Phys.org news

Phys.org / New gene activation tool may do what CRISPR cannot: Work inside the body

The ability to precisely adjust the expression of genes inside the human body—ramping up protective ones and tamping down harmful ones—holds enormous potential for treating and preventing disease. But the standard molecular ...

Aug 31, 2026
Phys.org / AI chatbot use for emotional support tied to loneliness in students

Young people leaning on AI chatbots for emotional support or personal advice are significantly more likely to struggle with serious emotional problems, feel isolated and doubt that they truly matter to others, a new uOttawa ...

Aug 31, 2026
Phys.org / Manganese's emission lines shine a light on galactic evolution

In a new study, a team of astronomers has identified wavelengths of light that could be useful for tracing the chemical evolution of the universe. Using computational modeling to simulate how electrons interact with manganese ...

Aug 31, 2026
Phys.org / A 112°C test may separate 1,000-year-old pottery from recent forgeries

Museums around the world now have a new tool to distinguish real ancient clay artifacts from fakes. The research team at UC San Diego's Scripps Institution of Oceanography, led by postdoctoral scholar Yoav Vaknin, found a ...

Aug 31, 2026
Phys.org / Small-plane fuel raises lead levels up to sevenfold near Oregon airports, study suggests

Emissions from aircraft that use leaded aviation gasoline are a significant source of environmental pollution in neighborhoods near regional airports, according to a new study by researchers at Oregon State University and ...

Aug 31, 2026
Phys.org / Antarctica is home to microbes found nowhere else on Earth

Scientists have often wondered about species that are unique to Antarctica. But the focus has mainly been on animals, like feathery penguins. CIRES researchers wanted to dig deeper—into the soils—believing tiny organisms ...

Aug 31, 2026
Phys.org / Caught right-handed: Mystery of coiling snake embryos explained

An international team led by Canadian researchers has found evidence explaining why snake embryos form a curious spiral. This ability to coil as embryos enables snakes to hatch with the longest bodies of all vertebrates.

Aug 31, 2026
Phys.org / Solar orbiter detects ion sorting at the solar wind's magnetic boundary

A Southwest Research Institute (SwRI) study of data from the European Space Agency's (ESA) Solar Orbiter gives the most detailed view of the heliospheric current sheet (HCS) to date. The HCS is a sprawling, undulating surface ...

Aug 31, 2026
Phys.org / Tiny mirror that controls light in 3D could make microscopes smaller and faster

Researchers use tightly focused laser beams to image biological samples, shape materials with microscopic precision and generate displays. But using those beams in three dimensions requires more than sweeping light from side ...

Aug 31, 2026
Phys.org / Managing chronic conditions together may be key to longer lifespan, canine study finds

As dogs age, many develop more than one chronic health condition. New research from Texas A&M College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences (VMBS) shows those conditions can dramatically shorten a dog's lifespan, ...

Aug 31, 2026
Phys.org / Beyond flood maps: Puerto Rico residents seek climate tools built around local needs

Resources such as sea level rise viewers, heat maps and flood prediction services are crucial tools in a changing climate. NASA Earth Observations (NASA EO) datasets provide important information on these and other natural ...

Aug 31, 2026
Phys.org / Even small amounts of ocean plastic can affect petrel chicks

Ocean plastic pollution is accidentally on the menu for southern giant petrel chicks. Even small nibbles of it may affect their physiology during development, according to a study from the University of California, Davis, ...

Aug 31, 2026