Phys.org news

Phys.org / Molecular chains with bite: Customized carbon nanoribbons open a cleaner path to molecular electronics

The longest chains of the conductive polymer poly(p-phenylene; PPP) produced to date are just under one micrometer (thousandth of a millimeter) long—almost an order of magnitude longer than previously possible. A research ...

Mar 16, 2026
Phys.org / Plastic bottles transformed into Parkinson's drug using bacteria

A drug to treat Parkinson's disease can be made from waste plastic bottles using a pioneering method, a study shows. The approach harnesses the power of bacteria to transform post-consumer plastic into L-DOPA, a frontline ...

Mar 16, 2026
Phys.org / Single-cell data reveal a cellular 'developmental hourglass' in vertebrate embryos

Scientists have long observed that embryos of different species within a phylum look quite distinct at early and late developmental stages but resemble one another more during mid-embryogenesis, a phenomenon known as developmental ...

Mar 16, 2026
Phys.org / Breathing in nanoparticles could enable a 10-minute pneumonia check at point of care

Diagnosing some diseases could be as easy as breathing into a tube. MIT engineers have developed a test to detect disease-related compounds in a patient's breath. The new test could provide a faster way to diagnose pneumonia ...

Mar 16, 2026
Phys.org / Rapid sequencing method offers same day detection of antibiotic resistance

Researchers at Karolinska Institutet have developed a rapid and cost-efficient sequencing method that can identify antibiotic resistance within the same working day. The technique, called s5PSeq, measures how bacterial ribosomes ...

Mar 16, 2026
Phys.org / Whale song remix: Study shows that humpbacks shift pitch when a neighbor joins in

A humpback whale alters the pitch of its song when joined by a neighboring singer, a finding that opens a new chapter in the ongoing effort to understand whale song, some of the most structurally and acoustically complex ...

Mar 16, 2026
Phys.org / Sugar-processing enzyme has a hidden second job—controlling when cells divide

A metabolic enzyme studied for over seven decades has a hidden second function—it can unwind RNA and promote cell cycle progression, an additional function beyond its role in energy production, according to a new study ...

Mar 16, 2026
Phys.org / AI analysis of nanoribbon assembly reveals protein design principles

Two parallel experiments in protein self-assembly produced strikingly different results, demonstrating that protein designers should consider incorporating physical forces now missing from even Nobel-prize-winning protein ...

Mar 16, 2026
Phys.org / Cannibalism takes major bite out of young blue crabs, but the shallows offer a refuge

The Chesapeake Bay's most popular crustacean has a dark streak. Cannibalism is the No. 1 killer of juvenile blue crabs in mid-salinity waters where they are known to congregate, according to a new study from the Smithsonian ...

Mar 16, 2026
Phys.org / Photonics and nanotech could spot cancer signals 5 to 8 years earlier

Timing is critical in diagnosing diseases such as cancer. Researchers within The Grainger College of Engineering at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign used a historically underappreciated tiny powerhouse to detect ...

Mar 16, 2026
Phys.org / Coastal ocean chemistry now substantially shaped by humans

A global analysis of more than 2,300 seawater samples from more than 20 field studies around the globe indicates that human-made chemicals make up a significant portion of organic matter in coastal oceans. The international ...

Mar 16, 2026
Phys.org / Sea turtles, shrinking beaches and rising seas: Study finds nesting sites running out of room

Sandy beaches account for approximately a third of the world's ice-free coastlines. These sandy shorelines are responsible for sediment and water retention, provide a buffer against rising water levels, and offer habitats ...

Mar 16, 2026