Phys.org news

Phys.org / Cyanobacterium found in clean lakes shows little toxic potential

Gloeotrichia echinulata is a type of cyanobacterium that draws scrutiny because it tends to bloom in clear lakes, forming thick mats of visible green or white puffballs in otherwise clean water. Because of the slew of toxic ...

Sep 21, 2026
Phys.org / Two new large stick insect species discovered in Australia's backyards and rainforests

Insect "detectives" have discovered two new types of large stick insects, showing scientists are still uncovering new species in some of Australia's most well-studied landscapes. Researchers at the University of Sydney have ...

Sep 21, 2026
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 / Archaeologists uncover centuries-old mystery of Tampa Bay's secret community of migrant potters

About 100 years ago, archaeologists unearthing pottery sherds in Tampa Bay found something unexpected. Some of the fragments they recovered had designs nearly identical to decorated pottery found hundreds of miles to the ...

Sep 21, 2026
Phys.org / Eat, prey, love: Nurse shark mating and Northeast angler conflicts offer conservation insights

While the Discovery Channel's annual Shark Week event has given the public greater familiarity with sharks, much about them—from their mysterious love lives to how their eating habits bring them into conflict with recreational ...

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 / Student-led missions deploy free-flying light sails from CubeSats in low Earth orbit

Students in Cornell's Space Systems Design Studio (SSDS) have released mission results for two unique light-sail experiments. These sails are slightly larger than a pizza box and harness momentum from photons to accelerate ...

Sep 21, 2026
Dialog / From spider webs to mosaics: How nanosheets of graphene oxide control the patterns left by a drying droplet

A drop of coffee on a tabletop often leaves a dark ring behind. This everyday mark is a reminder that a drying droplet is not passive: As water evaporates, it can transport the particles suspended inside it toward the edge. ...

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 / 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