Phys.org news
Phys.org / What happens when fire ignites in space? 'A ball of flame'
When fire breaks out in the low-gravity, high-stakes conditions inside spacecraft or space stations, it behaves very differently than back here on Earth.
Phys.org / Ultrasound-activated nanoparticles in immune cells trigger targeted inflammatory response
Piezoelectric nanoparticles deployed inside immune cells and stimulated remotely by ultrasound can trigger the body's disease-fighting response, according to an interdisciplinary team of Boston College researchers.
Phys.org / How 'smart' nanoparticles can deliver targeted gene therapy in osteoarthritis
Osteoarthritis is a highly prevalent joint disease that leads to cartilage breakdown, pain and disability, yet there are still no FDA-approved treatments that can slow or reverse its progression. RNA-based therapies hold ...
Phys.org / Homo habilis: The oldest and most complete skeleton discovered to date
An international research team has unveiled a significant discovery in human paleontology: an exceptionally well-preserved Homo habilis skeleton dating back more than 2 million years.
Phys.org / Tuning spin waves—using commercially available devices at room temperature
Physicist Davide Bossini from the University of Konstanz has recently demonstrated how to change the frequency of the collective magnetic oscillations of a material by up to 40%—using commercially available devices at room ...
Phys.org / 'Absolutely huge' black coral among largest ever seen
Marine researchers have been wowed by the size of a centuries-old black coral found in Fiordland.
Phys.org / Why don't antibiotic-making bacteria self-destruct?
Early in 2025, scientists discovered a promising new antibiotic in a soil sample from a lab technician's backyard. The molecule, called lariocidin, is produced by the microbe Paenibacillus and shows broad activity against ...
Phys.org / Quantum simulator reveals how vibrations steer energy flow in molecules
Researchers led by Rice University's Guido Pagano used a specialized quantum device to simulate a vibrating molecule and track how energy moves within it. The work, published Dec. 5 in Nature Communications, could improve ...
Phys.org / Bulk inorganic crystals grown from water emit 'handed' light
Researchers at Kumamoto University have discovered that a purely inorganic crystal grown from water solution can emit circularly polarized light, a special form of light whose "handedness" distinguishes left from right.
Phys.org / Researchers film foraging strategy of wood mice choosing between healthy and moth-damaged chestnuts
A mouse scurries up to six chestnuts. Three look healthy. Three have exit holes where moth larvae ate the insides before they left. What does the mouse do?
Phys.org / Atomic-level surface control boosts brightness of eco-friendly nanosemiconductors by 18-fold
Light-emitting semiconductors are used throughout everyday life in TVs, smartphones, and lighting. However, many technical barriers remain in developing environmentally friendly semiconductor materials.
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 ...
