Phys.org news

Phys.org / Cells use a little-known molecule to protect themselves from iron overload

Iron is essential. Our cells need it to produce energy, carry oxygen throughout the body and power countless chemical reactions that sustain life. But this metal has a dark side. When too much of it is left free inside cells, ...

Aug 14, 2026
Phys.org / Stable RNA elements open new possibilities for mRNA therapeutics

A research team led by Director Kim V. Narry at the Center for RNA Research within the Institute for Basic Science (IBS) has discovered compact viral RNA elements that can make mRNA more stable and increase protein production. ...

Aug 14, 2026
Phys.org / US could exhaust domestic phosphorus within 40 years, but waste offers reserves

The United States could exhaust its domestic phosphorus supply within 40 years. Europe, Latin America and Southeast Asia already depend on imports from China and Morocco to meet their needs. Without phosphorus, crops cannot ...

Aug 14, 2026
Phys.org / Cells pulse together as they grow—and malignant cells pulse the longest

Epithelial cells are the tiny shields that line and protect our bodies. In a developing embryo, epithelial cells grow, divide and move into positions to form the outer layers of our skin and the surfaces of our organs and ...

Aug 14, 2026
Phys.org / Long-lost convent rediscovered under a soccer field in Denmark

A medieval monastery complex, long believed to be lost, has now been identified using ground-penetrating radar (GPR) in Roskilde, Denmark. The investigations have uncovered extensive and well-preserved remains of the St Clare's ...

Aug 14, 2026
Phys.org / Wildfires have destroyed an area of protected tropical forest twice the size of Wales since 2001, study reveals

Over 4 million hectares (9.9 million acres) of protected tropical forest—an area double the size of Wales—have been lost to wildfires since 2001.

Aug 14, 2026
Phys.org / A new way to beat jet lag? Engineered cells speed circadian adjustment

Adjusting to a new time zone or work schedule can leave the body's internal clock out of sync for days, contributing to sleep disruption, metabolic changes and other health consequences. Researchers at Rice University and ...

Aug 14, 2026
Phys.org / Tiny DNA rotor lets microscopes track gene transcription one base pair at a time

Scientists often describe life as a series of chemical reactions. Pallav Kosuri, Ph.D., describes life as movement. Chemical reactions are how you drive the movement of atoms, proteins, cells and bodies—without movement, ...

Aug 14, 2026
Phys.org / EU cities plan to compensate for a fifth of their emissions through carbon removal, but few have thought through how

An analysis of 103 European cities' climate-neutral plans for 2030 (including 22 capital cities) shows that municipalities are planning to rely on carbon removal to compensate for about a fifth of their emissions. This would ...

Aug 14, 2026
Phys.org / Butterfly-inspired technology could change the way we monitor air

Respiratory infectious diseases and air pollution remain persistent global health challenges. Yet the tools used to monitor airborne threats are often expensive, power-hungry and difficult to deploy outside laboratories.

Aug 14, 2026
Phys.org / New AI model detects hidden signs of solar eruptions hours before they emerge

Long before dark sunspots appear on the sun's surface, a new active region—where powerful solar eruptions can originate—begins showing subtle signs of its formation. Now, researchers say a new artificial intelligence model ...

Aug 14, 2026
Phys.org / Scientists develop method to deliver sugars directly into cells

Sugars, or glycans, play a crucial role in biology—from cell signaling and recognition to interactions with pathogens. Changes in glycosylation are also associated with diseases including cancer. But studying glycans poses ...

Aug 14, 2026