Phys.org news
Phys.org / Fungus disarms bark beetle chemical shields by converting their plant-derived toxins
Spruce bark is rich in phenolic compounds that protect trees from pathogenic fungi. A research team at the Max Planck Institute for Chemical Ecology in Jena has investigated how these plant defenses function within the food ...
Phys.org / Josephson junction behavior observed with only one superconductor and iron barrier
Separate two superconductors with a thin layer of material and something strange happens.
Phys.org / Ancient microfossils reveal a moving North Pacific Ocean 5 million years ago
A research team led by scientists at Kumamoto University has discovered a new genus of microscopic crustaceans from northern Japan, offering rare insights into how ocean currents in the North Pacific shifted during a key ...
Phys.org / Researchers discover a new superfluid phase in non-Hermitian quantum systems
A stable "exceptional fermionic superfluid," a new quantum phase that intrinsically hosts singularities known as exceptional points, has been discovered by researchers at the Institute of Science Tokyo.
Phys.org / Genetic study reveals two killer whale ecotypes near Hokkaido waters
The species Orcinus orca, generally known as orcas or killer whales, is made up of many genetically distinct populations called ecotypes. Each ecotype indicates an ecological specialization with its own ecological and phylogenetic ...
Phys.org / A new way to map how cells choose their fate
Researchers from Kyushu University have developed an innovative computational method, called ddHodge, that can reconstruct the complex dynamics of how cells decide their fate.
Phys.org / What was the Christmas star? Astronomy might hold the answer
In the run up to Christmas, carols fill the air. Many have an astronomical twist, singing of the "Christmas Star" from the story of the nativity. Described in the Gospel of Matthew, the star guided the three wise men to the ...
Phys.org / How a bacteria-busting spray could help solve a meaty problem
University of Otago scientists are harnessing the power of peptides—the body's own tiny protein molecules—for a spray to help the red meat industry solve headaches around bacterial contamination and spoilage.
Phys.org / The moon and sun figure big in the new year's lineup of cosmic wonders
The moon and sun share top billing in 2026.
Phys.org / Study uncovers how calcium controls insulin quality in the endoplasmic reticulum
Calcium (Ca2+) drives many cellular functions, though the way it controls quality of proteins in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER), a cellular organelle that synthesizes and transports proteins, has not been elucidated. This ...
Phys.org / Novel model to reveal deep-sea black coral symbiotic system
A research team has achieved a significant breakthrough in understanding the adaptive strategies of the deep-sea black coral Bathypathes pseudoalternata (B. pseudoalternata) and its symbiotic microbiome. The study has been ...
Phys.org / Bison return to Illinois' Kane County after 200 years, a crucial step for conservation and Indigenous connection
From their cozy homes in suburban Burlington, children curiously watch their new neighbors through windows and brainstorm nicknames.
