Phys.org news

Phys.org / Magnetic field during catalyst synthesis triples ammonia yield

Applying an external magnetic field during the synthesis of CoFe2O4 electrocatalysts triples the ammonia yield during electrocatalytic conversion. The magnetic field alters the surface states of the spinel oxide thin films, ...

Jun 1, 2026
Phys.org / Two decades of data show that climate change is transforming Biscayne Bay to be warmer, saltier and more acidic

Climate change and sea level rise are altering the chemistry of Biscayne Bay in ways that could threaten South Florida's coastal ecosystems, water resources, fisheries, and recreation, according to a study led by scientists ...

Jun 1, 2026
Phys.org / Eight metabolic niches reveal how ocean microbes recycle carbon worldwide

The ocean is full of invisible workers. Trillions of microbes quietly break down carbon-containing organic matter, which helps to regulate Earth's climate. But scientists have long struggled to understand how different microbes ...

Jun 1, 2026
Phys.org / Low-cost method uncovers conical intersections that steer light-driven molecular reactions

Conical intersections are crucial molecular switching points in light-driven reactions, but accurately predicting them usually requires computations. A researcher from Shibaura Institute of Technology has developed a new ...

Jun 1, 2026
Phys.org / Fast-moving droplets synthesize key drug compounds at room temperature, no catalysts needed

Chemical reactions are the backbone to nearly all biological processes, including those used to make new medicines. However, these reactions can often take considerable time and require harsh conditions or materials—potentially ...

Jun 1, 2026
Phys.org / From hybrids to 'virgin birth,' stick insects reveal stepwise loss of sex

The evolution of sex remains one of biology's greatest puzzles. While sexual reproduction dominates across the animal kingdom, scientists still debate why it persists despite its high costs. Even more mysterious is the loss ...

Jun 1, 2026
Phys.org / Enzymes that assemble into droplets can speed up cellular reactions, biologists find

Within the past decade, biologists have discovered that one strategy cells use to keep their contents organized is a phenomenon known as phase separation. Similar to the way oil forms droplets that float in a vinegar solution, ...

Jun 1, 2026
Phys.org / Ancient oceans began suffocating millions of years before Triassic mass extinction, geologists discover

One of the most devastating extinctions in Earth's history is best known for what didn't die—dinosaurs. But the end-Triassic extinction 201 million years ago wiped out roughly 60% of Earth's species, and scientists are still ...

Jun 1, 2026
Phys.org / Wounds may trigger 'aged' cells within hours, reshaping how senescence starts

What if a process we associate with aging actually helps the body heal? A study led by Mikolaj Ogrodnik, LBI Trauma, published in Nature Cell Biology, shows that cells enter a state of senescence within minutes to hours after ...

Jun 1, 2026
Phys.org / Why dirty farm plastic matters: Cleaner mulch film could cut landfill waste and fossil fuel use

Nearly a billion pounds of plastic film mulch is used in American agriculture each year, and most of it is dumped into landfills. New research from Washington State University shows that recycling could be a feasible alternative, ...

Jun 1, 2026
Phys.org / Understanding how things connect helps people invent, 1,200-player experiment suggests

Our capacity for innovation, rather than being the work of random variation, is based on an intrinsic understanding of how the world works, claim Karolinska Institutet and Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam researchers in a new ...

Jun 1, 2026
Phys.org / Living brain gene activity revealed noninvasively through programmable blood test

Cell function is determined by how DNA is expressed into proteins. That process includes two main steps—transcription, when messenger RNA (mRNA) makes copies of active genes; and translation, when mRNA guides protein assembly.

Jun 1, 2026