Phys.org news

Phys.org / Understanding how cells take up and use isolated mitochondria to restore energy function

Mitochondria are essential for cell survival, repair, and adaptation. Not only do they generate most of the energy needed during a cell's life, but they also regulate cell death, calcium balance, and responses to stress. ...

Mar 4, 2026
Phys.org / Smarter mangrove protection: Study links a 7.3% area boost to 13.3% resilience gain

A global study of mangroves has found that a modest boost in conserved areas could significantly increase their ability to adapt to the changing climate, including rising sea levels. University of Queensland Ph.D. candidate ...

Mar 4, 2026
Phys.org / Irrigation gaps in weather models could skew air quality forecasts, study finds

Outdoor air pollution is estimated to contribute to more than 100,000 premature deaths in the United States each year, according to the National Weather Service. Accurate air quality forecasts—designed to protect public ...

Mar 4, 2026
Phys.org / Charred pot residues reveal prehistoric Europeans' surprisingly complex cuisines

Thousands of years ago, European communities used a variety of plant and animal products to create elaborate meals, according to a study published in the open-access journal PLOS One by Lara González Carretero of the University ...

Mar 4, 2026
Phys.org / With Evo 2, AI can model and design the genetic code for all domains of life

The DNA foundation model Evo 2 has been published in the journal Nature. Trained on the DNA of over 100,000 species across the entire tree of life, Evo 2 can identify patterns in gene sequences across disparate organisms ...

Mar 4, 2026
Phys.org / Simulation makes it possible to study movements of cell's largest protein complexes without supercomputers

Large protein machines in the body carry out many of the cell's most essential tasks, from energy production to the regulation of signal transmission. Although they can now be imaged in great detail using cryo-electron microscopy, ...

Mar 4, 2026
Phys.org / Influenza's molecular theft caught in action—how the virus steals the cap of host RNA in order to replicate

The cold season is in full swing, throats are scratchy and noses are running. We feel ill and hope it is not the flu. The influenza virus continues to pose a threat to our health. It triggers seasonal epidemics and, from ...

Mar 4, 2026
Phys.org / Drinking water at risk long after wildfires, study warns

Canada's drinking water can remain at risk long after wildfires burn out, according to a UBC-led global review that found water-quality impacts often emerge months or years later—not just immediately after a fire. Researchers ...

Mar 4, 2026
Phys.org / Antibacterial coatings with short-term effect may fail over longer periods of time

Researchers from the Institute of Physics and the Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology of the University of Tartu have shown in a recently published study that antibacterial coatings which initially appear highly effective ...

Mar 4, 2026
Phys.org / Just three molecules can launch gene-silencing condensates in stem cells

A new study has uncovered how an exceptionally scarce protein can orchestrate the assembly of large-scale gene-silencing structures inside cells, and what happens when that process breaks down. The findings, published today ...

Mar 4, 2026
Phys.org / Climate change pushes tropical insects to their heat limit

Up to half of the insects in the Amazon region could be exposed to life-threatening heat levels due to progressive, anthropogenic global warming. This is shown by a recent study by the universities of Würzburg and Bremen.

Mar 4, 2026
Phys.org / Vocal analysis and AI uncover two new Amazon antbirds in five-species complex

Scientists have discovered that a widely recognized Amazonian antbird is not one, but five distinct species—including two completely new to science. This revelation of hidden biodiversity was achieved by integrating artificial ...

Mar 4, 2026