Phys.org news

Phys.org / Genetic discovery could lead to faster growing duckweed

Duckweed is the fastest-growing flowering plant, but new knowledge of duckweed genetics discovered by Adelaide University researchers could lead to even faster growing rates. The research team, led by Professor Nikolai Borisjuk ...

Feb 27, 2026 in Biology
Phys.org / How immune cells spot viral RNA fast: LGP2 helps MDA5 respond to short dsRNA

A study reveals how two proteins cooperate in a key early step of antiviral detection, as reported by researchers at Science Tokyo. Using cryo-electron microscopy and high-speed atomic force microscopy, they found that LGP2 ...

Feb 27, 2026 in Biology
Phys.org / Beam-spin asymmetry study puts proton models to the test

Getting an up-close view of life at the cellular level can be as simple as placing onion skin under a microscope and adjusting the knobs. Peering deeper, into the heart of the atoms within, isn't as easy. It requires peeling ...

Feb 27, 2026 in Physics
Phys.org / AI toolkit turns microscopy images into multi-feature microstructure datasets

A research team from The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST) has developed GrainBot, an AI-enabled toolkit that automatically extracts and quantifies multiple microstructural features from microscopy images. ...

Feb 27, 2026 in Chemistry
Phys.org / Fossil amber reveals the secret lives of Cretaceous ants

Tiny insects trapped in amber could tell us a great deal about their roles in past ecosystems: pollinators, parasites, predators, and prey. But how many of the insects preserved alongside each other reflect interactions during ...

Feb 27, 2026 in Biology
Phys.org / Female Daubenton's bats share scarce feeding grounds at the edge of their range, study finds

At newly colonized high-elevation sites in the central Italian Apennines, female Daubenton's bats take turns using the same hunting spots instead of feeding side by side. A study published by a research team from the University ...

Feb 27, 2026 in Biology
Phys.org / Filamentous cyanobacteria exhibit a unique navigation strategy due to their chiral gliding

Cyanobacteria are among the most significant life forms in the history of our planet. As one of the first organisms to produce oxygen through photosynthesis, they shaped early Earth and created the atmosphere in which complex ...

Feb 27, 2026 in Biology
Phys.org / Protein regulator of sugars and fats may work with an unexpected partner—itself

A protein that is a key modulator of fat, glucose and cholesterol levels in the body usually works in tandem with another protein, but new research shows it can also work with an unexpected partner—itself. A team of Penn ...

Feb 27, 2026 in Biology
Phys.org / A study in stardust: Massive binary stars emit tiny carbon particles

Yale junior Donglin Wu leads a new study showing that some of the biggest stars in the universe shed some of the smallest dust particles. It's fitting that Wu's first major scientific journal article as lead author focuses ...

Feb 27, 2026 in Astronomy & Space
Phys.org / We may be underestimating the true carbon cost of northern wildfires

Wildfires in the northern boreal forests of Alaska, Canada, Scandinavia, and Russia may be more damaging to the climate than previously thought, a new UC Berkeley-led study suggests. That's because these fires don't just ...

Feb 27, 2026 in Earth
Phys.org / Molecular map reveals Andes hantavirus entry protein at the nanoscale

Hantaviruses, transmitted from rodents to people, have a death rate approaching 40%. They're found around the world, and because there are no approved vaccines or treatments, they're among the pathogens of highest concern ...

Feb 27, 2026 in Nanotechnology
Phys.org / Putting sports stats to the test: Unpredictable play helps pick a winner in soccer

A comprehensive game plan and strategic tactics are critical to winning soccer, but how much does a team's unpredictability in moving the soccer ball around the pitch matter? In a new article published in PLOS One, an international ...

Feb 27, 2026 in Other Sciences