Phys.org news

Phys.org / How cells turn mechanical forces into biochemical signals

Cells constantly probe their environments, searching for physical cues that guide their behavior. And yet a cell's response to its environment is always biochemical, mediated by the chemistry of its internal protein machinery. ...

11 hours ago
Phys.org / Plants can sense the sound of rain, new study finds

The next time you find yourself lulled by the patter of rain outside your window, think how that same sprinkle might sound if you were a tiny seed planted directly below a free-falling droplet. Would you still be similarly ...

17 hours ago
Phys.org / NASA's Curiosity rover uncovers metal‑rich hotspot tied to ancient Martian lake

A team of scientists using the ChemCam instrument on NASA's Curiosity Mars rover has discovered the highest amounts of iron, manganese, and zinc ever found together in Gale Crater on Mars. Minerals with these metals were ...

13 hours ago
Phys.org / Wild apple genes still shape modern fruit, and that could matter for climate-ready crops

Researchers at NYU Abu Dhabi, in collaboration with international partners, have uncovered new insights into how apples became the fruits we know today, showing that their evolution has been shaped by continuous exchange ...

12 hours ago
Phys.org / Bursting the barrier: Catalysts unlock hydrogen from magnesium hydride

A new study sheds light on how hydrogen can be stored and released more effectively using magnesium hydride (MgH₂), offering fresh direction for clean energy technologies.

12 hours ago
Phys.org / Monkeys in Gibraltar self-medicate with soil to help them digest tourists' junk food

Monkeys in a tourism hotspot have learned that swallowing dirt can quell the upset stomachs caused by overconsumption of sweet and salty snacks fed to them by holidaymakers, a new University of Cambridge-led study suggests. ...

17 hours ago
Phys.org / Cheaper sequencing, bigger payoff: New software could bring advanced metagenomics to more labs

Metagenomics relies on the use of software programs called assemblers, which can reconstruct tens of thousands of individual microbial genomes from DNA sequencing of samples such as soil, bodily fluids, or clinical swabs ...

13 hours ago
Phys.org / Comparable vitamin B6 levels found between nonalcoholic and conventional beers

Beer is one of the oldest and most consumed beverages on Earth, typically associated with social and celebratory settings. But researchers are curious about what vitamins and minerals are present in the beverage. A study ...

14 hours ago
Phys.org / Sun simulations reveal how cool prominences survive in million-degree corona

At more than one million degrees, the sun's atmosphere—the corona—is incredibly hot; but not everywhere. Time and again, huge structures of significantly cooler solar plasma—about 10,000 degrees—appear within the corona. ...

17 hours ago
Phys.org / Seeing is believing: Smart probes reveal proteins inside living cells with unprecedented clarity

Fluorescent probes have transformed modern biology by allowing researchers to tag and visualize individual molecules in living cells, tissues, and animals. Using these tools, researchers can watch viruses infect cells in ...

17 hours ago
Phys.org / Mars rover detects never-before-seen organic compounds in new experiment

NASA's Curiosity Mars rover has uncovered a diverse mix of organic molecules on Mars, including chemicals widely considered building blocks for the origin of life on Earth.

Apr 21, 2026
Phys.org / Alternating atomic layers enable rare electron pairing mechanism in new unconventional superconductor

Superconductors, materials that can conduct electricity with a resistance of zero, have proved to be highly promising for the development of quantum technologies, medical imaging devices, particle accelerators and other advanced ...

Apr 21, 2026