Phys.org news

Phys.org / Woodland birds living among native trees produce more chicks, study shows

Native trees, such as oaks, have long held a special place in our culture and countryside. Now, researchers have shown that these trees are also important to woodland birds and their offspring.

6 hours ago in Biology
Phys.org / Seychelles leads the way in the protection of sharks and rays, finds study

A new study published in Ecology and Evolution has evaluated the extent to which recently identified Important Shark and Ray Areas (ISRAs) in the Western Indian Ocean overlap with existing marine protected areas.

14 hours ago in Biology
Phys.org / New class of strong magnets uses earth-abundant elements, avoids rare-earth metals

Georgetown University researchers have discovered a new class of strong magnets that do not rely on rare-earth or precious metals—a breakthrough that could significantly advance clean energy technologies and consumer electronics ...

Jan 18, 2026 in Physics
Phys.org / Experiments bring Enceladus' subsurface ocean into the lab

Through new experiments, researchers in Japan and Germany have recreated the chemical conditions found in the subsurface ocean of Saturn's moon, Enceladus. Published in Icarus, the results show that these conditions can readily ...

Jan 18, 2026 in Astronomy & Space
Phys.org / How to prevent charge buildup in a lunar rover

As they roll across shadowed regions of the moon's surface, future lunar rovers could develop hazardous buildups of electric charge on their wheels. Through new analysis published in Advances in Space Research, Bill Farrell ...

Jan 18, 2026 in Astronomy & Space
Phys.org / Scientists design artificial pain receptor that senses pain intensity and self-heals

All over the body are tiny sensors called nociceptors whose job is to spot potentially harmful stimuli and send warning signals to the brain and spinal cord, helping protect us from injury or tissue damage.

Jan 18, 2026 in Chemistry
Phys.org / Two harmful gene variants can restore function when combined, study reveals

Sometimes, in genetics, two wrongs do make a right. A research team has recently shown that two harmful genetic variants, when occurring together in a gene, can restore function—proving a decades-old hypothesis originally ...

Jan 18, 2026 in Biology
Phys.org / More than 55% of Cerrado native vegetation already lost, new review reveals

A comprehensive new review synthesizing decades of research warns that the Brazilian Cerrado—a biodiversity hotspot, known for its vast inverted forests—is facing a massive, multi-faceted ecological crisis.

Jan 18, 2026 in Biology
Phys.org / New fluorescent labels offer clearer, high-contrast imaging of live cell processes

Thanks to a recent study by researchers at IOCB Prague, it is now possible to monitor processes in living cells more effectively than before, including responses to drugs and changes in cellular structures.

Jan 18, 2026 in Biology
Phys.org / How a respiratory bacterium obtains essential lipids from the human body and targets fat-rich tissues

A multidisciplinary team has uncovered a key mechanism that allows the human bacterium Mycoplasma pneumoniae—responsible for atypical pneumonia and other respiratory infections—to obtain cholesterol and other essential ...

Jan 18, 2026 in Biology
Phys.org / Horses can smell human fear when we sweat

Horses can smell your fear. If you are experiencing this emotion while standing near a horse, they will be able to detect it through your scent alone, which changes their behavior and physiology. That's the conclusion of ...

Jan 17, 2026 in Biology
Phys.org / Study finds albumin, the most abundant blood protein, acts as a shield against deadly fungal infections

Scientists at the Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology (IMBB-FORTH) and the University of Crete, together with collaborators from Greece, Europe, the U.S., and India, have discovered a novel role of albumin, the ...

Jan 17, 2026 in Biology