Phys.org news

Phys.org / Antibodies' decoy tactics for outmaneuvering pathogens could inspire next-generation treatments

Pathogens can create sticky situations. When microbes invade the body to cause an infection, often one of their first lines of attack is to cling tenaciously to the surfaces of targeted human cells.

Jan 8, 2026 in Biology
Phys.org / How did these strange, ancient organisms turn into such remarkable fossils?

In Earth's fossil record, soft-bodied organisms like jellyfish rarely stand the test of time. What's more, it's hard for any animal to get preserved with exceptional detail in sandstones, which are made of large grains, are ...

Jan 8, 2026 in Biology
Phys.org / Deep Sulawesi cave dig could reveal overlap between extinct humans and us

Could Homo sapiens and an archaic and now-extinct species of early human have lived alongside each other on the Indonesian island of Sulawesi more than 65,000 years ago?

Jan 8, 2026 in Other Sciences
Phys.org / Understanding the link between nucleotide metabolism and chromatin assembly

A Northwestern Medicine study has revealed a previously unknown connection between two fundamental cellular processes, offering fresh insight into how human cells build and maintain chromatin, according to findings published ...

Jan 8, 2026 in Biology
Phys.org / A new way to view shockwaves could boost fusion research

At the heart of our sun, fusion is unfolding. As hydrogen atoms merge to form helium, they emit energy, producing the heat and light that reach us here on Earth. Inspired by our nearby star, researchers want to create fusion ...

Jan 8, 2026 in Physics
Phys.org / Asteroid impact simulation reveals the hidden strength of space rocks

Physicists at the University of Oxford have contributed to a new study which has found that iron-rich asteroids can tolerate far more energy than previously thought without breaking apart—a breakthrough with direct implications ...

Jan 8, 2026 in Astronomy & Space
Phys.org / Astrophysicists map how many ghost particles all the Milky Way's stars send towards Earth

They're called ghost particles for a reason. They're everywhere—trillions of them constantly stream through everything: our bodies, our planet, even the entire cosmos. These so-called neutrinos are elementary particles ...

Jan 8, 2026 in Astronomy & Space
Phys.org / Behind nature's blueprints: Physicists create 'theoretical rulebook' of self-assembly

Inspired by biological systems, materials scientists have long sought to harness self-assembly to build nanomaterials. The challenge: the process seemed random and notoriously difficult to predict.

Jan 8, 2026 in Nanotechnology
Phys.org / Ultrasonic sensor capable enables cuffless, non-invasive blood pressure measurement

A new technology has been developed that enables cuffless noninvasive blood pressure monitoring by using ultrasonic to track real-time changes in vascular diameter—without the need for a traditional cuff. The technology ...

Jan 8, 2026 in Nanotechnology
Phys.org / Cells use Morse code-like rhythms to coordinate growth

Cells experience many different types of stress, such as starvation or stress caused by too much salt or too high a temperature. Insulin signals respond to such stress signals by sending the protein DAF-16 into the cell nucleus ...

Jan 8, 2026 in Biology
Phys.org / Marine pollutants disrupt cellular energy production in seabirds

Common pollutants are disrupting energy production at the cellular level in wild seabirds, potentially affecting fitness, new research reveals. The study, published in Environment & Health, focused on Scopoli's shearwaters ...

Jan 8, 2026 in Biology
Phys.org / NASA cancels spacewalk due to medical issue and may bring the crew back early

NASA canceled its first spacewalk of the year and may bring its crew back early from the International Space Station due to an onboard medical issue.

Jan 8, 2026 in Astronomy & Space