Phys.org news

Phys.org / Cancer-linked protein binds to chromosome in unexpected way, study finds

A new 3D structure of a cancer-linked protein bound to its cellular partner reveals details of how the protein binds to chromosomes and could offer insights for future disease treatments. The protein—BRD4—plays a critical ...

Sep 14, 2026
Phys.org / Chocolate's new climate threat: Too much rain

Cocoa farmers in West Africa cannot stop intense downpours from damaging their crops. But they may be able to anticipate the risk and prepare, protecting both their livelihoods and their plants, the source of one of the world's ...

Sep 14, 2026
Phys.org / How can countries prevent shocks and disasters from turning into food crises? Analysis points to resilience measures

Floods, wildfires, conflicts, earthquakes, economic shocks, hurricanes or epidemics: These unexpected and often dramatic events affect people's lives and jobs, destroy crops, wipe out livestock and stored food, contaminate ...

Sep 14, 2026
Phys.org / Tiny 'whirlpools' discovered in atom-thin semiconductor

Monash University-led researchers have directly imaged tiny swirling structures inside an atomically thin semiconductor, opening new possibilities for future low-energy electronic technologies. Published in Science Advances, ...

Sep 14, 2026
Phys.org / No cities on the moon—there isn't enough water, scientists say

The discovery of water in dark craters at the moon's poles has sparked a "moon rush" to establish bases there, followed by villages, cities and heavy industry. How sustainable is this rush?

Sep 14, 2026
Phys.org / Mosquito 'toilet' detects West Nile and first Hedwig-like virus found in the Americas

When public health researchers want to know whether diseases such as COVID-19 or polio are circulating in a community, they can look for genetic evidence in wastewater.

Sep 14, 2026
Phys.org / Why do spruce take decades to reproduce? A genetic study offers some clues

New techniques have enabled researchers in Sweden to begin decoding how one of Northern Europe's most important coniferous tree species switches from growing branches to producing cones—their seed-bearing reproductive organs.

Sep 14, 2026
Phys.org / Salicornia genomes reveal genetic secrets to farming on salty land

A University of Newcastle-led global study has produced the most complete genetic picture yet of a salt-loving plant with the potential to help grow food in some of the world's harshest environments.

Sep 14, 2026
Phys.org / Evolutionary home advantage: Field experiment reveals adaptation to be surprisingly local

A research team from the University of Bern has shown in a large-scale field experiment that populations of the same fish species can be much more fine-tuned to their local environments than previously thought. Habitats that ...

Sep 14, 2026
Phys.org / Pollinators keep a later calendar in human-modified landscapes, study finds

Human development may be changing more than where pollinators live—it may also be changing when they are active. University of Florida researchers at the Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) have found that ...

Sep 14, 2026
Phys.org / RNA 'delivery tags' guide key messages to distant neuron branches

Much like a courier reading an address on a package, neurons must deliver RNA to the precise locations where it is needed. A KAIST research team has discovered how a small chemical modification on RNA acts as a "delivery ...

Sep 14, 2026
Phys.org / Improved climate forecasts alone won't protect Africa's poorest farmers

As Africa prepares for the arrival of a powerful El Niño weather event, an international team of researchers led by the University of Sydney and Imperial College London has found that access to improved forecasts alone will ...

Sep 14, 2026