Phys.org news

Phys.org / Chiral nanowires can actively change electron spin direction

The phenomenon where electron spins align in a specific direction after passing through chiral materials is a cornerstone for future spin-based electronics. Yet, the precise process behind this effect has remained a mystery—until ...

Jan 16, 2026 in Nanotechnology
Phys.org / Honeycomb lattice sweetens quantum materials development

Researchers at the Department of Energy's Oak Ridge National Laboratory are pioneering the design and synthesis of quantum materials, which are central to discovery science involving synergies with quantum computation. These ...

Jan 16, 2026 in Physics
Phys.org / Revealing the cell's nanocourier at work

An international group of researchers led by Pompeu Fabra University has discovered the nanomachine that controls constitutive exocytosis: the uninterrupted delivery of spherical molecular packages to the cell surface. This ...

Jan 16, 2026 in Biology
Phys.org / Nationwide racial bias shapes media reporting on gun violence, study suggests

Mass shootings in white-majority neighborhoods received roughly twice the news coverage of mass shootings in neighborhoods where a majority of residents were people of color, while coverage of police-involved shootings was ...

Jan 16, 2026 in Other Sciences
Phys.org / Sharks are famous for fearsome teeth, but ocean acidification could make them weaker

Sharks are the most feared predators in the sea, and their survival hinges on fearsome teeth that regrow throughout their lives. But changes in the ocean's chemistry could put those weapons at risk.

Jan 16, 2026 in Biology
Phys.org / How actin wavefronts rescue T cell receptors from endocytosis

Every time our body encounters a new disease-causing agent, a crucial defense system called adaptive immunity comes into play. T cells, the top agents in this system, survey the internal environment of infected cells and ...

Jan 16, 2026 in Biology
Phys.org / X-ray four-wave mixing captures elusive electron interactions inside atoms and molecules

Scientists at the X-ray free-electron laser SwissFEL have realized a long-pursued experimental goal in physics: to show how electrons dance together. The technique, known as X-ray four-wave mixing, opens a new way to see ...

Jan 16, 2026 in Physics
Phys.org / Cells use dual strategies to fine-tune inflammatory gene activation

Inflammation has to fight pathogens fast—but it can't get out of control. Researchers at the German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ) have now deciphered in more detail how the organism masters this balancing act. Their work ...

Jan 16, 2026 in Biology
Phys.org / Sideways discovery rewrites the rules of antigen presentation

A new discovery about how cells communicate with each other in the body's immune system has revealed deeper insights for an international team of scientists into fundamental immune system function.

Jan 16, 2026 in Biology
Phys.org / Biomass-derived furans offer sustainable alternative to petroleum in chemical production

A research project conducted by the Max-Planck-Institut für Kohlenforschung shows how biomass can be used as a raw material for chemical products instead of petroleum. The scientists have published their findings in the ...

Jan 16, 2026 in Chemistry
Phys.org / When tropical oceans were oxygen oases

Research reveals when and why ancient tropical seas transitioned from oxygen oases to marine dead zones, providing clues to the long-term evolution of oceanic environments.

Jan 16, 2026 in Earth
Phys.org / Plant diversity shapes chemical communication in ecosystems

Researchers at the Max Planck Institute for Chemical Ecology and the University of Kiel have provided experimental evidence showing that reducing plant species diversity alters plant chemical signals across whole communities ...

Jan 16, 2026 in Biology