Phys.org news

Phys.org / Dogs are more like toddlers than cats when it comes to helping humans

Why does your dog rush to "help" when you are searching for something, while your cat seems… eh, less concerned? New research suggests that this difference may stem from deep evolutionary roots—and that, in certain situations, ...

Feb 26, 2026 in Biology
Phys.org / Mitochondria can reshape lipid storage in cells by repurposing a protein-insertion complex

A recent study by the University of Bonn and University Hospital Bonn and the University of Freiburg shows that the mitochondria appear to be able to influence the number of lipid droplets in the cell using a mechanism that ...

Feb 26, 2026 in Biology
Phys.org / Grasslands are vanishing nearly four times faster than forests, global study finds

Along with forests, grasslands and wetlands are also being converted to cropland and pasture at an increasing rate around the world—often for livestock farming and the export of agricultural products. An international team ...

Feb 26, 2026 in Earth
Phys.org / Carbon-based catalyst can use sunlight to degrade PFAS

An international team of scientists led by the University of Bath has developed a new catalyst—a substance that speeds up chemical reactions—that uses sunlight to break down so-called "forever chemicals" prevalent in ...

Feb 26, 2026 in Chemistry
Phys.org / Using high-energy sparks to degrade pollutants without generating waste

A study published in the Chemical Engineering Journal proposes a new approach to environmental remediation of pharmaceutical pollutants in water flows. This approach is based on a phenomenon known as "sparks," which refers ...

Feb 26, 2026 in Chemistry
Phys.org / Romance and sexual intimacy don't diminish with age, study suggests

A study by the University of New Hampshire challenges common assumptions about aging and intimacy, revealing that many single adults aged 60 to 83 continue to prioritize sexual activity in their romantic relationships—underscoring ...

Feb 26, 2026 in Other Sciences
Phys.org / Human activity is influencing the behavior of Germany's wildcats

A research team led by Dr. Chris Baumann and Dr. Dorothée Drucker from the Senckenberg Center for Human Evolution and Paleoenvironment at the University of Tübingen has found that the European wildcat is increasingly using ...

Feb 26, 2026 in Biology
Phys.org / New technique spots hidden defects to boost reliability of ultrathin electronics

Future devices will continue to probe the frontier of the very small, and at scales where functionality depends on mere atoms, even the tiniest flaw matters. Researchers at Rice University have shown that hard-to-spot defects ...

Feb 26, 2026 in Nanotechnology
Phys.org / Scientists lay out what we do and don't yet know about moths and butterflies

Should you ever find yourself playing a trivia game on the topic of moths and butterflies, here are a few facts that might help. Collectively called Lepidoptera, moths and butterflies account for nearly 10% of all animal ...

Feb 26, 2026 in Biology
Phys.org / Laser technique can quickly check mRNA packaging in lipid nanoparticles

Messenger RNA (mRNA) technology is transforming medicine by providing our cells with genetic instructions to produce proteins that help the immune system prevent or fight a wide range of diseases, including cancer and other ...

Feb 26, 2026 in Nanotechnology
Phys.org / Undergrads expand the chemical toolbox for cancer drugs

Thanks to modern therapies, a cancer diagnosis is no longer an automatic death sentence. But many patients still suffer from unwanted side effects and limited efficacy. In a recent Bioconjugate Chemistry publication, William ...

Feb 26, 2026 in Chemistry
Phys.org / Peanut waste can be turned into high-quality futuristic graphene

Researchers at UNSW have discovered a new way to make graphene, a remarkable "wonder material," using just discarded peanut shells. The development opens the door to cheaper, more sustainable electronics and energy storage ...

Feb 26, 2026 in Nanotechnology