Phys.org news

Phys.org / First complete songbird genome exposes missing genes and chromosome architecture

The zebra finch is one of the best-studied songbirds and a model for understanding the biology and neuroscience of vocal learning. Now, researchers have produced the first complete genome assembly of the species, revealing ...

Aug 6, 2026
Phys.org / Siberia's growing methane threat could offset 20% of global methane reduction targets by 2050

The Arctic is warming at an accelerating pace. As permafrost thaws across vast areas and wildfires become more frequent, large amounts of methane (CH4) are being released. Together, these changes are reshaping the region's ...

Aug 6, 2026
Phys.org / Sugars may have helped fuel the evolution of the human brain, new research suggests

Fruit, honey and other naturally sweet foods may have helped fuel the evolution of the human brain, according to new research from the University of Sydney and the University of Glasgow.

Aug 6, 2026
Phys.org / AI and 'Ramanomics' could eliminate a major obstacle to studying living cells

Fluorescent dyes have long been used in biological research to identify and visualize structures within living cells. Although effective, they have several drawbacks, including altering the cells under study, limiting the ...

Aug 6, 2026
Phys.org / Powerhouses for fake meat: Muscle protein can now be grown in chloroplasts of lettuce and tobacco plants

Livestock farming requires valuable land to grow fodder, uses vast amounts of freshwater and contributes to global warming through methane and nitrous oxide emissions. And, for many consumers it is important to prevent animal ...

Aug 6, 2026
Phys.org / Carbon nanostructure improves fuel-cell catalyst durability while reducing platinum use

The explosion of new data centers being proposed and built around the U.S. has increased demand for energy to keep them powered and cooled. The Electric Power Research Institute estimates that data centers could consume up ...

Aug 6, 2026
Phys.org / Liquid nitrogen may have recently flowed across Pluto's heart-shaped glacier

A new study led by Southwest Research Institute (SwRI) provides evidence that liquid nitrogen is rising to Pluto's surface through cracks at the northern edge of Sputnik Planitia, part of the massive heart-shaped glacier ...

Aug 6, 2026
Phys.org / Atomic view of Alzheimer's disease peptide could inform new drugs

One of the hallmarks of Alzheimer's disease is the accumulation of a peptide in the brain known as amyloid beta. A new study published in Nature Communications on July 22 has uncovered the atomic structure of the peptide ...

Aug 6, 2026
Phys.org / Bioengineers develop biochemical halo to cloak insulin-producing cells from body defenses

A protein known as interleukin 10 (IL-10) is the lynchpin of a new method to protect transplanted cells from host immune system attacks. Rice University researchers engineered a living factory to produce a localized biochemical ...

Aug 6, 2026
Phys.org / First metabolically activated molecular glue degrader may target cancer cells under oxidative stress

Investigators at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute have developed a platform for systematically discovering molecular glues that could become protein degradation drug candidates. The platform could help drug developers dramatically ...

Aug 6, 2026
Phys.org / Earthquake sensors can help forecast how hurricanes intensify

Stanford researchers have shown that instruments primarily used to understand earthquakes can capture key details about hurricanes, helping meteorologists better predict how storms will evolve and intensify.

Aug 6, 2026
Phys.org / Random physics helps model individual ant motion

Ants make up one of the most diverse groups of animals on the planet, with many species boasting remarkable physical abilities and social behaviors, and an overall species richness that far exceeds that of mammals. Various ...

Aug 6, 2026