Phys.org news

Phys.org / How one RNA nucleotide switch activates fluorescent dyes

RhoBAST is a tiny RNA molecule that activates fluorescent dyes, enabling researchers to track RNA molecules in living cells with super-resolution. An international collaboration, which includes Ronald Micura and his team ...

Sep 11, 2026
Phys.org / New genome study rewrites the early history of grasses, the world's most important plant family

An international team of scientists, including Donald Danforth Plant Science Center member emerita Elizabeth "Toby" Kellogg, Ph.D., has produced a chromosome-level genome assembly that offers a new view of the earliest evolution ...

Sep 11, 2026
Phys.org / AI extracts interpretable constitutive laws directly from solid-mechanics data

Researchers at the Eastern Institute of Technology (EIT), Ningbo, have developed a graph-based approach that directly extracts concise, accurate constitutive equations from solid-material experimental data. The study, published ...

Sep 11, 2026
Phys.org / First Antarctic-wide map of grounded icebergs reveals 'picket fence effect' holding sea ice in place

For the first time, important features of the Antarctic coastal zone have been mapped at high resolution around the continent by training an artificial intelligence tool to accurately recognize grounded icebergs in satellite ...

Sep 11, 2026
Phys.org / Compost microbe yields enzyme that tackles polyurethane foam and nylon

Researchers from Aarhus University and the Danish Technological Institute have taken a new approach in the search for enzymes capable of breaking down some of the most difficult types of plastic to recycle. They collected ...

Sep 11, 2026
Phys.org / AI helps find hidden human proteins and reveals what they do

New research shows how artificial intelligence, combined with advanced experimental science, can help find "hidden" and unexplored proteins in the human body and reveal what they actually do, according to a new study published ...

Sep 11, 2026
Phys.org / Fertilizers and extreme heat are damaging coral reefs in the Gulf of Mexico, isotope analyses reveal

Who isn't familiar with the colorful coral reefs from movies like "Finding Nemo" or "The Little Mermaid"? Unfortunately, the reality is often quite different, as these vital ecosystems are under pressure worldwide. Climate ...

Sep 11, 2026
Phys.org / Single nanostructure enables independent control of two light resonance modes

Metallic nanostructures are exceptionally effective at concentrating light into tiny volumes, while dielectric nanostructures excel at storing light with minimal energy loss. Combining these complementary properties has traditionally ...

Sep 11, 2026
Phys.org / Electrical pulses convert PFAS waste into valuable silver fluoride

Fluorinated waste, like that found in firefighting aqueous film-forming foam, can act as a significant environmental pollutant. Recently, James Tour's lab at Rice University developed a method to capture fluoride from these ...

Sep 11, 2026
Phys.org / When will your glacier disappear? New website lets users explore risks worldwide

When will the glacier in your valley disappear? Will the glacier you visited as a child still exist in 2050? And how much difference would limiting global warming make?

Sep 11, 2026
Phys.org / Bite, buzz, release: How bees make flowers give up their pollen

Life is not always easy for a bee: Not all plants place their pollen outside. Some flowers have to be set to vibrating before the pollen can get out of their tube-like stamens. Certain bee species have developed a special ...

Sep 11, 2026
Phys.org / 10,000 years of wheat and barley selection reveal shared climate-adaptation genes

Research teams from INRAE, the University of Clermont Auvergne and the CNRS have reconstructed 10 ancient genomes (paleogenomes) that are the common ancestors of 84 botanical species of agronomic interest. Their work makes ...

Sep 11, 2026