Phys.org news

Phys.org / Yeast DNA changes reveal hidden triggers for cancer-linked chromosome chaos

Changes in genes have been linked to the development of different diseases for a while. However, it's not exactly clear what the mechanisms, or the causes behind those specific genetic changes, are. Recent studies using fission ...

Jan 12, 2026 in Biology
Phys.org / Tissue repair slows in old age. These proteins speed it back up

As we age, we don't recover from injury or illness like we did when we were young. But new research from UCSF has found gene regulators—proteins that turn genes on and off—that could restore the aging body's ability to ...

Jan 12, 2026 in Biology
Phys.org / Overlooked decline in grazing livestock brings risks and opportunities

For decades, researchers have focused on the problem of overgrazing, in which expanding herds of cattle and other livestock degrade grasslands, steppes and desert plains. But a new global study reveals that in large regions ...

Jan 12, 2026 in Biology
Phys.org / Robotic nanoprobe enables precise extraction of a single mitochondrion from a living cell

Mitochondrial dysfunction is associated with various chronic diseases and cancers, including neurodegenerative diseases and metabolic syndrome. Gently extracting a single mitochondrion from within a living cell—without ...

Jan 12, 2026 in Nanotechnology
Phys.org / Designer enzyme enables yeast to produce custom fatty acids, reducing need for palm oil

Whether they are laundry detergents, mascara, or Christmas chocolate, many everyday products contain fatty acids from palm oil or coconut oil. However, the extraction of these raw materials is associated with massive environmental ...

Jan 12, 2026 in Biology
Phys.org / How E. coli exploit fluid flow and channel shape to swim upstream and cause infections

"The UN estimates that by 2050, common bacterial infections could kill more people than cancer," says Arnold Mathijssen, a biophysicist at the University of Pennsylvania who studies how active particles like bacteria move ...

Jan 12, 2026 in Biology
Phys.org / Fruit flies' embryonic stage reveals that climate adaptation begins early

As the climate changes, scientists are concerned about how well plants and animals will adapt to rapid warming. A new University of Vermont study has explored the early embryonic life stage of a globally common fruit fly, ...

Jan 12, 2026 in Biology
Phys.org / What most corporate carbon reports get wrong, and how to fix them

A new Stanford-led analysis of corporate carbon disclosures finds that companies undercount emissions from their supply chains by billions of tons.

Jan 12, 2026 in Earth
Phys.org / Open-source model more accurately measures greenhouse gas emissions from natural gas

McGill engineering researchers have introduced an open-source model that makes it easier for experts and non-experts alike to evaluate greenhouse gas emissions from U.S. natural gas supply chains and yields more accurate ...

Jan 12, 2026 in Earth
Phys.org / 'Death by a thousand cuts': Pablo's galaxy ran out of fuel as black hole choked off supplies

Astronomers have spotted one of the oldest "dead" galaxies yet identified, and found that a growing supermassive black hole can slowly starve a galaxy rather than tear it apart.

Jan 12, 2026 in Astronomy & Space
Phys.org / Surface ceramics reveal self-sufficient rural economy in Ancient Samos

An international team of researchers has uncovered hidden clues about life in the hills of ancient southwest Samos, Greece.

Jan 12, 2026 in Other Sciences
Phys.org / Fungal mechanism reveals how powdery mildew overcomes wheat immune defenses

Cereals have natural resistance to pathogenic fungi, but powdery mildew, for example, can overcome this resistance. A team at the University of Zurich has now discovered a new mechanism that enables powdery mildew to outsmart ...

Jan 12, 2026 in Biology