Phys.org news

Phys.org / Plants use bacterial-like gene to make alkaloids, offering new route for sustainable medicines

Plants make substances called alkaloids to protect themselves, and humans have long taken advantage of these chemicals, using them in painkillers, treatments for disease and household products such as caffeine and nicotine.

Jan 14, 2026 in Biology
Phys.org / A CRISPR fingerprint of pathogenic C. auris fungi for precision diagnostics

Infection with the pathogenic yeast fungus Candida auris (C. auris) can wreak havoc on the health of hospital patients and residents of nursing homes, especially those who are already weakened by other illnesses. The pathogen ...

Jan 14, 2026 in Biology
Phys.org / Do even low-mass dwarf galaxies merge? New clues from the outer stars of a Milky Way satellite

Using the Subaru Telescope's wide-field camera, astronomers have discovered a previously unknown structure surrounding a tiny satellite galaxy of the Milky Way. The newly discovered structure exhibits features resembling ...

Jan 14, 2026 in Astronomy & Space
Phys.org / Scientists measure cellular membrane thickness inside cells for the first time

Scientists have long known that cellular membranes vary in thickness, but measuring those differences inside actual cells has been out of reach.

Jan 14, 2026 in Biology
Phys.org / First-time use of AI for genetic circuit design demonstrated in a human cell line

There are hundreds of cell types in the human body, each with a specific role spelled out in their DNA. In theory, all it takes for cells to behave in desired ways—for example, getting them to produce a therapeutic molecule ...

Jan 14, 2026 in Biology
Phys.org / AI tools are expanding individual capabilities while contracting scientific attention, research finds

Artificial intelligence promises to accelerate scientific discovery and open new frontiers of inquiry. But new research from James Evans (Faculty Co-Director of Novel Intelligence; Max Palevsky Professor of Sociology & Data ...

Jan 14, 2026 in Other Sciences
Phys.org / How 'smart' nanoparticles can deliver targeted gene therapy in osteoarthritis

Osteoarthritis is a highly prevalent joint disease that leads to cartilage breakdown, pain and disability, yet there are still no FDA-approved treatments that can slow or reverse its progression. RNA-based therapies hold ...

Jan 14, 2026 in Nanotechnology
Phys.org / Type Ia supernova delayed-detonation model supported by SN 2024gy observations

A research team from the Yunnan Observatories of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), in collaboration with domestic and international partners, has carried out observational studies on SN 2024gy—a high-velocity Type ...

Jan 14, 2026 in Astronomy & Space
Phys.org / A nanomaterial flex—MXene electrodes help OLED display technology shine, while bending and stretching

The organic light-emitting diode (OLED) technology behind flexible cell phones, curved monitors, and televisions could one day be used to make on-skin sensors that show changes in temperature, blood flow, and pressure in ...

Jan 14, 2026 in Nanotechnology
Phys.org / From bolts to blue jets, lightning comes in many strange forms

Lightning has captured people's fascination for millennia. It's embedded in mythology, religion and popular culture. Think of Thor in Norse mythology or Indra in Hinduism.

Jan 14, 2026 in Earth
Phys.org / Fire on ice: The Arctic's changing fire regime

The number of wildland fires burning in the Arctic is on the rise, according to NASA researchers. Moreover, these blazes are burning larger, hotter, and longer than they did in previous decades.

Jan 14, 2026 in Earth
Phys.org / 'Absolutely huge' black coral among largest ever seen

Marine researchers have been wowed by the size of a centuries-old black coral found in Fiordland.

Jan 14, 2026 in Biology