Phys.org news

Phys.org / One DNA letter can trigger complete sex reversal

Researchers at Bar-Ilan University have discovered that changing just one letter in DNA can completely alter sex development in mice. In the new study, published in Nature Communications, a single-letter insertion in a non-coding ...

Apr 9, 2026
Phys.org / Liquid-like histone H1 'glues' nucleosomes, reshaping how DNA compacts

DNA inside the nucleus is not packed as a rigid regular fiber—linker histone H1 dynamically binds and loosely "glues" nucleosomes together, creating a dynamic, fluid organization that can still support essential genome functions.

Apr 9, 2026
Phys.org / Carbon nanotube fiber sensors achieve record measurement error below 0.1%

Skoltech scientists, in collaboration with colleagues from China and Iran, have taken a major step toward creating highly precise carbon nanotube fiber (CNTF)-based sensors. In a paper published in the iScience journal, the ...

Apr 9, 2026
Phys.org / Nickel catalyst enables precision mirror-image assembly for key drug scaffolds

A research team led by Prof. Sangwon Seo of the Department of Physics and Chemistry at DGIST has developed a catalytic technology that can easily and elaborately assemble key structural frameworks that serve as the scaffold ...

Apr 9, 2026
Phys.org / Deadly heat thresholds have already being crossed in six recent heat waves, study shows

Deadly heat wave events are occurring at temperatures and humidity levels previously thought to be survivable, according to a new paper by a team of international researchers, including from The Australian National University ...

Apr 9, 2026
Phys.org / Hydroxyl radicals in UV-exposed water reveal surprising reaction pathway

How do radicals form in aqueous solutions when exposed to UV light? This question is important for health research and environmental protection. For example, with regard to the overfertilization of water bodies by intensive ...

Apr 9, 2026
Phys.org / Unlocking the hidden metabolism of algae to advance the promise of renewable fuels and sustainable biomass

Researchers at the Donald Danforth Plant Science Center have solved a long-standing mystery of how a model green microalga reorganizes its central metabolism to supercharge growth when given access to both light and a carbon ...

Apr 9, 2026
Phys.org / Houston, we have a problem ... with the toilet

After a successful trip around the moon, everything has been going smoothly on the Orion spacecraft's journey back to Earth—except for the $23 million toilet, which has gotten clogged.

Apr 9, 2026
Phys.org / Integrative experiment design reveals hidden patterns in decades-old social science research

Research from MIT Sloan School of Management has demonstrated a new way of designing social science experiments that can uncover patterns invisible to common approaches. In their paper titled "Integrative experiments identify ...

Apr 9, 2026
Phys.org / High levels of forever chemicals found in Svalbard reindeer

Svalbard reindeer live in a place so remote they have actually evolved to become a subspecies. But that remoteness isn't enough to protect them from contaminants from the industrial world.

Apr 9, 2026
Phys.org / African swine fever: A novel model assesses transmission between domestic pigs and wild boar

African swine fever (ASF) is one of the most devastating diseases affecting domestic pigs and wild boars worldwide. Since its introduction into Europe, this deadly virus has spread widely, threatening pig production and causing ...

Apr 9, 2026
Phys.org / New AI method flags fluid flow tipping points before simulations break down

David J. Silvester, a mathematics professor at the University of Manchester, has developed a novel machine-learning method to detect sudden changes in fluid behavior, improving speed and the cost of identifying these instabilities ...

Apr 9, 2026