Phys.org news

Phys.org / Flat-band ultrastrong coupling between phonons and plasmons observed for first time

Researchers from CIC nanoGUNE, in collaboration with the Donostia International Physics Center (DIPC) and the Center for Materials Physics (CFM), have experimentally observed and theoretically verified flat-band ultrastrong ...

Dec 18, 2025 in Nanotechnology
Phys.org / A new natural sunscreen: Novel compound discovered in thermophilic cyanobacteria

Natural sunscreens shield the skin from harmful radiation, without triggering allergic reactions. In a recently published study, a group of researchers has discovered a novel compound, β-glucose-bound hydroxy mycosporine-sarcosine, ...

Dec 18, 2025 in Chemistry
Phys.org / 'Speed scanner' can test thousands of plant gene switches at once

Agriculture, from the outset, has been made possible by humans tweaking the genes of plants to make them grow faster, produce more of what we want, and survive drought, pests, and infection. For millennia, we did it with ...

Dec 18, 2025 in Biology
Phys.org / New machine-learning models capture the rapid evolution of antimicrobial resistance

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is an increasingly dangerous problem affecting global health. In 2019 alone, methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) accounted for more than 100,000 global deaths attributable to ...

Dec 18, 2025 in Biology
Phys.org / DNA caught on old air filters reveals hidden past of ecosystems

DNA captured on air filters and stored since the 1960s acts as an ecological time capsule, according to a recent publication in Nature Communications. The findings show that tiny fragments of genetic material can paint a ...

Dec 18, 2025 in Biology
Phys.org / Light-controlled cholesterol 'look-alikes' point toward smarter drug delivery

High levels of cholesterol are linked to heart disease, stroke, and many other health problems. However, this complex and vital fatty, water insoluble molecule—a lipid—is found in every cell of the body and is not all ...

Dec 18, 2025 in Chemistry
Phys.org / PFAS detection in 15 minutes: A sensor system for rapid on-site analysis

PFAS are forever chemicals that do not degrade in the environment. They enter soil and water, accumulate in plants, animals and humans, and can be harmful to health. The problem: Until now, detecting them has been complicated, ...

Dec 18, 2025 in Chemistry
Phys.org / Enzyme shape-shifting captured in real time during catalysis

Researchers have captured real-time "molecular movies" showing how an enzyme changes shape during catalysis. The study was published in Nature Communications.

Dec 18, 2025 in Chemistry
Phys.org / Cell death discovery could aid cancer treatments

La Trobe researchers have made a discovery about the way dying cells are cleared from our bodies, which could have important impacts on recovery from diseases including cancer infection and inflammatory diseases.

Dec 18, 2025 in Biology
Phys.org / Public seed banks can fast-track corn quality research

University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign corn breeders know profitability is about more than yield. By tweaking kernel composition, they can tailor corn for lucrative biotech applications, industrial products, overseas markets, ...

Dec 18, 2025 in Biology
Phys.org / Decaying dark matter: Unidentified X-ray emission lines in galaxy cluster spectra may point the way

Scientists search for "decaying" dark matter (DDM) because it offers unique signatures like specific X-ray or gamma-ray lines or neutrino signals not seen in normal matter, potentially revealing dark matter's particle nature, ...

Dec 17, 2025 in Astronomy & Space
Phys.org / 13 years of detailed US CO₂ emissions data released

New research from Northern Arizona University shows detailed CO2 emissions for the United States from 2010 to 2022.

Dec 17, 2025 in Earth