Phys.org news

Phys.org / New method swaps single atom in a molecule to speed drug discovery

Swapping out one letter in a word can entirely change its meaning. Similarly, swapping one atom in a molecule can completely change its identity. A group of chemists at the University of Chicago has demonstrated a new way ...

Aug 31, 2026
Phys.org / 'One-pot' CRISPR platform delivers lab-like sensitivity in 30 minutes for at-home testing

A research team from The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST) has developed an innovative "one-pot" testing platform, known as TEMPO, that could transform highly sensitive nucleic acid testing from a laboratory-based ...

Aug 31, 2026
Phys.org / A single fix reverses the case for rolling back vehicle emissions standards

Two administrations, the Biden administration and the second Trump administration, reached opposite conclusions about whether vehicle emissions standards should be rolled back. These conclusions came from different assumptions, ...

Aug 31, 2026
Phys.org / Femtosecond nano-imaging reveals ultrafast optical control of phonon polaritons

A collaborative research team has successfully visualized in real space the ultrafast optical modulation of hyperbolic phonon polaritons (HPhPs) in a van der Waals heterostructure composed of hBN and WS2. The research is ...

Aug 31, 2026
Phys.org / How much air conditioning usage actually prevents heat deaths?

How protective is air conditioning in preventing deaths amid soaring temperatures and record heat levels? Yale researchers found that AC use cut the number of annual heat-related deaths by half in the U.S., saving more than ...

Aug 31, 2026
Phys.org / AI chatbot use for emotional support tied to loneliness in students

Young people leaning on AI chatbots for emotional support or personal advice are significantly more likely to struggle with serious emotional problems, feel isolated and doubt that they truly matter to others, a new uOttawa ...

Aug 31, 2026
Phys.org / Four 'Little Red Dot' pairs hint at black hole mergers in early universe

After analyzing infrared images captured by the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST), an international team of researchers has discovered multiple massive black holes from approximately 12.5–12.8 billion years ago that were ...

Aug 31, 2026
Phys.org / Important role of plastid ion channels in plant stress response identified

When plants are attacked by herbivores or pathogens, they must respond rapidly while also preparing for potential future attacks. Calcium, a cellular second messenger, and the plant hormone jasmonic acid play important roles ...

Aug 31, 2026
Phys.org / Even small amounts of ocean plastic can affect petrel chicks

Ocean plastic pollution is accidentally on the menu for southern giant petrel chicks. Even small nibbles of it may affect their physiology during development, according to a study from the University of California, Davis, ...

Aug 31, 2026
Phys.org / Small-plane fuel raises lead levels up to sevenfold near Oregon airports, study suggests

Emissions from aircraft that use leaded aviation gasoline are a significant source of environmental pollution in neighborhoods near regional airports, according to a new study by researchers at Oregon State University and ...

Aug 31, 2026
Phys.org / Antarctica is home to microbes found nowhere else on Earth

Scientists have often wondered about species that are unique to Antarctica. But the focus has mainly been on animals, like feathery penguins. CIRES researchers wanted to dig deeper—into the soils—believing tiny organisms ...

Aug 31, 2026
Phys.org / Managing chronic conditions together may be key to longer lifespan, canine study finds

As dogs age, many develop more than one chronic health condition. New research from Texas A&M College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences (VMBS) shows those conditions can dramatically shorten a dog's lifespan, ...

Aug 31, 2026