oxygen away from chloroplasts, an interaction not previously documented. The discovery sheds new light on how plants regulate oxygen ...

Mar 7, 2026
Phys.org / Mixed-flower Australian honey packs a stronger anti-microbial punch

Honeybees collecting nectar from a "buffet" of Australian native plants made honey with anti-microbial abilities that is more potent than "single origin" honey made from only one source of plant or flower, a University of ...

Mar 7, 2026