Phys.org news

Phys.org / Free software lets laptops simulate how aging evolves under selection

Why do some species live for only weeks while others survive for centuries? Researchers at the Leibniz Institute on Aging—Fritz Lipmann Institute (FLI) in Jena have developed AEGIS, a freely available software tool that enables ...

Apr 1, 2026
Phys.org / Reducing aircraft soot might not actually reduce the climate effects of contrails

Reducing aircraft soot emissions may not reduce contrail clouds, according to in-flight observations of emissions from a passenger jet with modern "lean-burn" engines, reported in Nature. Contrails from aircraft contribute ...

Apr 1, 2026
Phys.org / Helical liquid crystals can flip light's chirality under ultralow electric fields

The direction in which the electromagnetic field of circularly polarized light rotates can be easily reversed by applying a voltage, RIKEN researchers have demonstrated. This could enable a new generation of optical devices ...

Apr 1, 2026
Phys.org / Accuracy test for protein language models shines light into AI 'black box'

AI language models, used to generate human-like text to power chatbots and create content, are also revolutionizing biology by treating complex biological data like a language. Language models are increasingly used, for example, ...

Apr 1, 2026
Phys.org / Molecular system can distinguish and neutralize cancer cells, paving the way for 'smart' drugs

How can cancer cells be targeted without damaging healthy tissue? This is one of the major challenges facing oncology today. Using synthetic DNA strands, a team from the University of Geneva (UNIGE) has created a "smart" ...

Apr 1, 2026
Phys.org / Useful quantum computers could be built with as few as 10,000 qubits, team finds

Quantum computers of the future may be closer to reality thanks to new research from Caltech and Oratomic, a Caltech-linked start-up company. Theorists and experimentalists teamed up to develop a new approach for reducing ...

Apr 1, 2026
Phys.org / Wisconsin-sized chunk of Alaskan permafrost is thawing: Geoscientists say climate may never be the same

In a first-of-its-kind study, a team of researchers led by geoscientist Michael Rawlins at the University of Massachusetts Amherst has shown in fine-grained detail what happens when Arctic permafrost thaws. Focusing on a ...

Apr 1, 2026
Phys.org / Precision work prior to cell division: How enzymes optimize DNA structure

Before a cell can divide, it has to precisely duplicate its entire genetic information. However, the DNA in the cell exists as part of a DNA-protein complex known as chromatin. For this purpose, the DNA is wrapped around ...

Apr 1, 2026
Phys.org / Building desktop particle accelerators to unlock new realms of research

Using high-intensity lasers, researchers have taken an important step toward miniaturization of particle accelerators by demonstrating free-electron laser amplification at extreme ultraviolet wavelengths (27–50 nm), with ...

Apr 1, 2026
Phys.org / New microporous aerogel uses van der Waals forces for flexible, moldable shaping

Porous materials are widely used for gas storage, separation, catalysis, and environmental purification. Their functionality arises from nanoscale pores that allow molecules to be selectively captured or transported. However, ...

Apr 1, 2026
Phys.org / Atomic-level simulations reveal rotational mechanism behind a critical biomolecular motor

The way a key cellular motor works at an atomic level has been uncovered by simulations conducted by RIKEN biophysicists. This finding, published in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, provides important ...

Apr 1, 2026
Phys.org / Ghost bat dialects emerge across colonies, study suggests

Accents are usually thought of as a human trait, indicating where a person has grown up or the communities they belong—and new research shows the same dialects can also occur in Australia's largest carnivorous bat.

Apr 1, 2026