Phys.org news

Phys.org / How migrating cells build their leading edge: Master regulator may resolve long-standing debate

The ability of cells to move and change position is essential for various processes in our bodies. Immune cells move to sites of action, epithelial cells migrate during wound closure, and neurons extend their axons for signal ...

Sep 21, 2026
Phys.org / AI-powered barcode unmasks 'zombie cells' in aging tissue

As we age, some of the cells in our body enter a state of senescence, in which they stop dividing but do not die. Those senescent cells can contribute to age-related disorders such as cancer, tissue degeneration and inflammatory ...

Sep 21, 2026
Phys.org / Lemur uses opera singer's trick to belt out forest songs

We are often left open-mouthed in awe as an opera singer hits a soaring top note. Now, researchers at the University of Warwick have found that the indri, the world's only known singing lemur, appears to use a strikingly ...

Sep 21, 2026
Phys.org / Environmental science takes an average of seven years to influence international policy, study finds

A new study led by the University of Alicante (UA) and the Mediterranean Center for Environmental Studies (CEAM) analyzes the barriers separating scientific knowledge from environmental policy and its effective implementation. ...

Sep 21, 2026
Dialog / Photonic Legos of functional 3D thin-films unlock high-performance heterogeneous photonic integration

Photonic integrated circuits route information with optical signals instead of relying only on electrical currents. Silicon (Si) and silicon nitride (SiNx) are excellent photonic platforms for waveguides, but they cannot ...

Sep 21, 2026
Phys.org / Quantum communication protocol enables three users to establish a shared secure key

Quantum key distribution allows two users to establish secret keys whose security is grounded in the laws of quantum mechanics. Extending this capability to multiple users is an essential step toward quantum networks that ...

Sep 21, 2026
Phys.org / X-ray light is like guitar music, with frequencies sliding continuously between harmonics

Ultrashort laser pulses can be used to generate X-rays. Normally, however, only certain specific frequencies are produced. A team from TU Wien and the University of California San Diego has developed a method that makes it ...

Sep 21, 2026
Phys.org / Tiny molecular scissors reveal how crystals bend without breaking

Crystals are usually thought of as rigid and brittle. Yet some molecular crystals can bend, jump, twist or even change shape when exposed to light. Understanding how tiny molecular movements inside an ordered crystal can ...

Sep 21, 2026
Phys.org / Genes that help flatworms regenerate their brains revealed

The human brain is terrible at healing itself from injury or disease. But some animals can harness their own cellular abilities not only to repair injuries but also to regrow their brains entirely. Researchers from the University ...

Sep 21, 2026
Phys.org / Flies, mice and humans share a walking pattern despite radically different bodies

Flies, mice and humans move in different ways because of their very different physiques, but their movements follow a common pattern— joints farther from the center of the body move faster than those closer to the body. This ...

Sep 21, 2026
Phys.org / African smoke brightens clouds, but weather patterns offset its cooling effect

Smoke from African agricultural fires brightens clouds over the southeast Atlantic—but new research from scientists at the University of Miami Rosenstiel School of Marine, Atmospheric and Earth Science shows that the same ...

Sep 21, 2026
Phys.org / Longitudinal survey finds little evidence that social tech predicts life satisfaction in adults

Social technologies, digital tools that allow people to communicate and share content with each other online, have become a central way of communicating for many people worldwide. Yet the possible effects of these technologies ...

Sep 20, 2026