Phys.org news

Phys.org / DNA origami vaccine rivals mRNA shots while being easier to store and manufacture

The COVID-19 pandemic brought messenger RNA (mRNA) vaccines to the forefront of global health care. After their clinical trial stages, the first COVID-19 mRNA vaccine was administered on 8 December 2020 and mathematical models ...

Mar 11, 2026
Phys.org / Highlighting the hidden climate cost of the Israel–Gaza war

A new study estimates that the Israel–Gaza war has generated around 33 million metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent (CO2e), highlighting the often-overlooked environmental impact of armed conflict.

Mar 11, 2026
Phys.org / Researchers use AI to develop RNA-based synthetic NAND switch in living cells

An interdisciplinary research team from two working groups at the Center for Synthetic Biology at TU Darmstadt has developed the first RNA-based genetic switch that precisely replicates the logical behavior of a NAND gate, ...

Mar 11, 2026
Phys.org / Howler monkey ancestors began eating leaves 13 million years ago, changing course of primate history in South America

Thirteen million years ago, a group of medium-sized monkeys known for guarding their territory among the treetops with fearsome "howls" started doing something new. These monkeys, among the oldest known ancestors of the modern ...

Mar 11, 2026
Phys.org / Simulations suggest a breakthrough in understanding how turbulence develops

A new study revisits a century-old question about how turbulence starts. The findings could potentially influence not only aircraft engineering but even the design of mechanical heart valves, and treatment of heart disease. ...

Mar 11, 2026
Phys.org / Stacked quantum materials enable precise spin control without external magnetic fields

Spintronics—a technology that harnesses the electron's magnetic quantum states to carry information—could pave the way for a new generation of ultra-energy-efficient electronics. Yet a major challenge has been the ability ...

Mar 11, 2026
Phys.org / Plants pause, play and fast-forward their growth depending on types of climate stress

Plants pause their growth during stress, then press play when conditions improve, helping them recover and live on to produce food, according to a new study published in New Phytologist. UBC researchers have pinpointed the ...

Mar 11, 2026
Phys.org / Compact vacuum ultraviolet laser may improve nanotechnology and power nuclear clocks

Physicists at the University of Colorado Boulder have demonstrated a new kind of vacuum ultraviolet laser that is 100 to 1,000 times more efficient than existing technologies of its kind. The researchers say the device could ...

Mar 11, 2026
Phys.org / Fiber setup compresses mid-infrared pulses to 187 femtoseconds using just 80 watts

Ultrashort mid-infrared (mid-IR) laser pulses are essential for applications such as molecular spectroscopy, nonlinear microscopy, and biomedical imaging, but their generation often relies on complex and power-intensive systems ...

Mar 11, 2026
Phys.org / Corpses leave clues behind in the soil long after they're gone

It is not uncommon for a body to be moved after a murder, usually to hide or eliminate evidence. And while the Arizona desert may seem like the perfect place to commit such a crime, a new study shows that a cadaver can still ...

Mar 11, 2026
Phys.org / AI weather models show promise for hurricane forecasts, but new study finds key physical limitations

Artificial intelligence is rapidly transforming weather prediction, enabling forecasts that once required hours of supercomputing time to run in just minutes. But as AI tools play an expanding role in high-stakes hazard modeling, ...

Mar 11, 2026
Phys.org / Golden lancehead genome reveals how genes responsible for venom toxins evolved

A research team led by scientists at the Butantan Institute in São Paulo, Brazil, has completed the most extensive genetic sequencing of a jararaca viper to date. The focus of the study was the genome of the golden lancehead ...

Mar 11, 2026