Phys.org news

Phys.org / A familiar voice shapes how zebra finches hear and respond

Conversations with friends have an ease that is hard to replicate with someone you have just met—often replies come more naturally and timing just seems to click. A strikingly similar pattern plays out in zebra finches, ...

Mar 12, 2026
Phys.org / The power of twins: Decoding the unseen biological information flow

The natural world is a rich source of inspiration for developing sophisticated computational systems, and the opposite is also true, with bioinformatics approaches providing keen insight into biological processes. However, ...

Mar 12, 2026
Phys.org / Embryogenesis in 4D: A developmental atlas for genes and cells

How does a tiny cluster of cells become an embryo with a head, trunk, and tail? And how do thousands of genes coordinate this development? A new imaging method makes it possible to visualize the activity of thousands of genes ...

Mar 12, 2026
Phys.org / Astronomers discuss fortifying our planetary defenses

When people think of asteroids, they tend to picture rare, civilization-ending impacts like those depicted in movies such as "Armageddon." In reality, the asteroids most likely to affect modern society are much smaller. While ...

Mar 12, 2026
Phys.org / Self-regenerating catalyst restores its own performance, advancing CO₂ conversion technology

Technologies that convert carbon dioxide (CO₂) emitted from factories and power plants into useful chemical feedstocks are considered key to achieving carbon neutrality. However, rapid degradation of catalyst performance ...

Mar 12, 2026
Phys.org / Uncovering a patchwork of fresh and salty groundwater beneath Great Salt Lake's south shore

Thanks to upstream diversions and climate change, Utah's Great Salt Lake has shrunk by 70% since 1989, exposing about 800 square miles of playa and mudflats—along with numerous curiosities. While a potential environmental ...

Mar 12, 2026
Phys.org / Diatom-based microrobots show promise for targeted photodynamic therapy of glioblastoma

Researchers in China have developed magnetically controlled microrobots made from diatoms for the treatment of glioblastoma using photodynamic therapy. These microrobots exhibit excellent magnetic responsiveness and programmable ...

Mar 12, 2026
Phys.org / Fortified salad packs a healthy punch to meet a growing vitamin B12 need

A pioneering research-industry partnership has used advances in indoor farming technology to grow pea shoots fortified with vitamin B12, opening an exciting route to market for farmers and addressing a major public health ...

Mar 12, 2026
Phys.org / Global sorghum 'pangenome' accelerates discovery of resilient crop traits

A team of international scientists, including researchers at the Donald Danforth Plant Science Center, reports a major advance in sorghum genomics: a powerful new resource designed to speed discovery of traits that help crops ...

Mar 12, 2026
Phys.org / Gut microbes: The secret to squirrel hibernation

When winter sets in and food becomes scarce, some mammals hibernate, entering a state of deep rest that slashes their energy needs and allows them to fast for months. However, fasting deprives them of essential nutrients, ...

Mar 12, 2026
Phys.org / Wetlands in Brazil's Cerrado are carbon-storage powerhouses

The Amazon rainforest is famous for storing massive amounts of carbon in its trees and soils, helping regulate the global climate. Yet a paper published in New Phytologist shows that one of South America's largest carbon-storing ...

Mar 12, 2026
Phys.org / Caught but not eaten: Smaller insects more likely to escape catfish mouths

A Kobe University study shows that small aquatic beetles survive catfish attacks by resisting ingestion inside the catfish's mouth and being spat out alive. This research contributes to a deeper understanding of size-dependent ...

Mar 12, 2026