Phys.org news

Phys.org / A newly discovered mechanism helps cells prevent errors during DNA replication

At the scale of individual cells, the human body is constantly in motion. Every second, millions of cells divide, particularly in tissues such as the bone marrow, intestine and skin; neurons and heart muscle cells divide ...

Sep 21, 2026
Phys.org / AI tool compares 125 cell types across 700 million years of evolution

A KAUST-led team has developed the AI tool Unify to help scientists compare similar cell types across distant species. This comparison can help researchers assess which findings from animal studies may be most relevant to ...

Sep 21, 2026
Phys.org / Engineered nanoparticles sensitize gliomas to radiotherapy

Gliomas are a major cause of cancer-related deaths in younger adults. About 7,000 patients harbor a common genetic mutation that affects the enzyme isocitrate dehydrogenase 1. This mutated enzyme, called mIDH1, can produce ...

Sep 21, 2026
Phys.org / Scientists reveal how our cells conduct emergency repairs for DNA

Two new studies from Johns Hopkins University are providing scientists with an unprecedented view of how human cells repair one of the most dangerous forms of genetic damage: a break that severs both strands of the DNA double ...

Sep 21, 2026
Phys.org / Truckee River microplastics rise nearly tenfold during high spring flows

The ubiquitous plastics of modern life are degrading into tiny fragments and littering Earth's landscapes and waterways. Scientists are starting to examine and measure this phenomenon to better understand how microplastics ...

Sep 21, 2026
Phys.org / Plasma technology could help plant-based packaging replace plastic

A new study has found a sustainable and scalable way to improve the durability of plant-based packaging; it's a discovery that researchers say could help curb the environmental footprint of plastic. Researchers used advanced ...

Sep 21, 2026
Phys.org / Planetary Health Check 2026 finds mounting pressures across Earth's life support systems

Seven breached Planetary Boundaries continue to worsen as record ocean heat, droughts, floods, wildfires and extreme heat reveal an Earth system under strain, according to the latest Planetary Health Check. The annual update ...

Sep 21, 2026
Phys.org / New ligand design balances radical generation and catalyst regeneration for challenging chemical reactions

Radicals, atoms or molecules that readily react with other substances to form new bonds, are useful tools for building complex substances such as pharmaceuticals. But even when a radical is generated efficiently, the reaction ...

Sep 21, 2026
Phys.org / How migrating cells build their leading edge: Master regulator may resolve long-standing debate

The ability of cells to move and change position is essential for various processes in our bodies. Immune cells move to sites of action, epithelial cells migrate during wound closure, and neurons extend their axons for signal ...

Sep 21, 2026
Phys.org / Low-cost sensor tracks soil pH continuously for months across varied soils

At first glance, a farm field doesn't seem all that complicated. It's just dirt and crops.

Sep 21, 2026
Phys.org / Under stress, bacterial RNA and proteins tell different stories

During infection, bacteria encounter rapidly changing and stressful environments inside the body. To understand how they adapt, researchers often measure messenger RNA (mRNA), which carries information from genes that can ...

Sep 21, 2026
Phys.org / A 'rebellious' exoplanet orbits in the opposite direction of its star

A star and its planets form when a cloud of gas and dust collapses in on itself somewhere in space. The cloud then forms a disk around the nascent star, within which the planets will form. This protostar and its disk then ...

Sep 21, 2026