Phys.org news

Phys.org / Dying cells don't all release key inflammatory cytokine in the same way, research reveals

Researchers at Toho University have uncovered a previously unrecognized mechanism controlling how dying cells release the inflammatory cytokine IL-33, a key driver of allergy, asthma, tissue inflammation, and cancer progression. ...

12 hours ago
Phys.org / Fish have no necks, yet this ancient balancing trick keeps their heads startlingly steady in motion

Postural control is a fundamental behavior for most animals, and head stability in particular plays a crucial role in achieving stable sensory input, accurate spatial perception, and efficient motor output. Tetrapods, including ...

14 hours ago
Phys.org / Coral study could help explain infertility and ovarian cancer by decoding cilia-driven fluid flows

A study by researchers at The University of Manchester, carried out alongside the Universities of Melbourne and Copenhagen, could hold the key to understanding the causes of long-term health problems, such as infertility ...

14 hours ago
Phys.org / Fire salamanders reveal hidden turquoise glow when exposed to UV radiation

An international research team has discovered that the fire salamander (Salamandra salamandra) is biofluorescent. A study published in the journal Royal Society Open Science shows that the salamander reflects turquoise light ...

16 hours ago
Phys.org / Your own personal Farmville: This VR greenhouse lets users monitor crops remotely

You've probably heard of Stardew Valley or Farmville, video games where you manage a virtual farm. Now, what if you could monitor real plants from the comfort of your home? Thanks to new research at Binghamton University, ...

15 hours ago
Phys.org / Mysterious acids keep bacteria rod-shaped by restraining rogue enzyme, experiments reveal

Researchers have discovered how acids on the surface of bacteria give these microscopic organisms their characteristic "rod" shape—by keeping an enzyme at bay that would otherwise turn the cylindrical cells into shape-shifting ...

15 hours ago
Phys.org / NASA lays out moon base plans with landers, buggies and drones at the top of the list

NASA is already ordering landers, rovers and drones for a sprawling moon base, less than two months after the Artemis II's record-breaking lunar flyaround.

21 hours ago
Phys.org / Just 1.2 billion years after the Big Bang, galaxies were already shaped by where they lived

A large protocluster of galaxies that existed 12.6 billion years ago, first discovered with the Subaru Telescope, has been examined in detail using the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST). The study found that galaxies in crowded ...

May 26, 2026
Phys.org / Why is Europe the world's fastest warming continent?

Europe, which is in the throes of a record-smashing heat wave this week, is the world's fastest-warming continent and stretches into an even more rapidly heating Arctic.

May 26, 2026
Phys.org / Reading brachycephalic dogs' facial expressions requires extra cognitive processing by humans

People often look to dogs' behavior, especially their facial expressions, for indications of their states of mind. Numerous studies show that this is a popular interpretation strategy. However, modern dog breeds vary greatly ...

May 26, 2026
Phys.org / Spider silk-inspired process turns corn protein into tougher plastic-like material

When it comes to technology and innovation, we have a lot to thank Mother Nature for. Learning from the natural world has led to a range of useful products, including Velcro, self-cleaning paint, and ultra-strong body armor. ...

May 26, 2026
Phys.org / What a toothless, two-legged crocodile cousin reveals about life before dinosaurs dominated

In the Triassic, the modern animals we know were just beginning to diversify into a menagerie of forms and body plans that rhyme with the lifestyles of extinct and living animals better known to the public, but nested in ...

May 26, 2026