Phys.org news

Phys.org / Peru Amazon highway tied to 400% dengue surge within 5 kilometers of road

New roads bring changes to the regions they traverse. They can enable job opportunities, access to medicine and health care, and electricity. But they also disrupt local ecosystems and can have surprising consequences for ...

Jul 8, 2026
Phys.org / Turning up the heat on cancer: Manganese ferrite nanoparticles outperform rivals

Scientists have long known that heat can be used to help fight cancer. But heating tumors and cancer cells is trickier than it sounds. Apply too much heat and patients could get hurt; apply too little or target the wrong ...

Jul 8, 2026
Phys.org / Simple treatment strengthens pineapple leaf fibers for sustainable composites

Pineapple leaf fiber has long been valued in parts of Southeast Asia for traditional uses, including basketry in Malaysia and Thailand and textile applications in the Philippines. Its high cellulose content and ready availability ...

Jul 8, 2026
Phys.org / Ocean acidification may be shrinking the brains of the world's most intelligent invertebrates

An ongoing research project exploring the effects of rising levels of oceanic CO2 on squid neurology reveals that exposure to future levels of ocean acidification could shrink their brain volume by around 50%. This severe ...

Jul 8, 2026
Phys.org / Making the 'invisible' visible: How high-speed movies could change the way scientists study disease

High-speed movies of microscopic worms may sound like a dull night at the cinema, but this advanced imaging capability could help scientists better understand how diseases begin and progress, track subtle changes in cells ...

Jul 8, 2026
Phys.org / Is the state of nature fair? Researchers measure how biomass is distributed in microbial communities

The distribution of income and growing inequality are central themes in public debate. Far less attention has been paid to how resources are distributed in ecological communities, in the so-called state of nature, without ...

Jul 8, 2026
Phys.org / Traveling protein waves reveal how dividing cells set chromosome-splitting spindle size

When a human cell prepares to split into two daughter cells, it must first construct a tiny internal machine called the mitotic spindle—a structure of protein fibers that physically pulls chromosomes apart and deposits one ...

Jul 8, 2026
Phys.org / Ancient atmospheric oxygen found in iron ore deposits

How do some of geology's most mysterious iron ore deposits form? This question has preoccupied the geosciences for more than a century. An international research team led by Dr. Stefan Peters from the Leibniz Institute for ...

Jul 8, 2026
Phys.org / How cells keep genomic hitchhikers under control

Much of the genome is made up of repetitive DNA sequences that trace back to ancient mobile elements, many of which have lost their ability to copy themselves into new locations but can still cause problems if they become ...

Jul 8, 2026
Phys.org / What powers the Everglades? Study tracks how algae and plant matter fuel the food web

Scientists thought dead plant material was primarily powering the Everglades. Algae says not so fast.

Jul 8, 2026
Phys.org / Breathable hydrogel keeps ECG signals steady through workouts and 10 days of wear

Hydrogels are squishy, biofriendly materials made mostly of water and a bit of polymer. The Jell-O-like substance is available in the form of medical patches, sprays and glues, and can be stuck to the skin or implanted in ...

Jul 8, 2026
Phys.org / Romantic relationships with AI evolve in a similar way to human ones

A new study shows that relationships with artificial intelligence (AI) systems can evolve from casual conversations to bonds characterized by emotional intimacy, emotional dependence or experiences similar to a romantic breakup. ...

Jul 8, 2026