Phys.org news

Phys.org / Uncovering the link between epigenetic modifications and chromatin structure

Certain epigenetic modifications can directly control how genetic material is packed in the nucleus, RIKEN researchers have shown. This has important implications for our understanding of how genes are expressed in different ...

May 21, 2026
Phys.org / Scientists improve knowledge on sea level rise—and confirm it has been accelerating since 1960

Sea level rise is a direct consequence of human-induced climate change: global warming. It is relentless and very hard to stop. It arises from human-induced warming and the consequential expansion of the ocean, plus the addition ...

May 20, 2026
Phys.org / New insights into how the human hand evolved from our ape-like ancestors

The human hand is an evolutionary marvel. While other primates rely on their hands for locomotion and basic grasping, ours can shape tools, manipulate objects, and perform detailed tasks requiring great dexterity and precision. ...

May 20, 2026
Phys.org / What if the direction of a magnet could shape the building blocks of life?

In a new discovery, researchers from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem and the Weizmann Institute of Science have found that something in the direction of a magnetic field can influence how molecules of life behave at the ...

May 20, 2026
Phys.org / Neptune's mysterious moon Nereid may be original survivor of Triton's chaotic arrival

Neptune's far-flung moon Nereid may be the last of the planet's original companions that managed to survive a cosmic crash, scientists reported Wednesday.

May 20, 2026
Phys.org / Portugal burial reveals first known bone dental bridge in national archaeological record

The first documented case of a fixed bone bridge unearthed in Portugal was presented in the International Journal of Osteoarchaeology by researchers Ms. Steffi Vassallo and her colleagues. The item is estimated to date to ...

May 20, 2026
Phys.org / Discovery of new fossils in Northwest Canada changes view of early animal evolution

Researchers have uncovered a remarkable fossil site in a remote part of Canada's Northwest Territories, offering unprecedented insight into the earliest evolution of complex animal life on Earth. Findings from the site represent ...

May 20, 2026
Phys.org / Bees found an unlikely new food source, and it could reshape how a destructive forest disease travels

New research published in NeoBiota has found that the Western honey bee—an introduced species to Australia—and the devastating, invasive plant fungus known as myrtle rust (Austropuccinia psidii) may have formed a mutually ...

May 20, 2026
Phys.org / 129,000 years of crocodiles: What we know about Australasia's ancient apex predators

The sight of a saltwater crocodile basking on a mudbank is one of the most iconic and intimidating images of northern Australia. Yet the crocodiles that inhabit the region today are just the survivors of a much richer and ...

May 20, 2026
Phys.org / How Earth recycles continents deep underground

Scientists have uncovered new evidence that Earth's continents are continuously reworked deep beneath the surface, offering fresh insight into how continents have evolved over billions of years.

May 20, 2026
Phys.org / High-entropy catalyst lets ammonia fuel cell reach world-class power and durability

As ammonia gains attention as a next-generation energy source capable of overcoming the limits of hydrogen storage and transport, KAIST and a joint research team have developed fuel cell technology that directly uses ammonia ...

May 20, 2026
Phys.org / Chiral carbon nanotube films deliver giant light-conversion effect

A sheet of twisted carbon nanotubes has revealed a hidden talent scientists suspected for decades but had never managed to measure. Researchers at Rice University have created large, highly ordered films of chiral carbon ...

May 20, 2026