Phys.org news

Phys.org / Turning over a new leaf in analyses of natural products

Scientists have developed a new way to help understand what happens in the body when people consume a plant product and the many chemicals it contains. The Journal of Natural Products published the method to quickly analyze ...

Feb 26, 2026 in Chemistry
Phys.org / Will melting glaciers slow climate change? A prevailing theory is on shaky ground

For scientists who study the Southern Ocean, a long-standing silver lining in the gloomy forecast of climate change has been the theory of iron fertilization. As temperatures rise and glaciers in Antarctica melt, ice-trapped ...

Feb 26, 2026 in Earth
Phys.org / How oxygen enriched Earth's atmosphere 2.5 billion years ago

Cyanobacteria, as they still exist today, were the first organisms to carry out photosynthesis and release oxygen. Produced in primeval oceans about 2.5 billion years ago, this oxygen accumulated in Earth's atmosphere on ...

Feb 26, 2026 in Earth
Phys.org / How RNA binding selectivity arises from disordered regions

RIKEN researchers have discovered how an enzyme modifies gene expression by targeting certain stretches of messenger RNA (mRNA) while leaving others alone. This finding could contribute to the rational design of drugs that ...

Feb 26, 2026 in Biology
Phys.org / Smart materials and drug delivery could exploit lipid molecules that reorganize at drying interfaces

Minor changes in moisture level can promote lipid molecules to reorganize themselves in biomaterial or biomembranes. This can affect how the skin, lungs and tear film protect us from dehydration. This new discovery from Lund ...

Feb 26, 2026 in Chemistry
Phys.org / Endangered giant clam feeding strategies could determine species' future survival

Giant clams (Tridacna gigas), members of the family Tridacnidae and among the most striking inhabitants of tropical coral reefs, are being driven toward extinction. Over-harvesting for jewelry, the aquarium trade, and food, ...

Feb 26, 2026 in Biology
Phys.org / Atomic precision unlocks smarter oxygen reduction catalysts

Tiny changes at the atomic scale can determine the future of clean energy. In a new study, Tohoku University researchers have revealed how the precise coordination environment surrounding a single cobalt atom dramatically ...

Feb 26, 2026 in Chemistry
Phys.org / Nanochannel method makes ion membranes twice as strong for clean energy

Researchers have found a way to fabricate film-thin membranes imbued with super strength that could extend the durability of decarbonization technologies. Chemical engineers at The University of Queensland are harnessing ...

Feb 26, 2026 in Nanotechnology
Phys.org / Wildfire smoke linked to rise in violent assaults, 11-year study finds

A new study spanning 11 years of data has revealed a clear link between wildfire smoke pollution and an increase in violent assaults in Seattle. These findings represent the first direct causal evidence that short-term exposure ...

Feb 26, 2026 in Earth
Phys.org / A puddle that jumps: What bubble bursts reveal about water on lotus-like surfaces

Water droplets have a unique ability: They can leap from a surface on their own. This can happen for a variety of reasons, such as when a surface repels water or when heat is involved, such as a water or oil droplet skittering ...

Feb 26, 2026 in Physics
Phys.org / Scientists identify ARK1 protein that stops malaria parasite growth

An international team of scientists has shed light on the development of the malaria parasite and has identified a unique protein essential for its survival and transmission, which offers a promising new target for antimalaria ...

Feb 26, 2026 in Biology
Phys.org / Forget flatfooted lumbering T. rex. New research shows it walked on tiptoes

Powerful, fierce and the king of the Cretaceous world, Tyrannosaurus rex was the ultimate apex predator. But it was also surprisingly dainty on its feet, according to new research. Findings published in the journal Royal ...

Feb 25, 2026 in Biology