Phys.org news

Phys.org / Prairie dog genes reveal secrets of plague survival

A study of the genetic basis of plague immunity in prairie dogs has broad implications for conservation. From white-nose syndrome in bats to avian malaria in Hawaiian birds, introduced pathogens are a major cause of population ...

16 hours ago in Biology
Phys.org / How plants build the microbiome they need to survive in a tough environment

New research from Northern Arizona University points to the idea that, under some conditions, plants can "curate" their microbiomes—selecting good microbes and suppressing harmful ones—to adapt to their environments. ...

16 hours ago in Biology
Phys.org / The multitasking microbe that turns CO₂ into minerals

At more than 470 times the atmospheric concentration of CO₂, a humble soil bacterium does something extraordinary: it turns gas into stone.

18 hours ago in Biology
Phys.org / Diagnosing cancer with light: Scientists develop a probe that glows yellow only in tumor cells

A collaborative research team has successfully developed a novel fluorescent probe, SLY (Sialyl Lewis Yellow), capable of precisely identifying hepatocellular carcinoma tissue. The findings are published in the Journal of ...

18 hours ago in Chemistry
Phys.org / When sunscreen meets plastic: A newly discovered threat to marine ecosystems

A chemical commonly found in sunscreen could be making plastic in oceans even harder to break down, according to University of Stirling research.

18 hours ago in Earth
Phys.org / How ants actively protect themselves against dehydration

Insects use a wax layer on their bodies to prevent water loss. Furthermore, they use the layer for communication. Although the chemical composition of this layer has been extensively studied, researchers at Johannes Gutenberg ...

18 hours ago in Biology
Phys.org / New quantum record: Transmon qubit coherence reaches millisecond threshold

On July 8, 2025, physicists from Aalto University in Finland published a transmon qubit coherence measurement in Nature Communications that dramatically surpasses previous scientifically published records. The millisecond ...

22 hours ago in Physics
Phys.org / How a slight change in weather could have made Germany's deadly floods even worse

The devastating floods that killed nearly 200 people in Germany four years ago could have been even more damaging, new research suggests. The floods in July 2021 were among the worst disasters in German history. At least ...

22 hours ago in Earth
Phys.org / Study traces evolutionary origins of essential PRPS enzyme complex

University of Cincinnati Cancer Center researchers looked billions of years into the past to learn more about the potential future of precision medicine.

22 hours ago in Biology
Phys.org / A nuanced model of soil moisture illuminates plant behavior and climate patterns

Any home gardener knows they have to tailor their watering regime for different plants. Forgetting to water their flowerbed over the weekend could spell disaster, but the trees will likely be fine. Plants have evolved different ...

22 hours ago in Earth
Phys.org / A pointless fashion trend or something else? Chimpanzees wear blades of grass in their ears and rears

A team of researchers from Utrecht University, Durham University, and other institutions have observed something remarkable at a chimpanzee sanctuary in Zambia. Several chimpanzees from one particular group were seen dangling ...

Jul 8, 2025 in Biology
Phys.org / Dark dwarfs lurking at the center of our galaxy might hint at the nature of dark matter

Celestial objects known as dark dwarfs may be hiding at the center of our galaxy and could offer key clues to uncover the nature of one of the most mysterious and fundamental phenomena in contemporary cosmology: dark matter.

Jul 7, 2025 in Astronomy & Space