Phys.org news

Phys.org / Artificial metabolism turns waste CO₂ into useful chemicals

In a breakthrough that defies nature, Northwestern University and Stanford University synthetic biologists have created a new artificial metabolism that transforms waste carbon dioxide (CO2) into useful biological building ...

Dec 22, 2025 in Biology
Phys.org / Ancient sea anemone sheds light on animal cell type evolution

One of the biggest quests in biology is understanding how every cell in an animal's body carries an identical genome yet still gives rise to a kaleidoscope of different cell types and tissues. A neuron doesn't look nor behave ...

Dec 22, 2025 in Biology
Phys.org / How does Santa do it all? Quantum physics, that's how, says scientist

Every year, Santa Claus races around the globe in a matter of hours to bring presents to children all over the world.

Dec 22, 2025 in Physics
Phys.org / PFAS concentrations can double with every step up the food chain

A new UNSW-led global meta-analysis shows that PFAS concentrations can double at every step up the food chain, leaving top predators—and humans—potentially exposed to higher chemical loads.

Dec 22, 2025 in Earth
Phys.org / New technique lights up where drugs go in the body, cell by cell

When you take a drug, where in your body does it actually go? For most medications, scientists can make only educated guesses about the answer to this question. Traditional methods can measure the concentration of a drug ...

Dec 22, 2025 in Chemistry
Phys.org / Supermassive black holes show selective feeding habits during galaxy mergers

Black holes are notorious for gobbling up everything that comes their way, but astronomers using the Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array (ALMA) have discovered that even supermassive black holes can be picky eaters, ...

Dec 22, 2025 in Astronomy & Space
Phys.org / Nanoplastics have diet-dependent impacts on digestive system health, study finds

Plastics are not inert: they gradually break into fragments over time, forming micro- and then nanoplastics (i.e., particles

Dec 22, 2025 in Nanotechnology
Phys.org / Vast freshwater reserves found beneath salinity-stressed coastal Bangladesh

Despite its tropical climate and floodplain location, Bangladesh—one of the world's most densely populated nations—seasonally does not have enough freshwater, especially in coastal areas. Shallow groundwater is often ...

Dec 22, 2025 in Earth
Phys.org / Leaves' pores explain longstanding mystery of uneven tree growth in a carbon-enriched world

The basics of photosynthesis are something that every student learns in school: carbon dioxide, water and light in; oxygen and sugar for growth out. In a world where atmospheric carbon dioxide levels are rising, it is plausible ...

Dec 22, 2025 in Earth
Phys.org / East Antarctic Ice Sheet's history tells a relevant story for today and beyond

Though ice sheet melting is widely talked of and debated, there is limited knowledge about what happens after the period of melting. Researchers dig into this "after" period and see how it relates to previous patterns.

Dec 22, 2025 in Earth
Phys.org / Predictive 'mismatch' leads to novel carbon capture method

When experimental results don't match scientists' predictions, it's usually assumed that the predictions were wrong. But new research into materials that pull carbon dioxide directly from the air shows how such mismatches ...

Dec 22, 2025 in Chemistry
Phys.org / What contributed to the success of termites? Their genomes provide the answer

The most comprehensive dataset of termite genomes to date was created by an international team of scientists, led by researchers from the Biology Center of the Czech Academy of Sciences. The team sequenced 45 termite genomes ...

Dec 22, 2025 in Biology