Phys.org news

Phys.org / Researchers synthesize photosynthetic molecule found in bacteria

Researchers from North Carolina State University have successfully synthesized bacteriochlorophyll a, which is a photosynthetic pigment found in bacteria that absorbs infrared light. The work represents the first chemical ...

Apr 15, 2026
Phys.org / Color test 'sniffs out' dangerous staph strains fast

Researchers have developed a rapid color-changing test that can distinguish between different strains of golden staph, including those likely to be virulent and antibiotic resistant. Golden staph is a major human pathogen ...

Apr 15, 2026
Phys.org / Ancient seabird guano reveals how climate change may shape future populations

By analyzing peat cores, researchers have shown how populations of nesting seabirds have fluctuated on a sub-Antarctic island over 8,000 years. They found that bird numbers rose and fell alongside shifts in climate, offering ...

Apr 15, 2026
Phys.org / 'Safe' fertilizer linked to extreme water quality loss in Canadian Prairies

Research published in Nature Water found that widespread application of the common farm fertilizer, urea, severely degrades water quality in the Canadian Prairies. Researchers at the University of Manitoba and the University ...

Apr 15, 2026
Phys.org / Hawai'i's songbirds are raiding neighbors' nests, and the losses could deepen a growing survival crisis

High in the forests of Hawai'i, songbirds are stealing twigs and moss from one another's nests. UC Riverside researchers found this quiet canopy crime is surprisingly common and could threaten species already struggling to ...

Apr 15, 2026
Phys.org / Can naked mole rats peacefully hand over power?

Naked mole rats keep kingdoms underground. One queen bears all the children, while others maintain complex subterranean tunnels, forage for food, take care of newborns, and perform other necessary upkeep. This society hinges ...

Apr 15, 2026
Phys.org / How a hidden receptor switch could open new paths for cancer and neurological treatments

A research team at Leipzig University has identified a mechanism in adhesion G protein-coupled receptors (adhesion GPCRs), a specific group of membrane receptors. This mechanism is essential for the activity of many of these ...

Apr 15, 2026
Phys.org / Multitasking quantum sensors can measure several properties at once

A special class of sensors leverages quantum properties to measure tiny signals at levels that would be impossible using classical sensors alone. Such quantum sensors are currently being used to study the inner workings of ...

Apr 15, 2026
Phys.org / Self-propulsion or slow diffusion: How bacteria, cells, and colloids respond to stimuli

What physical processes govern the movement of microscopic structures capable of interacting with their environment? The answer lies in two mechanisms: self-propulsion, to escape unfavorable locations; and slow diffusion, ...

Apr 15, 2026
Phys.org / Back-to-basics approach can match or outperform AI in language analysis

A new study led by Dr. Andrea Nini at The University of Manchester has found that a grammar-based approach to language analysis can match or outperform advanced AI systems in identifying who wrote a text. The method, called ...

Apr 15, 2026
Phys.org / Drought takes a heavy toll on bumblebees

Drought significantly reduces the reproductive success of bumblebee colonies, according to a new study conducted by a research team at the University of Würzburg and published in the Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological ...

Apr 15, 2026
Phys.org / Referee decisions in soccer frequently overturned following VAR-assisted review: No external influences found

In an analysis of a video-assisted, pitch-side review of soccer (UK football) referee calls in the English Premier League, referees overturned their original call 95% of the time. However, these decisions had no statistical ...

Apr 15, 2026