Phys.org news

Phys.org / First-time use of AI for genetic circuit design demonstrated in a human cell line

There are hundreds of cell types in the human body, each with a specific role spelled out in their DNA. In theory, all it takes for cells to behave in desired ways—for example, getting them to produce a therapeutic molecule ...

Jan 14, 2026 in Biology
Phys.org / Rocks and rolls: The computational infrastructure of earthquakes and physics of planetary science

Sometimes to truly study something up close, you have to take a step back. That's what Andrea Donnellan does. An expert in Earth sciences and seismology, she gets much of her data from a bird's-eye view, studying the planet's ...

Jan 14, 2026 in Earth
Phys.org / Do even low-mass dwarf galaxies merge? New clues from the outer stars of a Milky Way satellite

Using the Subaru Telescope's wide-field camera, astronomers have discovered a previously unknown structure surrounding a tiny satellite galaxy of the Milky Way. The newly discovered structure exhibits features resembling ...

Jan 14, 2026 in Astronomy & Space
Phys.org / Ancient teeth are treasure troves of data on Iron Age lifestyles

Teeth provide a wealth of information about the lives of Iron Age Italians, according to a study published in the open-access journal PLOS One by Roberto Germano of Sapienza University of Rome, Italy and colleagues.

Jan 14, 2026 in Other Sciences
Phys.org / A nanomaterial flex—MXene electrodes help OLED display technology shine, while bending and stretching

The organic light-emitting diode (OLED) technology behind flexible cell phones, curved monitors, and televisions could one day be used to make on-skin sensors that show changes in temperature, blood flow, and pressure in ...

Jan 14, 2026 in Nanotechnology
Phys.org / Type Ia supernova delayed-detonation model supported by SN 2024gy observations

A research team from the Yunnan Observatories of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), in collaboration with domestic and international partners, has carried out observational studies on SN 2024gy—a high-velocity Type ...

Jan 14, 2026 in Astronomy & Space
Phys.org / Ancient Tethys Ocean shaped Central Asia's landscape, study suggests

New research from Adelaide University suggests the power of the ancient Tethys Ocean might have shaped Central Asia's topography during the Cretaceous period.

Jan 14, 2026 in Earth
Phys.org / Frozen hydrogen cyanide 'cobwebs' offer clues to origin of life

A substance poisonous to humans—hydrogen cyanide—may have helped create the seeds of life on Earth. At cold temperatures, hydrogen cyanide forms crystals. And, according to computer models reported in ACS Central Science, ...

Jan 14, 2026 in Chemistry
Phys.org / Takeaway coffee cups release thousands of microplastic particles, research reveals

It's 7:45am. You grab a takeout coffee from your local café, wrap your hands around the warm cup, take a sip, and head to the office.

Jan 14, 2026 in Earth
Phys.org / Hydrogel cilia set new standard in microrobotics

Cilia are micrometer-sized biological structures that occur frequently in nature. Their characteristic high-frequency, three-dimensional beating motions (5–40 Hz) play indispensable roles inside the body.

Jan 14, 2026 in Biology
Phys.org / AI tools are expanding individual capabilities while contracting scientific attention, research finds

Artificial intelligence promises to accelerate scientific discovery and open new frontiers of inquiry. But new research from James Evans (Faculty Co-Director of Novel Intelligence; Max Palevsky Professor of Sociology & Data ...

Jan 14, 2026 in Other Sciences
Phys.org / World-first ice archive to guard secrets of melting glaciers

Scientists on Wednesday sealed ancient chunks of glacial ice in a first-of-its-kind sanctuary in Antarctica in the hope of preserving these fast-disappearing records of Earth's past climate for centuries to come.

Jan 14, 2026 in Earth