https://clay.cam/feed/Research_News Clay News RSS Feed - Research_News specific feed https://clay.cam/rss-info.html Clay RSS Generator v1.0 Sat, 15 Aug 2026 13:11:15 +0000 https://phys.org/news/2026-08-wheat-gene-hessian-fly-resistance.html Fri, 14 Aug 2026 18:20:04 +0000 Researchers at the University of Maryland and their collaborators have cloned a gene that makes wheat resistant to feeding by Hessian fly larvae and demonstrated its direct interaction with a protein produced by the insect. The research breaks through a longstanding barrier to understanding and engineering pest resistance in wheat. It is described in a research paper published Aug. 14, 2026, in the journal Science Advances. Research_News/Phys.org https://phys.org/news/2026-08-wheat-gene-hessian-fly-resistance.html Fri, 14 Aug 2026 18:20:04 +0000 Researchers at the University of Maryland and their collaborators have cloned a gene that makes wheat resistant to feeding by Hessian fly larvae and demonstrated its direct interaction with a protein produced by the insect. The research breaks through a longstanding barrier to understanding and engineering pest resistance in wheat. It is described in a research paper published Aug. 14, 2026, in the journal Science Advances. Research_News/Phys.org https://phys.org/news/2026-08-method-gain-insights-tissues.html Fri, 14 Aug 2026 18:20:01 +0000 A book sits atop a table. Although it's closed, its title, "Encyclopedia of Human Tissue," promises untold secrets. Perhaps with this book, you can learn about different cell types and what they look like under normal conditions or conditions of disease. Maybe you can learn how gene expression differs in the cells of younger and older people, or whether different patients' cells respond differently to the same treatments. Research_News/Phys.org https://phys.org/news/2026-08-method-gain-insights-tissues.html Fri, 14 Aug 2026 18:20:01 +0000 A book sits atop a table. Although it's closed, its title, "Encyclopedia of Human Tissue," promises untold secrets. Perhaps with this book, you can learn about different cell types and what they look like under normal conditions or conditions of disease. Maybe you can learn how gene expression differs in the cells of younger and older people, or whether different patients' cells respond differently to the same treatments. Research_News/Phys.org https://phys.org/news/2026-08-europe-mountain-summits-vegetation-ways.html Fri, 14 Aug 2026 18:00:01 +0000 Decades of climate change have not left Europe's mountain vegetation unscathed. However, the changes observed do not always match expectations. As a new international study by a research team led by researchers from the University of Vienna, the Austrian Academy of Sciences and the BOKU University shows, alpine vegetation has shifted significantly towards warmth-associated species. However, the direct link between this so-called thermophilization and local warming is surprisingly weak. The study has recently been published in the journal Nature Ecology & Evolution. Research_News/Phys.org https://phys.org/news/2026-08-europe-mountain-summits-vegetation-ways.html Fri, 14 Aug 2026 18:00:01 +0000 Decades of climate change have not left Europe's mountain vegetation unscathed. However, the changes observed do not always match expectations. As a new international study by a research team led by researchers from the University of Vienna, the Austrian Academy of Sciences and the BOKU University shows, alpine vegetation has shifted significantly towards warmth-associated species. However, the direct link between this so-called thermophilization and local warming is surprisingly weak. The study has recently been published in the journal Nature Ecology & Evolution. Research_News/Phys.org https://phys.org/news/2026-08-microbe-capture-recovers-critical-metals.html Fri, 14 Aug 2026 17:40:01 +0000 A genetically engineered bacterium can rapidly break down one of Earth's most abundant minerals, opening a promising new pathway for simultaneously removing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and recovering critical elements used in electric vehicle batteries, according to new Cornell research. Research_News/Phys.org https://phys.org/news/2026-08-microbe-capture-recovers-critical-metals.html Fri, 14 Aug 2026 17:40:01 +0000 A genetically engineered bacterium can rapidly break down one of Earth's most abundant minerals, opening a promising new pathway for simultaneously removing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and recovering critical elements used in electric vehicle batteries, according to new Cornell research. Research_News/Phys.org https://phys.org/news/2026-08-bones-medieval-kings-spanish-wildfire.html Fri, 14 Aug 2026 17:20:04 +0000 Firefighters raced to save a 1,000-year-old monastery in northeastern Spain on Friday as a growing wildfire prompted the hasty removal of the bones of medieval monarchs buried there. Research_News/Phys.org https://phys.org/news/2026-08-bones-medieval-kings-spanish-wildfire.html Fri, 14 Aug 2026 17:20:04 +0000 Firefighters raced to save a 1,000-year-old monastery in northeastern Spain on Friday as a growing wildfire prompted the hasty removal of the bones of medieval monarchs buried there. Research_News/Phys.org https://phys.org/news/2026-08-cell-biochemistry-membranes-condensate-physics.html Fri, 14 Aug 2026 17:20:01 +0000 Basic biology courses teach that cells contain organelles—such as the nucleus, mitochondria and Golgi apparatus—set apart by lipid membranes to get things done. Recent cell biology research has revealed another organizational principle at work in cells across all orders of biology. Research_News/Phys.org https://phys.org/news/2026-08-cell-biochemistry-membranes-condensate-physics.html Fri, 14 Aug 2026 17:20:01 +0000 Basic biology courses teach that cells contain organellessuch as the nucleus, mitochondria and Golgi apparatusset apart by lipid membranes to get things done. Recent cell biology research has revealed another organizational principle at work in cells across all orders of biology. Research_News/Phys.org https://phys.org/news/2026-08-cells-pulse-malignant-longest.html Fri, 14 Aug 2026 16:40:01 +0000 Epithelial cells are the tiny shields that line and protect our bodies. In a developing embryo, epithelial cells grow, divide and move into positions to form the outer layers of our skin and the surfaces of our organs and blood vessels. When we scrape our skin, suffer an internal tear or undergo surgery, epithelial cells migrate to the site of injury to heal a wound. And when epithelial cells go haywire, they can turn malignant and spread through the body as cancer. Research_News/Phys.org https://phys.org/news/2026-08-cells-pulse-malignant-longest.html Fri, 14 Aug 2026 16:40:01 +0000 Epithelial cells are the tiny shields that line and protect our bodies. In a developing embryo, epithelial cells grow, divide and move into positions to form the outer layers of our skin and the surfaces of our organs and blood vessels. When we scrape our skin, suffer an internal tear or undergo surgery, epithelial cells migrate to the site of injury to heal a wound. And when epithelial cells go haywire, they can turn malignant and spread through the body as cancer. Research_News/Phys.org https://phys.org/news/2026-08-guangzhou-crucibles-earliest-evidence-brass.html Fri, 14 Aug 2026 16:20:03 +0000 For centuries, scholars have read ancient documents describing the production of brass in 10th-century A.D. China. The problem was that the earliest physical evidence of brass production would be found nearly 600 years later, in the 16th century A.D. Research_News/Phys.org https://phys.org/news/2026-08-guangzhou-crucibles-earliest-evidence-brass.html Fri, 14 Aug 2026 16:20:03 +0000 For centuries, scholars have read ancient documents describing the production of brass in 10th-century A.D. China. The problem was that the earliest physical evidence of brass production would be found nearly 600 years later, in the 16th century A.D. Research_News/Phys.org https://phys.org/news/2026-08-wildfires-destroyed-area-tropical-forest.html Fri, 14 Aug 2026 16:00:01 +0000 Over 4 million hectares (9.9 million acres) of protected tropical forest—an area double the size of Wales—have been lost to wildfires since 2001. Research_News/Phys.org https://phys.org/news/2026-08-wildfires-destroyed-area-tropical-forest.html Fri, 14 Aug 2026 16:00:01 +0000 Over 4 million hectares (9.9 million acres) of protected tropical forestan area double the size of Waleshave been lost to wildfires since 2001. Research_News/Phys.org https://phys.org/news/2026-08-early-settlement-dynamics-pacific-revealed.html Fri, 14 Aug 2026 15:40:02 +0000 New genetic analyses of ancient human skeletons from western Remote Oceania are shedding light on the complex history of settlement in this vast Pacific region over the past 3,000 years. With island nations such as Vanuatu, Fiji and Tonga, the region is home to societies with a remarkably high degree of linguistic and cultural diversity. Research_News/Phys.org https://phys.org/news/2026-08-early-settlement-dynamics-pacific-revealed.html Fri, 14 Aug 2026 15:40:02 +0000 New genetic analyses of ancient human skeletons from western Remote Oceania are shedding light on the complex history of settlement in this vast Pacific region over the past 3,000 years. With island nations such as Vanuatu, Fiji and Tonga, the region is home to societies with a remarkably high degree of linguistic and cultural diversity. Research_News/Phys.org https://phys.org/news/2026-08-constipation-common-astronauts-blood.html Fri, 14 Aug 2026 15:20:03 +0000 For astronauts in space, constipation is a well-known problem. But why this happens has long been unclear. Now, a new study from the University of Copenhagen in collaboration with NASA provides an idea of what happens in the stomach without the influence of gravity. Research_News/Phys.org https://phys.org/news/2026-08-constipation-common-astronauts-blood.html Fri, 14 Aug 2026 15:20:03 +0000 For astronauts in space, constipation is a well-known problem. But why this happens has long been unclear. Now, a new study from the University of Copenhagen in collaboration with NASA provides an idea of what happens in the stomach without the influence of gravity. Research_News/Phys.org https://phys.org/news/2026-08-jet-lag-cells-circadian-adjustment.html Fri, 14 Aug 2026 15:00:02 +0000 Adjusting to a new time zone or work schedule can leave the body's internal clock out of sync for days, contributing to sleep disruption, metabolic changes and other health consequences. Researchers at Rice University and Northwestern University have developed an implantable cell therapy that may help the body adapt more quickly to these disruptions. Research_News/Phys.org https://phys.org/news/2026-08-jet-lag-cells-circadian-adjustment.html Fri, 14 Aug 2026 15:00:02 +0000 Adjusting to a new time zone or work schedule can leave the body's internal clock out of sync for days, contributing to sleep disruption, metabolic changes and other health consequences. Researchers at Rice University and Northwestern University have developed an implantable cell therapy that may help the body adapt more quickly to these disruptions. Research_News/Phys.org https://phys.org/news/2026-08-band-radar-sharpen-simulation-westerly.html Fri, 14 Aug 2026 14:50:01 +0000 Tornadoes are among the most destructive weather phenomena on Earth. Their small scale, short life cycle and sudden onset make them extremely difficult to predict. This challenge is amplified for weak tornadoes embedded within midlatitude westerly flows, which often hide in plain sight with faint signals. Improving the simulation capability for these events is vital for reducing disaster risk in highly vulnerable regions such as the Pearl River Delta. Research_News/Phys.org https://phys.org/news/2026-08-band-radar-sharpen-simulation-westerly.html Fri, 14 Aug 2026 14:50:01 +0000 Tornadoes are among the most destructive weather phenomena on Earth. Their small scale, short life cycle and sudden onset make them extremely difficult to predict. This challenge is amplified for weak tornadoes embedded within midlatitude westerly flows, which often hide in plain sight with faint signals. Improving the simulation capability for these events is vital for reducing disaster risk in highly vulnerable regions such as the Pearl River Delta. Research_News/Phys.org https://phys.org/news/2026-08-rotation-complex-materials.html Fri, 14 Aug 2026 14:40:04 +0000 A new pathway has opened for controlling the rotation direction of light simply by changing how molecules are arranged, without having to synthesize complex new materials. Circularly polarized light is a special form of light that travels while rotating like a pinwheel to the left or right. Because different rotation directions can carry different information, it is drawing attention as a key light source for next-generation displays, optical communications and security technologies. Research_News/Phys.org https://phys.org/news/2026-08-rotation-complex-materials.html Fri, 14 Aug 2026 14:40:04 +0000 A new pathway has opened for controlling the rotation direction of light simply by changing how molecules are arranged, without having to synthesize complex new materials. Circularly polarized light is a special form of light that travels while rotating like a pinwheel to the left or right. Because different rotation directions can carry different information, it is drawing attention as a key light source for next-generation displays, optical communications and security technologies. Research_News/Phys.org https://phys.org/news/2026-08-butterflies-brink-extinction.html Fri, 14 Aug 2026 14:40:02 +0000 On a summer day in Michigan, a tiny Poweshiek skipperling butterfly—smaller than a quarter—takes flight over a restored prairie. Research_News/Phys.org https://phys.org/news/2026-08-butterflies-brink-extinction.html Fri, 14 Aug 2026 14:40:02 +0000 On a summer day in Michigan, a tiny Poweshiek skipperling butterflysmaller than a quartertakes flight over a restored prairie. Research_News/Phys.org https://phys.org/news/2026-08-mysterious-cygnus-microquasar-astronomers.html Fri, 14 Aug 2026 14:20:07 +0000 Astronomers have proposed a new explanation for the mysterious Cygnus Bubble, a vast cloud of ultra-high-energy gamma rays stretching thousands of light-years across the sky. While the bubble has generally been linked to the Cygnus X star-forming region, the new study argues that a microquasar more naturally explains its highest-energy emission. The results were published in a paper in The Astrophysical Journal Letters on July 21. Research_News/Phys.org https://phys.org/news/2026-08-mysterious-cygnus-microquasar-astronomers.html Fri, 14 Aug 2026 14:20:07 +0000 Astronomers have proposed a new explanation for the mysterious Cygnus Bubble, a vast cloud of ultra-high-energy gamma rays stretching thousands of light-years across the sky. While the bubble has generally been linked to the Cygnus X star-forming region, the new study argues that a microquasar more naturally explains its highest-energy emission. The results were published in a paper in The Astrophysical Journal Letters on July 21. Research_News/Phys.org https://phys.org/news/2026-08-qa-chalk-streams-rare-rivers.html Fri, 14 Aug 2026 14:20:06 +0000 Chalk streams are among the world's rarest river habitats. Fewer than 300 exist globally, and most are found in England. They support rich wildlife and have been described as England's 'Great Barrier Reef' due to their biodiversity. But they face pressure from climate change and other long-term impacts including pollution and water abstraction. Professor Rachel Stubbington of Nottingham Trent University's School of Science and Technology explains what makes chalk streams unique, why they are important and what can be done to protect them. Research_News/Phys.org https://phys.org/news/2026-08-scientists-method-sugars-cells.html Fri, 14 Aug 2026 13:40:04 +0000 Sugars, or glycans, play a crucial role in biologyfrom cell signaling and recognition to interactions with pathogens. Changes in glycosylation are also associated with diseases including cancer. But studying glycans poses a major challenge: because many glycans are highly water-soluble, or hydrophilic, they cannot easily cross the cell membrane and must be modified with a hydrophobic moietya water-repelling chemical groupand prepared and delivered using potentially harmful solvents. Research_News/Phys.org https://phys.org/news/2026-08-stable-rna-elements-possibilities-mrna.html Fri, 14 Aug 2026 13:20:04 +0000 A research team led by Director Kim V. Narry at the Center for RNA Research within the Institute for Basic Science (IBS) has discovered compact viral RNA elements that can make mRNA more stable and increase protein production. These elements could provide a simple way to develop longer-lasting and more efficient mRNA technologies for vaccines and other RNA-based therapeutics. Research_News/Phys.org https://phys.org/news/2026-08-stable-rna-elements-possibilities-mrna.html Fri, 14 Aug 2026 13:20:04 +0000 A research team led by Director Kim V. Narry at the Center for RNA Research within the Institute for Basic Science (IBS) has discovered compact viral RNA elements that can make mRNA more stable and increase protein production. These elements could provide a simple way to develop longer-lasting and more efficient mRNA technologies for vaccines and other RNA-based therapeutics. Research_News/Phys.org https://phys.org/news/2026-08-sediments-brazil-northeast-coast-reveal.html Fri, 14 Aug 2026 13:00:04 +0000 According to a new study led by researchers from Brazil and Germany, the main system that transports heat from one end of the Atlantic Ocean to the other may undergo sudden changes in intensity driven by climate change similar to what we are experiencing now, even when it is already weakened. Research_News/Phys.org https://phys.org/news/2026-08-sediments-brazil-northeast-coast-reveal.html Fri, 14 Aug 2026 13:00:04 +0000 According to a new study led by researchers from Brazil and Germany, the main system that transports heat from one end of the Atlantic Ocean to the other may undergo sudden changes in intensity driven by climate change similar to what we are experiencing now, even when it is already weakened. Research_News/Phys.org https://phys.org/news/2026-08-quality-quantity-super-shedders-superspreaders.html Fri, 14 Aug 2026 12:40:01 +0000 A host that sheds an abundance of parasites might seem like an obvious disease-spreading threat. But new research suggests that shedding large volumes of parasites does not dictate transmission efficiency—and "super-shedders" may not be the superspreaders of infectious disease outbreaks. Research_News/Phys.org https://phys.org/news/2026-08-quality-quantity-super-shedders-superspreaders.html Fri, 14 Aug 2026 12:40:01 +0000 A host that sheds an abundance of parasites might seem like an obvious disease-spreading threat. But new research suggests that shedding large volumes of parasites does not dictate transmission efficiencyand "super-shedders" may not be the superspreaders of infectious disease outbreaks. Research_News/Phys.org https://phys.org/news/2026-08-genetic-analysis-reveals-species-endangered.html Fri, 14 Aug 2026 12:20:01 +0000 Madison researchers recognize a new species of baobab tree, Adansonia bozy, unique to Madagascar, according to a study published in the journal Taxon. Previously, members of A. bozy were classified within a different species of Malagasy baobab, Adansonia za. Research_News/Phys.org https://phys.org/news/2026-08-lost-convent-rediscovered-soccer-field.html Fri, 14 Aug 2026 12:00:03 +0000 A medieval monastery complex, long believed to be lost, has now been identified using ground-penetrating radar (GPR) in Roskilde, Denmark. The investigations have uncovered extensive and well-preserved remains of the St Clare's Convent from the 13th century, approximately 1 meter (3 feet) below today's ground surface. Research_News/Phys.org https://phys.org/news/2026-08-lost-convent-rediscovered-soccer-field.html Fri, 14 Aug 2026 12:00:03 +0000 A medieval monastery complex, long believed to be lost, has now been identified using ground-penetrating radar (GPR) in Roskilde, Denmark. The investigations have uncovered extensive and well-preserved remains of the St Clare's Convent from the 13th century, approximately 1 meter (3 feet) below today's ground surface. Research_News/Phys.org https://phys.org/news/2026-08-exhaust-domestic-phosphorus-years-reserves.html Fri, 14 Aug 2026 11:40:04 +0000 The United States could exhaust its domestic phosphorus supply within 40 years. Europe, Latin America and Southeast Asia already depend on imports from China and Morocco to meet their needs. Without phosphorus, crops cannot grow—and without a reliable supply of the mineral, the world's food supply is at risk. Research_News/Phys.org https://phys.org/news/2026-08-exhaust-domestic-phosphorus-years-reserves.html Fri, 14 Aug 2026 11:40:04 +0000 The United States could exhaust its domestic phosphorus supply within 40 years. Europe, Latin America and Southeast Asia already depend on imports from China and Morocco to meet their needs. Without phosphorus, crops cannot growand without a reliable supply of the mineral, the world's food supply is at risk. Research_News/Phys.org https://phys.org/news/2026-08-hazards-converge-east-portland-underinvestment.html Fri, 14 Aug 2026 11:20:06 +0000 When it comes to compounding natural hazards like landslides, wildfires, flooding and extreme heat, where you live makes all the difference. New research from Portland State University underscores this disproportionate reality, finding that in Portland, the areas most vulnerable to multiple climate hazards are historically underinvested neighborhoods marked by lower median incomes, lower levels of education and greater racial diversity. Research_News/Phys.org https://phys.org/news/2026-08-cells-molecule-iron-overload.html Fri, 14 Aug 2026 11:00:03 +0000 Iron is essential. Our cells need it to produce energy, carry oxygen throughout the body and power countless chemical reactions that sustain life. But this metal has a dark side. When too much of it is left free inside cells, it can trigger destructive reactions that break down DNA, proteins and even cell membranes. Research_News/Phys.org https://phys.org/news/2026-08-tiny-satellite-dark-side-moon.html Fri, 14 Aug 2026 11:00:01 +0000 A tiny UK-developed satellite, roughly the size of a small carry-on suitcase, could help answer one of the biggest questions in cosmology: What happened during the roughly 150 million years of the cosmic dark ages, before the universe's first stars appeared? Research_News/Phys.org https://phys.org/news/2026-08-tiny-dna-rotor-microscopes-track.html Fri, 14 Aug 2026 10:40:02 +0000 Scientists often describe life as a series of chemical reactions. Pallav Kosuri, Ph.D., describes life as movement. Chemical reactions are how you drive the movement of atoms, proteins, cells and bodieswithout movement, there is no life. Research_News/Phys.org https://phys.org/news/2026-08-human-blood-ancient-chinese-art.html Fri, 14 Aug 2026 10:00:01 +0000 The Huashan rock art landscape in southern China, close to the border with Vietnam, is a remarkable UNESCO World Heritage site. Thousands of images are painted on river cliffs across more than 80 locations stretching 260 kilometers (162 miles). They depict people, musical instruments, boats, animals, weapons and many other figures, and date back at least 2,000 years. Research_News/Phys.org https://phys.org/news/2026-08-arctic-balloon-samples-marine-sugars.html Fri, 14 Aug 2026 09:40:01 +0000 Salt and sugar from the sea can rise as far as the free troposphere, thereby influencing both cloud formation and the Arctic climate. This is the finding of balloon measurements carried out by a team of researchers on Spitsbergen in autumn 2021 and spring 2022. Research_News/Phys.org https://phys.org/news/2026-08-pacific-farmers-reviving-traditional-knowledge.html Fri, 14 Aug 2026 08:30:01 +0000 For thousands of years, farmers in the Pacific have lived in harmony with their environment. But rising temperatures, unpredictable rainfall and tired soils are testing even the most experienced hands. Research_News/Phys.org https://phys.org/news/2026-08-red-skies-lost-solar-power.html Fri, 14 Aug 2026 08:10:01 +0000 Imagine you wake up one morning and look out your window. You see a red sky, hear a ferocious blast of wind and watch as tree branches creak and crack. No, the apocalypse has not descended on your local neighborhood. You've just been caught in the middle of a dust storm. Research_News/Phys.org https://phys.org/news/2026-08-digital-twins-california.html Fri, 14 Aug 2026 07:50:02 +0000 Approximately 1.4 million Californians live in areas at high risk of flooding each year, and climate change is only driving this number up. But flood risk can be a tricky concept for residents and policymakers alike to grasp. Just looking at a FEMA map or knowing that a home is built in a 100-year floodplain doesn't give people an intuitive understanding of how likely it is that a flood will occuror what could happen when one does. Research_News/Phys.org https://phys.org/news/2026-08-crocodiles-fly-birds-scientists-figured.html Fri, 14 Aug 2026 07:10:01 +0000 The closest living relatives of crocodiles and alligators are, perhaps surprisingly, birds. Both are archosauriforms, a group of species that originated about 250 million years ago near the beginning of the Triassic period. Research_News/Phys.org https://www.science.org/doi/abs/10.1126/sciadv.aec3842?af=R Fri, 14 Aug 2026 07:00:00 +0000 Science Advances, Volume 12, Issue 33, August 2026. Research_News/Science_Advances https://www.science.org/doi/abs/10.1126/sciadv.aec4153?af=R Fri, 14 Aug 2026 07:00:00 +0000 Science Advances, Volume 12, Issue 33, August 2026. Research_News/Science_Advances https://www.science.org/doi/abs/10.1126/sciadv.aec3536?af=R Fri, 14 Aug 2026 07:00:00 +0000 Science Advances, Volume 12, Issue 33, August 2026. Research_News/Science_Advances https://www.science.org/doi/abs/10.1126/sciadv.aec3096?af=R Fri, 14 Aug 2026 07:00:00 +0000 Science Advances, Volume 12, Issue 33, August 2026. Research_News/Science_Advances https://www.science.org/doi/abs/10.1126/sciadv.aec2282?af=R Fri, 14 Aug 2026 07:00:00 +0000 Science Advances, Volume 12, Issue 33, August 2026. Research_News/Science_Advances https://www.science.org/doi/abs/10.1126/sciadv.aec5080?af=R Fri, 14 Aug 2026 07:00:00 +0000 Science Advances, Volume 12, Issue 33, August 2026. Research_News/Science_Advances https://www.science.org/doi/abs/10.1126/sciadv.aec5472?af=R Fri, 14 Aug 2026 07:00:00 +0000 Science Advances, Volume 12, Issue 33, August 2026. Research_News/Science_Advances https://www.science.org/doi/abs/10.1126/sciadv.adz0583?af=R Fri, 14 Aug 2026 07:00:00 +0000 Science Advances, Volume 12, Issue 33, August 2026. Research_News/Science_Advances https://www.science.org/doi/abs/10.1126/sciadv.aec0104?af=R Fri, 14 Aug 2026 07:00:00 +0000 Science Advances, Volume 12, Issue 33, August 2026. Research_News/Science_Advances https://www.science.org/doi/abs/10.1126/sciadv.adz4123?af=R Fri, 14 Aug 2026 07:00:00 +0000 Science Advances, Volume 12, Issue 33, August 2026. Research_News/Science_Advances https://www.science.org/doi/abs/10.1126/sciadv.adz4263?af=R Fri, 14 Aug 2026 07:00:00 +0000 Science Advances, Volume 12, Issue 33, August 2026. Research_News/Science_Advances https://www.science.org/doi/abs/10.1126/sciadv.aea7469?af=R Fri, 14 Aug 2026 07:00:00 +0000 Science Advances, Volume 12, Issue 33, August 2026. Research_News/Science_Advances https://www.science.org/doi/abs/10.1126/sciadv.adz1892?af=R Fri, 14 Aug 2026 07:00:00 +0000 Science Advances, Volume 12, Issue 33, August 2026. Research_News/Science_Advances https://www.science.org/doi/abs/10.1126/sciadv.aeb4666?af=R Fri, 14 Aug 2026 07:00:00 +0000 Science Advances, Volume 12, Issue 33, August 2026. Research_News/Science_Advances https://www.science.org/doi/abs/10.1126/sciadv.aea8715?af=R Fri, 14 Aug 2026 07:00:00 +0000 Science Advances, Volume 12, Issue 33, August 2026. Research_News/Science_Advances https://www.science.org/doi/abs/10.1126/sciadv.aec0398?af=R Fri, 14 Aug 2026 07:00:00 +0000 Science Advances, Volume 12, Issue 33, August 2026. Research_News/Science_Advances https://www.science.org/doi/abs/10.1126/sciadv.aea6091?af=R Fri, 14 Aug 2026 07:00:00 +0000 Science Advances, Volume 12, Issue 33, August 2026. Research_News/Science_Advances https://www.science.org/doi/abs/10.1126/sciadv.aea1037?af=R Fri, 14 Aug 2026 07:00:00 +0000 Science Advances, Volume 12, Issue 33, August 2026. Research_News/Science_Advances https://www.science.org/doi/abs/10.1126/sciadv.adz7757?af=R Fri, 14 Aug 2026 07:00:00 +0000 Science Advances, Volume 12, Issue 33, August 2026. Research_News/Science_Advances https://www.science.org/doi/abs/10.1126/sciadv.adz6832?af=R Fri, 14 Aug 2026 07:00:00 +0000 Science Advances, Volume 12, Issue 33, August 2026. Research_News/Science_Advances https://www.science.org/doi/abs/10.1126/sciadv.aec3842?af=R Fri, 14 Aug 2026 07:00:00 +0000 Science Advances, Volume 12, Issue 33, August 2026. Research_News/Science_Advances https://www.science.org/doi/abs/10.1126/sciadv.aec4153?af=R Fri, 14 Aug 2026 07:00:00 +0000 Science Advances, Volume 12, Issue 33, August 2026. Research_News/Science_Advances https://www.science.org/doi/abs/10.1126/sciadv.aec3536?af=R Fri, 14 Aug 2026 07:00:00 +0000 Science Advances, Volume 12, Issue 33, August 2026. Research_News/Science_Advances https://www.science.org/doi/abs/10.1126/sciadv.aec3096?af=R Fri, 14 Aug 2026 07:00:00 +0000 Science Advances, Volume 12, Issue 33, August 2026. Research_News/Science_Advances https://www.science.org/doi/abs/10.1126/sciadv.aec2282?af=R Fri, 14 Aug 2026 07:00:00 +0000 Science Advances, Volume 12, Issue 33, August 2026. Research_News/Science_Advances https://www.science.org/doi/abs/10.1126/sciadv.aec5080?af=R Fri, 14 Aug 2026 07:00:00 +0000 Science Advances, Volume 12, Issue 33, August 2026. Research_News/Science_Advances https://www.science.org/doi/abs/10.1126/sciadv.aec5472?af=R Fri, 14 Aug 2026 07:00:00 +0000 Science Advances, Volume 12, Issue 33, August 2026. Research_News/Science_Advances https://www.science.org/doi/abs/10.1126/sciadv.adz0583?af=R Fri, 14 Aug 2026 07:00:00 +0000 Science Advances, Volume 12, Issue 33, August 2026. Research_News/Science_Advances https://www.science.org/doi/abs/10.1126/sciadv.aec0104?af=R Fri, 14 Aug 2026 07:00:00 +0000 Science Advances, Volume 12, Issue 33, August 2026. Research_News/Science_Advances https://www.science.org/doi/abs/10.1126/sciadv.adz4123?af=R Fri, 14 Aug 2026 07:00:00 +0000 Science Advances, Volume 12, Issue 33, August 2026. Research_News/Science_Advances https://www.science.org/doi/abs/10.1126/sciadv.adz4263?af=R Fri, 14 Aug 2026 07:00:00 +0000 Science Advances, Volume 12, Issue 33, August 2026. Research_News/Science_Advances https://www.science.org/doi/abs/10.1126/sciadv.aea7469?af=R Fri, 14 Aug 2026 07:00:00 +0000 Science Advances, Volume 12, Issue 33, August 2026. Research_News/Science_Advances https://www.science.org/doi/abs/10.1126/sciadv.adz1892?af=R Fri, 14 Aug 2026 07:00:00 +0000 Science Advances, Volume 12, Issue 33, August 2026. Research_News/Science_Advances https://www.science.org/doi/abs/10.1126/sciadv.aeb4666?af=R Fri, 14 Aug 2026 07:00:00 +0000 Science Advances, Volume 12, Issue 33, August 2026. Research_News/Science_Advances https://www.science.org/doi/abs/10.1126/sciadv.aea8715?af=R Fri, 14 Aug 2026 07:00:00 +0000 Science Advances, Volume 12, Issue 33, August 2026. Research_News/Science_Advances https://www.science.org/doi/abs/10.1126/sciadv.aec0398?af=R Fri, 14 Aug 2026 07:00:00 +0000 Science Advances, Volume 12, Issue 33, August 2026. Research_News/Science_Advances https://www.science.org/doi/abs/10.1126/sciadv.aea6091?af=R Fri, 14 Aug 2026 07:00:00 +0000 Science Advances, Volume 12, Issue 33, August 2026. Research_News/Science_Advances https://www.science.org/doi/abs/10.1126/sciadv.aea1037?af=R Fri, 14 Aug 2026 07:00:00 +0000 Science Advances, Volume 12, Issue 33, August 2026. Research_News/Science_Advances https://www.science.org/doi/abs/10.1126/sciadv.adz7757?af=R Fri, 14 Aug 2026 07:00:00 +0000 Science Advances, Volume 12, Issue 33, August 2026. Research_News/Science_Advances https://www.science.org/doi/abs/10.1126/sciadv.adz6832?af=R Fri, 14 Aug 2026 07:00:00 +0000 Science Advances, Volume 12, Issue 33, August 2026. Research_News/Science_Advances https://phys.org/news/2026-08-forged-meteorites-fashionable-ancient-greek.html Fri, 14 Aug 2026 06:40:01 +0000 Meteorites provided a rare but ready source of iron for ancient Bronze Age cultures before smelting became common. A new study, published in the Journal of Archaeological Science, sheds light on how the ancient Minoan and Mycenaean elite used this extraordinary metal and when its popularity declined. Research_News/Phys.org https://phys.org/news/2026-08-degree-colleges-content-creator-major.html Fri, 14 Aug 2026 05:40:02 +0000 Ask a teen what they want to be when they grow up, and there's a fair chance being an influencer is on their list. Research_News/Phys.org https://www.science.org/content/article/drought-may-have-driven-brazil-s-first-yellow-fever-outbreak-nearly-80-years Fri, 14 Aug 2026 05:25:30 +0000 Dry conditions forced forest-dwelling primates into the cities, bringing with them mosquitoes—and disease Research_News/Science_News_Current https://www.science.org/content/article/science-investigation-casts-doubt-genes-hailed-warding-alzheimer-s-disease Fri, 14 Aug 2026 05:25:30 +0000 Mutations found in Colombian families raised hopes for treatments. Altered patient data and suspect images call their benefits into question Research_News/Science_News_Current https://www.science.org/content/article/surprising-uniqueness-puerto-rico-s-trees-could-make-them-more-resistant-drought Fri, 14 Aug 2026 05:25:30 +0000 Two trees from the same species can vary in how they transport and manage water, improving specieswide drought resilience Research_News/Science_News_Current https://www.science.org/content/article/new-explanation-why-universe-s-supply-nuclear-matter-fixed Fri, 14 Aug 2026 05:25:30 +0000 Experiments point to an alternative origin of a particle accounting tool called the baryon number Research_News/Science_News_Current https://www.science.org/content/article/una-investigación-de-science-arroja-dudas-sobre-genes-prometedores-para-prevenir-la Fri, 14 Aug 2026 05:25:30 +0000 Mutaciones encontradas en familias colombianas dieron esperanza para el desarrollo de tratamientos. Datos alterados e imágenes sospechosas ponen en cuestión los beneficios Research_News/Science_News_Current https://www.science.org/content/article/were-these-ancient-rock-images-painted-human-blood Fri, 14 Aug 2026 05:25:30 +0000 Macabre ingredient may have helped murals on Chinese cliffs survive nearly 2000 years of weathering Research_News/Science_News_Current https://www.science.org/content/article/drought-may-have-driven-brazil-s-first-yellow-fever-outbreak-nearly-80-years Fri, 14 Aug 2026 05:25:30 +0000 Dry conditions forced forest-dwelling primates into the cities, bringing with them mosquitoesand disease Research_News/Science_News_Current https://www.science.org/content/article/science-investigation-casts-doubt-genes-hailed-warding-alzheimer-s-disease Fri, 14 Aug 2026 05:25:30 +0000 Mutations found in Colombian families raised hopes for treatments. Altered patient data and suspect images call their benefits into question Research_News/Science_News_Current https://www.science.org/content/article/surprising-uniqueness-puerto-rico-s-trees-could-make-them-more-resistant-drought Fri, 14 Aug 2026 05:25:30 +0000 Two trees from the same species can vary in how they transport and manage water, improving specieswide drought resilience Research_News/Science_News_Current https://www.science.org/content/article/new-explanation-why-universe-s-supply-nuclear-matter-fixed Fri, 14 Aug 2026 05:25:30 +0000 Experiments point to an alternative origin of a particle accounting tool called the baryon number Research_News/Science_News_Current https://www.science.org/content/article/una-investigación-de-science-arroja-dudas-sobre-genes-prometedores-para-prevenir-la Fri, 14 Aug 2026 05:25:30 +0000 Mutaciones encontradas en familias colombianas dieron esperanza para el desarrollo de tratamientos. Datos alterados e imágenes sospechosas ponen en cuestión los beneficios Research_News/Science_News_Current https://www.science.org/content/article/were-these-ancient-rock-images-painted-human-blood Fri, 14 Aug 2026 05:25:30 +0000 Macabre ingredient may have helped murals on Chinese cliffs survive nearly 2000 years of weathering Research_News/Science_News_Current https://phys.org/news/2026-08-eu-cities-compensate-emissions-carbon.html Fri, 14 Aug 2026 05:00:05 +0000 An analysis of 103 European cities' climate-neutral plans for 2030 (including 22 capital cities) shows that municipalities are planning to rely on carbon removal to compensate for about a fifth of their emissions. This would mean removing roughly 61 million tonnes of emissions from the atmosphereclose to Austria's annual emissions. Research_News/Phys.org https://phys.org/news/2026-08-fulfilling-friendships-linked-health-countries.html Thu, 13 Aug 2026 19:10:02 +0000 Fulfilling friendships and close social relationships are strongly linked to excellent physical and mental health, finds a substantial global study published in the Journal of Mental Health. Research_News/Phys.org https://www.science.org/content/article/i-had-unplug-ai-rediscover-my-love-writing Thu, 13 Aug 2026 15:00:00 -0400 I realized relying on AI was making me a less critical scientist, this clinician-researcher writes Research_News/Science_Careers https://phys.org/news/2026-08-theoretical-framework-crystal.html Thu, 13 Aug 2026 18:20:05 +0000 A research team has developed a new theoretical framework that can suppress light scattering in certain directions while enhancing it in others, even in irregularly arranged materials. The work extends research on controlling light scattering, which has traditionally centered on ordered crystal structures, into the realm of disordered systems. Research_News/Phys.org https://phys.org/news/2026-08-synchronized-star-pairs-unleash-radio.html Thu, 13 Aug 2026 18:00:04 +0000 Researchers have helped unravel the mystery of why certain pairs of stars pulse with regular, long-period bursts of radio waves. The particular class of objects observed comes in pairs that always include a compact dead star, called a white dwarf, locked in orbit with an M dwarf, a red star smaller than our sun. Research_News/Phys.org https://phys.org/news/2026-08-butterfly-effects-climate.html Thu, 13 Aug 2026 18:00:01 +0000 The Australian National Insect Collection at CSIRO holds 2,000 drawers of butterfly specimens, including some that were collected more than a century ago. Research_News/Phys.org https://phys.org/news/2026-08-mutation-hotspots-friendly-viruses-outmaneuver.html Thu, 13 Aug 2026 17:50:01 +0000 Every 15 minutes, someone in the U.S. dies from a drug-resistant superbug. A few decades from now, antibiotic-resistant bacterial infections threaten to become the leading cause of death worldwide, outpacing cancer. Research_News/Phys.org https://phys.org/news/2026-08-great-lakes-ice-temporary-respite.html Thu, 13 Aug 2026 17:40:07 +0000 There's good news and bad news for folks who love a good coat of ice on the Great Lakes for the activities and businesses it supports. The good news is that, after decades of declining annual average ice cover, there's reason to believe that trend could slow or even temporarily reverse. That's according to new research from the Cooperative Institute for Great Lakes Research, or CIGLR, at the University of Michigan. Research_News/Phys.org https://phys.org/news/2026-08-telescope-array-earth-exoplanet-atmosphere.html Thu, 13 Aug 2026 17:40:01 +0000 What do you do when the observation you need comes around once a year? Well, preparation is key, but this is the awkward truth about finding another Earth. When a planet crosses the face of its star, a sliver of starlight passes through its atmosphere on the way to us, and the gases there absorb their own particular colors. Read the spectrum carefully and you can list what the air is made of: oxygen, ozone and water vapor, the things that would make you sit up. Research_News/Phys.org https://phys.org/news/2026-08-mystery-london-discovery-ecuadorian-frog.html Thu, 13 Aug 2026 17:20:04 +0000 Scientists from the Pontificia Universidad Católica del Ecuador officially described Pristimantis milpe, an abundant and widely distributed species that had been confused with another species for more than a century. To solve the mystery, researchers reviewed historical specimens collected in Ecuador during the 19th century and preserved at the Natural History Museum in London. Research_News/Phys.org https://phys.org/news/2026-08-safe-havens-australian-mammals-invasive.html Thu, 13 Aug 2026 17:20:02 +0000 Feral cats and foxes now roam across almost all of Australia. These predators are a major reason why many species have been driven to extinction. Research_News/Phys.org https://phys.org/news/2026-08-fine-tune-molecular-vaccines-immune.html Thu, 13 Aug 2026 17:10:02 +0000 A vaccine's molecular structure plays a key role in determining how the immune system responds and prepares to protect the body from future exposure to a specific pathogen. To develop a vaccine that offers long-term protection from HIV, it's essential to promote a long-lasting immune response in which immune cells and antibodies prepared to combat the virus persist within the body. This has inspired scientists to find ways to alter vaccine structure to increase the duration and persistence of the immune response. Research_News/Phys.org https://phys.org/news/2026-08-tess-rare-brown-dwarf-orbiting.html Thu, 13 Aug 2026 17:00:06 +0000 For decades, astronomers lumped brown dwarfs into a single category defined by mass alonetoo big to be classified as planets but too small to become stars. However, this definition ignores the two very different mechanisms that can form them: the direct collapse of gas clouds and formation within the accretion disks of massive stars. Research_News/Phys.org https://phys.org/news/2026-08-environmental-responsibility-financial.html Thu, 13 Aug 2026 17:00:01 +0000 Consumers are increasingly choosing products from companies that demonstrate genuine environmental responsibility. While many studies have linked environmental, social and governance (ESG) performance with stronger financial results, exactly how environmental responsibility translates into higher profits has remained unclear. A new study suggests that sustainability improves corporate financial performance indirectly by increasing sales. Research_News/Phys.org https://phys.org/news/2026-08-wild-wildfires-humans-dangerous.html Thu, 13 Aug 2026 16:40:03 +0000 A wildfire needs a name long before anyone knows what caused it. When the pines of the Gironde in southwestern France caught fire in July, the fire was reported within hours under the name of the ground it was burning. By the time it had taken 40,000 hectares (99,000 acres), that name was fixed in every bulletin in Europe. Research_News/Phys.org https://phys.org/news/2026-08-city-relationship-status-exposes-hidden.html Thu, 13 Aug 2026 16:40:01 +0000 Kids, marriage and commute: A study co-authored by Dr. Mariana Macedo of Constructor University provides new insights into how major life transitions alter how individuals navigate and experience urban environments. Published in npj Complexity, the research challenges traditional urban planning models that rely on a single, average citizen profile, advocating instead for demographically sensitive city designs. Research_News/Phys.org https://phys.org/news/2026-08-rechargeable-nickel-reservoir-enables-nitrile.html Thu, 13 Aug 2026 16:20:06 +0000 Inspired by pumped-storage hydropower, a nickel-based redox reservoir enables spontaneous nitrile synthesis in organic solvents, while hydrogen gas is produced separately. Research_News/Phys.org https://phys.org/news/2026-08-real-mummy-curse-sale-mummified.html Thu, 13 Aug 2026 16:20:05 +0000 A new study, led by researchers at the University of Staffordshire, has found evidence of potentially hazardous microbial growth on mummified human and animal remains advertised for sale onlineposing risks to both sellers and buyers. The paper is published in the International Journal of Cultural Property. Research_News/Phys.org https://phys.org/news/2026-08-algorithm-online-negativity-life-users.html Thu, 13 Aug 2026 16:00:01 +0000 It doesn't take a scientist to figure out that social media can trend toward the negative. But it might take one to figure out why. In a new paper in PNAS, professor of psychology Joshua Conrad Jackson and colleagues show that algorithms aren't the only driver of online negativity. Another culprit is what psychologists call differentiation, the innate drive to stand out from one's peers. Research_News/Phys.org https://phys.org/news/2026-08-magnetic-mystery-thorium-clusters.html Thu, 13 Aug 2026 15:40:05 +0000 Scientists from the University of Manchester's Department of Chemistry, Centre for Radiochemistry Research and Photon Science Institute, led by Professor Steve Liddle, have uncovered why a rare class of metal clusters appears to behave differently in experiments and theoretical calculations, resolving a debate about the nature of chemical aromaticity and revealing a previously overlooked type of magnetic response. Research_News/Phys.org https://phys.org/news/2026-08-important-local-knowledge-nature-climate.html Thu, 13 Aug 2026 15:40:01 +0000 Climate change and biodiversity loss require us to base our decisions on the best possible knowledge. Yet a new study conducted by Dr. Roxana Roos at the University of Bergen shows that valuable knowledge about local nature and climate conditions often does not become part of the decision-making basis. Research_News/Phys.org https://phys.org/news/2026-08-heavy-eastern-japan-prompting-highest.html Thu, 13 Aug 2026 15:20:04 +0000 Torrential rain pummeled eastern Japan on Thursday, triggering landslides and power outages and prompting the weather authority to issue its highest-level heavy rain warning for the region for the first time. Research_News/Phys.org https://phys.org/news/2026-08-copper-behavior-insights-future-fusion.html Thu, 13 Aug 2026 15:20:03 +0000 Future fusion power plants aim to recreate the heart of a star here on Earth to power our future energy needs. While the core fusion plasma will burn at hundreds of millions of degrees, the surrounding structural components must handle sudden, punishing heat loads that rival the extreme temperatures faced by spacecraft upon reentry into Earth's atmosphere. Copper and its alloys are primary candidates for handling these intense heat fluctuations, making it vital to understand exactly how the metal behaves when pushed to its melting point. Research_News/Phys.org https://phys.org/news/2026-08-pairs-ospreys-population-recovery.html Thu, 13 Aug 2026 15:10:01 +0000 A new study by Bournemouth University (BU) has found that faster recovery of osprey populations relies on a small number of ospreys that, unlike most, prefer to nest away from others of the same species. These birds have been referred to as "pioneering pairs" and could be key to helping conservationists increase their population spread. Research_News/Phys.org https://phys.org/news/2026-08-days-ontario-wildfire-brought-unhealthy.html Thu, 13 Aug 2026 15:00:08 +0000 Smoke from Canada's July wildfires exposed people across Canada and the United States to unhealthy, very unhealthy or hazardous air for nearly 106 million person-days between July 1517. Over the peak impact period of July 1318, moderate or worse air quality accounted for more than 769 million person-days. For a period, Toronto recorded the poorest air quality of any major city in the world. Research_News/Phys.org https://phys.org/news/2026-08-dry-meteorite-mars.html Thu, 13 Aug 2026 15:00:01 +0000 Detecting water where none remains today: Neutron and X-ray tomography make it possible. In an international study conducted with the participation of the Paul Scherrer Institute PSI, researchers have brought to light macroscopic hydrogen-rich regions inside a Martian meteorite. The findings provide evidence for early water-rock interactions on Mars. Research_News/Phys.org https://phys.org/news/2026-08-cocoa-farm-sustainability.html Thu, 13 Aug 2026 14:40:04 +0000 ETH researchers have used a sustainability program for cocoa cultivation in Côte d'Ivoire to demonstrate that, in one in four cases, data was manipulated to meet the program's requirements. If the auditor were aware of the required target values, data manipulation increased significantly. Where these values were unknown, the frequency of fraudulent alterations halved. The findings provide important insights for companies, public authorities and certification bodies to ensure sustainable supply chains and the implementation of the EU Deforestation Regulation. Research_News/Phys.org https://phys.org/news/2026-08-synthesis-catalysts-carbon-dioxide-methane.html Thu, 13 Aug 2026 14:40:02 +0000 A simple flame-synthesis method can produce highly active catalysts for converting carbon dioxide into methane, as reported by researchers from Science Tokyo. The team used flame-assisted spray pyrolysis to manufacture nickelcerium oxide catalysts with finer nanoparticles and more active sites than conventional methods. These catalysts achieved outstanding methanation performance while remaining suitable for large-scale production, offering a practical route toward carbon-neutral fuel technologies. Research_News/Phys.org https://phys.org/news/2026-08-india-uncompensable-stress-monsoon-season.html Thu, 13 Aug 2026 14:20:05 +0000 Animals struggle to cool down in extreme heat and high humidity, and heat stress is rising in many regions around the world. This is especially true for people in tropical countries, including populous India. In a new paper in AGU Advances, researchers characterize the extent of India's "uncompensable heat stress" and project how the problem could worsen in the future. Research_News/Phys.org https://phys.org/news/2026-08-multilayer-nanocoatings-dissipate-energy-nanoscale.html Thu, 13 Aug 2026 14:20:03 +0000 An international research team including Alexander Korsunsky from the Skoltech Engineering Center has, for the first time, directly measured mechanical stresses at the contact between a diamond indenter and a complex nanostructured coating at a resolution of less than 80 nanometers. Research_News/Phys.org https://phys.org/news/2026-08-plastics-reveals-broader-circular-economy.html Thu, 13 Aug 2026 14:00:08 +0000 A review of research published in the Interdisciplinary Environmental Review on single-use plastics argues that tackling the waste problem will require a shift from recycling alone to a broader circular economy approach, in which materials are kept in use through reuse, recovery, recycling and redesign. Research_News/Phys.org https://phys.org/news/2026-08-paleontologists-reconstruct-forests-million-years.html Thu, 13 Aug 2026 14:00:06 +0000 If you want to know how rapidly pumping carbon dioxide into the atmosphere will affect future forest ecosystems, you have to look into the distant past. The researchers behind a new study published in Science have done just that, reconstructing the forest canopy of 56 million years ago, during a massive and abrupt emission of carbon into the atmosphere during the Paleocene-Eocene Thermal Maximum (PETM). For the first time, the study's authors used fossilized leaf cells to reconstruct the tree canopy of the PETM, Earth's most recent period of comparable global warming, with chilling implications for our near future. Research_News/Phys.org https://phys.org/news/2026-08-climate-predator-million-years.html Thu, 13 Aug 2026 13:40:03 +0000 An international team of researchers from Belgium, France, Switzerland, Spain and the U.S. has reconstructed the evolution of body mass in carnivorous mammals during the Paleogenea crucial window in the diversification of mammals that followed the extinction of dinosaurs. This work, published in Biology Letters, challenges the long-standing hypothesis that competition decided the fate of ancient top predators. Research_News/Phys.org https://phys.org/news/2026-08-gps-tracking-reveals-invasive-barred.html Thu, 13 Aug 2026 13:40:01 +0000 Newly published research offers some of the clearest evidence yet of why the invasive barred owl has become one of the greatest threats to the northern spotted owl and delivers encouraging evidence that managing barred owl populations can restore old-growth habitat for spotted owl recovery. Research_News/Phys.org https://phys.org/news/2026-08-explores-home-languages-early-english.html Thu, 13 Aug 2026 13:20:03 +0000 During a reading lesson, Mateo, an elementary multilingual learner (MLL) in a Delaware public school, read "sit" as "seat." Jon Kittle, his reading interventionist, walked him through the short vowel sound, but Mateo made the same "mistake" and grew frustrated. Kittle began to wonder if these "errors" were actually the result of Mateo applying what he knew from Spanish, where the letter "i" carries the sound of the English long "ē." Research_News/Phys.org https://phys.org/news/2026-08-crispr-roadblocks-scientists-genes-blocking.html Thu, 13 Aug 2026 13:00:03 +0000 Like a delivery driver navigating crowded city streets, a gene-therapy-toting lipid nanoparticle faces a gauntlet of potential detours on its journey toward a cell's nucleus. First, there's entering the cell's plasma membrane; then navigating around organelles like the Golgi apparatus, mitochondria and endoplasmic reticulumall destinations that can errantly absorb the particle's payload, rendering it ineffective at best or harmful at worst. And that's all before the particle even enters the nucleus and successfully makes a genetic change. Research_News/Phys.org https://phys.org/news/2026-08-robinhood-users-simplicity-stocks.html Thu, 13 Aug 2026 13:00:02 +0000 Millions of investors using the Robinhood app tend to favor simpler, easy-to-understand stocks, according to new research from Washington State Universityand those stocks outperformed more complex firms during the study period. Research_News/Phys.org https://phys.org/news/2026-08-category-western-snowpack-faster.html Thu, 13 Aug 2026 12:40:07 +0000 Heat waves are not all created equal. While some bring dry heat that rapidly dries out crops, others carry a lot of moisture that can prevent sweat from evaporating off the skin. In new research published in the journal Science Advances, scientists have identified another type of heat wave that they call a "snow-eater." Research_News/Phys.org https://phys.org/news/2026-08-indigenous-restitution-empowers-communities-environmental.html Thu, 13 Aug 2026 12:00:07 +0000 Charting a better future will require redressing the problems of the past. That's one reason many countries have begun to return dispossessed land to Indigenous peoples. The goal of Indigenous land restitution is to empower disadvantaged communities and entrust land management back to the region's traditional stewards. In many cases, these programs also carry expectations of broad environmental benefits. However, there's been relatively little research testing this assumption. Research_News/Phys.org https://phys.org/news/2026-08-generative-ai-attitudes-distrust-analysis.html Thu, 13 Aug 2026 11:40:03 +0000 Is generative artificial intelligence technology a helpful tool or a big problem? Nearly four years after ChatGPT became a household name, most people are either using AI applications or generally aware of what the technology can do. But understanding how much they actually trust the work it produces and the answers it provides remains an important question. New research from Drexel University, based on a longitudinal analysis of hundreds of thousands of Reddit posts since 2022, sheds light on the general perception of AI and suggests that the public remains largely divided on how much it can be trusted. Research_News/Phys.org https://phys.org/news/2026-08-fast-wild-fish-reveal-cognition.html Thu, 13 Aug 2026 10:40:02 +0000 Why do two individuals faced with the same information sometimes make completely different decisions? It is a question made famous by Nobel laureate Daniel Kahneman, whose book "Thinking, Fast and Slow" explored the contrast between rapid, intuitive decisions and slower, more deliberative thinking in humans. Research_News/Phys.org https://phys.org/news/2026-08-nature-dimmer-algae-photosynthesis-ph.html Thu, 13 Aug 2026 10:20:03 +0000 A new joint study from Constructor University and Princeton University in the Journal of the American Chemical Society focuses on PC645, a protein complex that contributes to cryptophyte algae's ability to photosynthesize efficiently using specialized light-harvesting pigments that can capture energy from dim, blue-green underwater light. During photosynthesis, the pH inside the algae can fluctuate significantly, affecting how they manage light energy. Research_News/Phys.org https://phys.org/news/2026-08-magnetic-path-power.html Thu, 13 Aug 2026 10:00:04 +0000 From smartphones to data centers, modern electronics rely on billions of tiny switches that consume electricity every time they turn on or off. As global demand for computing continues to grow, so does the energy required to power it. Scientists are therefore searching for alternatives that can perform the same tasks while using far less energy. Research_News/Phys.org https://phys.org/news/2026-08-greater-vegetable-diversity-healthier-diets.html Thu, 13 Aug 2026 09:40:05 +0000 In a study published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, researchers show how a wider diversity of vegetables could help improve diets and strengthen agriculture against climate change. They use the term vegetable biodiversity to describe the full range of vegetable species, traditional varieties and their wild relatives. Research_News/Phys.org https://phys.org/news/2026-08-complex-suicidal-somersault-behavior-male.html Thu, 13 Aug 2026 09:40:01 +0000 The Australian redback spider (Latrodectus hasselti), a cousin of the North American black widow spider, is known to practice sexual cannibalism, which is somewhat common among spider species. However, the male Australian redback has also been observed facilitating the process with strange moves. Despite the complexity of these behaviors, a new study, published in Biology Letters, indicates that one of these behaviors arises from simple genetics, while another may be more complex. Research_News/Phys.org https://phys.org/news/2026-08-muon-constraints-forbidden-property-muons.html Thu, 13 Aug 2026 09:20:03 +0000 A year after its final muon magnetic anomaly announcement, the Muon g-2 collaboration reports a new measurement of a different property of the muon: its electric dipole moment. The work is published on the arXiv preprint server. Research_News/Phys.org https://phys.org/news/2026-08-supermassive-black-holes-massive-planets.html Thu, 13 Aug 2026 09:11:08 +0000 A popular myth about black holes is that they act like giant cosmic vacuum cleaners, sucking in everything around them. But Wladimir Lyra's research found a new mechanism around supermassive black holes that is more like a cosmic nursery, giving birth to planets more massive than Jupiter. Research_News/Phys.org https://phys.org/news/2026-08-mouse-assumed-offs-athleticism-fertility.html Thu, 13 Aug 2026 08:40:02 +0000 Being an elite athleteat least for a mousedoes not shorten lifespan or limit how many children one can have. This is the finding of a study 30 years in the making, and it runs counter to accepted evolutionary theory. Research_News/Phys.org https://phys.org/news/2026-08-geothermal-roads-potholes-trial-aims.html Thu, 13 Aug 2026 08:20:02 +0000 The U.K.'s pothole problem could one day be tackled from beneath the road surface as researchers at the University of Surrey launch a pioneering trial that uses heat stored underground to keep roads cooler in summer, warmer in winter and less prone to damage. Research_News/Phys.org https://phys.org/news/2026-08-early-hardship-oxytocin-altruism.html Thu, 13 Aug 2026 08:00:01 +0000 While humans are inherently social beings, they can interact and connect with others in very different ways. For instance, while some people tend to be more altruistic, others are less prone to helping their friends, acquaintances or even complete strangers, particularly when it comes at a personal cost. Research_News/Phys.org https://phys.org/news/2026-08-nz-hidden-threat-quietly.html Thu, 13 Aug 2026 07:40:03 +0000 The latest update of nationwide flood maps, to be released next year, will give communities across New Zealand the clearest picture yet of the regional risk of flooding. Research_News/Phys.org https://phys.org/news/2026-08-shame-stigma-culture-male-intimate.html Thu, 13 Aug 2026 07:10:04 +0000 Men are less likely than women to seek help after experiencing intimate partner violence, and new research from George Mason University found that the main barriers include viewing it as a private matter, fear of retaliation, shame and concerns about not being believed. Research_News/Phys.org https://www.science.org/doi/abs/10.1126/science.adq0420?af=R Thu, 13 Aug 2026 07:00:00 +0000 Science, Volume 393, Issue 6812, Page 714-718, August 2026. Research_News/Science_Journal https://www.science.org/doi/abs/10.1126/science.aea7605?af=R Thu, 13 Aug 2026 07:00:00 +0000 Science, Volume 393, Issue 6812, August 2026. Research_News/Science_Journal https://www.science.org/doi/abs/10.1126/science.adz7427?af=R Thu, 13 Aug 2026 07:00:00 +0000 Science, Volume 393, Issue 6812, Page 690-695, August 2026. Research_News/Science_Journal https://www.science.org/doi/abs/10.1126/science.ady9591?af=R Thu, 13 Aug 2026 07:00:00 +0000 Science, Volume 393, Issue 6812, Page 702-707, August 2026. Research_News/Science_Journal https://www.science.org/doi/abs/10.1126/science.ads5962?af=R Thu, 13 Aug 2026 07:00:00 +0000 Science, Volume 393, Issue 6812, Page 727-731, August 2026. Research_News/Science_Journal https://www.science.org/doi/abs/10.1126/science.aek0196?af=R Thu, 13 Aug 2026 07:00:00 +0000 Science, Volume 393, Issue 6812, Page 661-662, August 2026. Research_News/Science_Journal https://www.science.org/doi/abs/10.1126/science.ael3843?af=R Thu, 13 Aug 2026 07:00:00 +0000 Science, Volume 393, Issue 6812, Page 675-676, August 2026. Research_News/Science_Journal https://www.science.org/doi/abs/10.1126/science.adz1083?af=R Thu, 13 Aug 2026 07:00:00 +0000 Science, Volume 393, Issue 6812, August 2026. Research_News/Science_Journal https://www.science.org/doi/abs/10.1126/science.aei0132?af=R Thu, 13 Aug 2026 07:00:00 +0000 Science, Volume 393, Issue 6812, Page 666-666, August 2026. Research_News/Science_Journal https://www.science.org/doi/abs/10.1126/science.aea6187?af=R Thu, 13 Aug 2026 07:00:00 +0000 Science, Volume 393, Issue 6812, August 2026. Research_News/Science_Journal https://www.science.org/doi/abs/10.1126/science.aec2144?af=R Thu, 13 Aug 2026 07:00:00 +0000 Science, Volume 393, Issue 6812, Page 732-735, August 2026. Research_News/Science_Journal https://www.science.org/doi/abs/10.1126/science.aee7004?af=R Thu, 13 Aug 2026 07:00:00 +0000 Science, Volume 393, Issue 6812, August 2026. Research_News/Science_Journal https://www.science.org/doi/abs/10.1126/science.aee8723?af=R Thu, 13 Aug 2026 07:00:00 +0000 Science, Volume 393, Issue 6812, Page 708-713, August 2026. Research_News/Science_Journal https://www.science.org/doi/abs/10.1126/science.aeh2300?af=R Thu, 13 Aug 2026 07:00:00 +0000 Science, Volume 393, Issue 6812, August 2026. Research_News/Science_Journal https://www.science.org/doi/abs/10.1126/science.aea5466?af=R Thu, 13 Aug 2026 07:00:00 +0000 Science, Volume 393, Issue 6812, Page 684-689, August 2026. Research_News/Science_Journal https://www.science.org/doi/abs/10.1126/science.aec4776?af=R Thu, 13 Aug 2026 07:00:00 +0000 Science, Volume 393, Issue 6812, Page 696-701, August 2026. Research_News/Science_Journal https://www.science.org/doi/abs/10.1126/science.ael3844?af=R Thu, 13 Aug 2026 07:00:00 +0000 Science, Volume 393, Issue 6812, Page 738-738, August 2026. Research_News/Science_Journal https://www.science.org/doi/abs/10.1126/science.aei0475?af=R Thu, 13 Aug 2026 07:00:00 +0000 Science, Volume 393, Issue 6812, Page 719-726, August 2026. Research_News/Science_Journal https://www.science.org/doi/abs/10.1126/science.aeh1834?af=R Thu, 13 Aug 2026 07:00:00 +0000 Science, Volume 393, Issue 6812, August 2026. Research_News/Science_Journal https://www.science.org/doi/abs/10.1126/science.aeg4720?af=R Thu, 13 Aug 2026 07:00:00 +0000 Science, Volume 393, Issue 6812, August 2026. Research_News/Science_Journal https://www.science.org/doi/abs/10.1126/science.adq0420?af=R Thu, 13 Aug 2026 07:00:00 +0000 Science, Volume 393, Issue 6812, Page 714-718, August 2026. Research_News/Science_Journal https://www.science.org/doi/abs/10.1126/science.aea7605?af=R Thu, 13 Aug 2026 07:00:00 +0000 Science, Volume 393, Issue 6812, August 2026. Research_News/Science_Journal https://www.science.org/doi/abs/10.1126/science.adz7427?af=R Thu, 13 Aug 2026 07:00:00 +0000 Science, Volume 393, Issue 6812, Page 690-695, August 2026. Research_News/Science_Journal https://www.science.org/doi/abs/10.1126/science.ady9591?af=R Thu, 13 Aug 2026 07:00:00 +0000 Science, Volume 393, Issue 6812, Page 702-707, August 2026. Research_News/Science_Journal https://www.science.org/doi/abs/10.1126/science.ads5962?af=R Thu, 13 Aug 2026 07:00:00 +0000 Science, Volume 393, Issue 6812, Page 727-731, August 2026. Research_News/Science_Journal https://www.science.org/doi/abs/10.1126/science.aek0196?af=R Thu, 13 Aug 2026 07:00:00 +0000 Science, Volume 393, Issue 6812, Page 661-662, August 2026. Research_News/Science_Journal https://www.science.org/doi/abs/10.1126/science.ael3843?af=R Thu, 13 Aug 2026 07:00:00 +0000 Science, Volume 393, Issue 6812, Page 675-676, August 2026. Research_News/Science_Journal https://www.science.org/doi/abs/10.1126/science.adz1083?af=R Thu, 13 Aug 2026 07:00:00 +0000 Science, Volume 393, Issue 6812, August 2026. Research_News/Science_Journal https://www.science.org/doi/abs/10.1126/science.aei0132?af=R Thu, 13 Aug 2026 07:00:00 +0000 Science, Volume 393, Issue 6812, Page 666-666, August 2026. Research_News/Science_Journal https://www.science.org/doi/abs/10.1126/science.aea6187?af=R Thu, 13 Aug 2026 07:00:00 +0000 Science, Volume 393, Issue 6812, August 2026. Research_News/Science_Journal https://www.science.org/doi/abs/10.1126/science.aec2144?af=R Thu, 13 Aug 2026 07:00:00 +0000 Science, Volume 393, Issue 6812, Page 732-735, August 2026. Research_News/Science_Journal https://www.science.org/doi/abs/10.1126/science.aee7004?af=R Thu, 13 Aug 2026 07:00:00 +0000 Science, Volume 393, Issue 6812, August 2026. Research_News/Science_Journal https://www.science.org/doi/abs/10.1126/science.aee8723?af=R Thu, 13 Aug 2026 07:00:00 +0000 Science, Volume 393, Issue 6812, Page 708-713, August 2026. Research_News/Science_Journal https://www.science.org/doi/abs/10.1126/science.aeh2300?af=R Thu, 13 Aug 2026 07:00:00 +0000 Science, Volume 393, Issue 6812, August 2026. Research_News/Science_Journal https://www.science.org/doi/abs/10.1126/science.aea5466?af=R Thu, 13 Aug 2026 07:00:00 +0000 Science, Volume 393, Issue 6812, Page 684-689, August 2026. Research_News/Science_Journal https://www.science.org/doi/abs/10.1126/science.aec4776?af=R Thu, 13 Aug 2026 07:00:00 +0000 Science, Volume 393, Issue 6812, Page 696-701, August 2026. Research_News/Science_Journal https://www.science.org/doi/abs/10.1126/science.ael3844?af=R Thu, 13 Aug 2026 07:00:00 +0000 Science, Volume 393, Issue 6812, Page 738-738, August 2026. Research_News/Science_Journal https://www.science.org/doi/abs/10.1126/science.aei0475?af=R Thu, 13 Aug 2026 07:00:00 +0000 Science, Volume 393, Issue 6812, Page 719-726, August 2026. Research_News/Science_Journal https://www.science.org/doi/abs/10.1126/science.aeh1834?af=R Thu, 13 Aug 2026 07:00:00 +0000 Science, Volume 393, Issue 6812, August 2026. Research_News/Science_Journal https://www.science.org/doi/abs/10.1126/science.aeg4720?af=R Thu, 13 Aug 2026 07:00:00 +0000 Science, Volume 393, Issue 6812, August 2026. Research_News/Science_Journal https://www.science.org/doi/abs/10.1126/science.aek0561?af=R Thu, 13 Aug 2026 07:00:00 +0000 Science, Volume 393, Issue 6812, Page 664-665, August 2026. Research_News/Science_Journal https://www.science.org/doi/abs/10.1126/science.aek0574?af=R Thu, 13 Aug 2026 07:00:00 +0000 Science, Volume 393, Issue 6812, Page 663-664, August 2026. Research_News/Science_Journal https://phys.org/news/2026-08-protein-nanoparticles-crystals-enabling.html Thu, 13 Aug 2026 06:40:02 +0000 The tiny bones in your fingers withstand countless taps and swipes thanks to a precise blend of materials. Flexible collagen fibers form the framework, reinforced by hard calcium phosphate hydroxyapatite crystals. This is just one of countless examples in which living organisms weave organic materials directly into inorganic crystals with exquisite precision. In a recent study published in Nature Communications, scientists attempted to recreate such precise spatial arrangements in biomimetic composite materials. Research_News/Phys.org https://phys.org/news/2026-08-ai-biology-antibodies-drug-discovery.html Thu, 13 Aug 2026 05:00:03 +0000 Designing an effective antibody drug is like searching for the right key in a warehouse of locks. Scientists may begin with millionsor even billionsof antibody candidates, but only a tiny fraction will recognize and bind tightly to the disease target. Identifying those rare candidates has long been one of the biggest challenges in developing antibody medicines. Research_News/Phys.org https://phys.org/news/2026-08-nature-bioplastic-fed-animals-hundreds.html Thu, 13 Aug 2026 05:00:01 +0000 Long before humans discovered biodegradable plastics, microorganisms had already invented their own. Many bacteria and archaea produce natural bioplastics called polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs), storing them inside their cells as reserves of carbon and energy. Research_News/Phys.org https://phys.org/news/2026-08-imposing-climate-science-siege.html Thu, 13 Aug 2026 03:30:01 +0000 A benchmark U.S. report on the fast-changing state of the Arctic has been canceled. The nation's top research body has removed a chapter on global warming from a reference manual for judges. Research_News/Phys.org https://phys.org/news/2026-08-germany-dry-rivers.html Thu, 13 Aug 2026 02:55:31 +0000 As a heat wave dries Germany's rivers, government ministers are at odds over what to do about itre-engineer the waterways or restore them to their natural state. Research_News/Phys.org https://www.science.org/content/article/arson-attack-jolts-italy-s-bid-host-einstein-telescope Thu, 13 Aug 2026 02:00:00 +0000 Two scientists' cars were burned at the proposed Sardinian site, in what researchers say was an attempt to intimidate supporters of the gravitational-wave observatory Research_News/Science_News_Current https://www.science.org/content/article/hundreds-paper-mill-papers-peddled-ads-were-later-published Thu, 13 Aug 2026 02:00:00 +0000 More than one-fifth of some IEEE conferences papers appear linked to authorship for sale Research_News/Science_News_Current https://www.science.org/content/article/can-new-safer-class-pain-drugs-ever-rival-opioids Thu, 13 Aug 2026 02:00:00 +0000 Sodium channel blockers promise relief without addiction risk. But its been a challenge to improve them Research_News/Science_News_Current https://phys.org/news/2026-08-aidesigned-viruses-biosecurity-pace.html Wed, 12 Aug 2026 19:20:07 +0000 Scientists have crossed an important line in biological engineering. In a recent study, researchers used artificial intelligence to design complete sets of genetic instructions for bacteriophages, viruses that infect bacteria. Some of those computer-generated designs produced working viruses when they were built and tested in the laboratory. Research_News/Phys.org https://phys.org/news/2026-08-drug-nanoparticles-venous-malformations-mice.html Wed, 12 Aug 2026 19:20:01 +0000 Venous malformations are abnormally shaped veins that develop when the cells lining blood vessels grow too fast when they aren't supposed to. Children can be born with them, and as the child grows, the venous malformations can get bigger. Venous malformations are a type of vascular malformation that can range from small and superficial to disfiguring, debilitating or even life-threatening. Research_News/Phys.org https://phys.org/news/2026-08-unsupervised-free-likelihood-adolescents-engage.html Wed, 12 Aug 2026 18:40:05 +0000 A study involving more than 58,000 adolescents from 21 countries found that "unstructured free time"defined as periods without adult supervision or activities guided by educational, cultural or athletic goalsis strongly associated with delinquent behavior and exposure to violence among young people. Research_News/Phys.org https://phys.org/news/2026-08-ancient-egyptian-tomb.html Wed, 12 Aug 2026 18:40:01 +0000 Looking inside a newly discovered ancient tomb for the first time is both exciting and terrifying. I was fortunate to experience this recently as director of an international research team carrying out fieldwork in the Theban necropolis, a UNESCO World Heritage Site near the modern Egyptian city of Luxor. Research_News/Phys.org https://phys.org/news/2026-08-ultrafast-joule-significantly-mxene.html Wed, 12 Aug 2026 18:30:04 +0000 MXenes are two-dimensional materials made of very thin layers of metals, measured on the atomic scale. They conduct electricity well and have surfaces that can easily interact with other materials, making them excellent candidates for advanced electronic devices, computers and aerospace coatings. The only problem is that, until a recent innovation by James Tour's lab at Rice University, building them required a lengthy, acid-filled process called liquid-phase chemical etching. Research_News/Phys.org https://phys.org/news/2026-08-space-doesnt-affect-strength-heart.html Wed, 12 Aug 2026 18:20:03 +0000 It's common to see images of astronauts on the International Space Station exercising, running on special treadmills and pedaling cycles designed for tight quarters. Research_News/Phys.org https://phys.org/news/2026-08-graphene-nanowrinkles-reshape-electricity-future.html Wed, 12 Aug 2026 18:10:01 +0000 Rice University researchers have shown that tiny wrinkles in graphene can change the material's electrical properties, providing evidence for flexoelectricity, a phenomenon in which a material generates an electric charge when it bends unevenly. The findings are published in Advanced Materials. Research_News/Phys.org https://phys.org/news/2026-08-dying-star-rare-glimpse-universe.html Wed, 12 Aug 2026 18:00:07 +0000 Astronomers have captured an unprecedented image of a cosmic recycling project in progressfragments of a dying star being busted up, stripped and absorbed into interstellar space. Research_News/Phys.org https://phys.org/news/2026-08-wildfires-peat-indonesia-tropical-forests.html Wed, 12 Aug 2026 18:00:05 +0000 Peatland fires in Indonesia pose a major threat to habitats, wildlife and people. That risk is exacerbated by the country's periodic El Niño warming phases, which bring prolonged drought. Research_News/Phys.org https://phys.org/news/2026-08-fast-wildfires-western-forests-recovering.html Wed, 12 Aug 2026 17:50:01 +0000 The severe, drought-fueled fires now burning across much of the American West and Canada may be scorching forests so thoroughly that they cannot recover to the forests they once were, new research shows. A study by Colorado State University, Western Colorado University and others found that the fastest-moving forest fires not only burn more area but also burn more severely, leaving fewer surviving trees to reseed the landscape and opening the door to different species and vegetation types. Research_News/Phys.org https://phys.org/news/2026-08-pain-isnt-european-viper-venoms.html Wed, 12 Aug 2026 17:40:05 +0000 For many people, the fear of venomous snakes is linked to one thing: pain. Yet new research led by scientists at Bangor University suggests that, for Europe's vipers, at least, causing pain may never have been a driving force in the evolution of their venom. Research_News/Phys.org https://phys.org/news/2026-08-greener-material-decontamination.html Wed, 12 Aug 2026 17:40:04 +0000 University of Birmingham scientists who used green chemistry to make a next-generation metal-organic framework (MOF) for capturing heavy metals from wastewater have shown that it is cheaper and more resource-efficient to produce than a similar MOF processed conventionally. Research_News/Phys.org https://phys.org/news/2026-08-wars-nations-persistent-escalation-decades.html Wed, 12 Aug 2026 17:30:01 +0000 Military leaders frequently underestimate how big the wars they engage in will get. Gen. Douglas MacArthur predicted U.S. troops could come home from the Korean War in time for Christmas, just months after the conflict started. But Chinese attacks that winter extended the war for years. And President Donald Trump said in March that the Iran war would be a "short-term excursion," but it has now lasted more than five months, with periods of escalation. Research_News/Phys.org https://phys.org/news/2026-08-polymer-membrane-high-purity-hydrogen.html Wed, 12 Aug 2026 17:20:06 +0000 In Nature Communications a research team led by Professor Tae-Hyun Bae of the KAIST Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering introduced hydrogen-selective transport pathways at the angstrom scale inside polymer membranes and clarified their separation performance through the concept of "network completeness." Research_News/Phys.org https://phys.org/news/2026-08-supernovae-seeded-rocky-planet-blocks.html Wed, 12 Aug 2026 17:20:03 +0000 The building blocks of rocky planets may have begun forming just 100 million years after the Big Banglong before the first galaxies even existedaccording to new research from the University of Portsmouth. Research_News/Phys.org https://phys.org/news/2026-08-soil-myxobacteria-reveal-classes-bioactive.html Wed, 12 Aug 2026 17:10:01 +0000 Most antibiotics used clinically are based on natural compounds produced by bacteria and other microorganisms. At the Helmholtz Institute for Pharmaceutical Research Saarland (HIPS), researchers are using soil-dwelling myxobacteria as a source of new active ingredients. They are able to discover new active compounds primarily in bacteria that have not yet been extensively studied. Research_News/Phys.org https://phys.org/news/2026-08-soil-global-virtual-reality-farmers.html Wed, 12 Aug 2026 17:00:06 +0000 Last year, we described Agrilo, an affordable "colorimetric" soil-testing system developed through research at MacEwan University. Using a smartphone camera to interpret color changes, Agrilo measures soil nutrients and can provide farmers with timely guidance to support fertilizer decisions. Research_News/Phys.org https://phys.org/news/2026-08-europe-worst-medieval-highlights-successive.html Wed, 12 Aug 2026 16:50:04 +0000 New research involving the University of Liverpool has provided comprehensive insights into the largest flood event in Europe over the past millenniumthe flood traditionally known as "St. Mary Magdalene's Flood" of 1342. Research_News/Phys.org https://phys.org/news/2026-08-dna-highlights-genetic-vulnerability-asian.html Wed, 12 Aug 2026 16:50:02 +0000 The DNA of Asian elephants tells a concerning story. Although all four subspecies are under pressure, there are considerable differences in their genetic health. In an article published in the journal Genome Biology and Evolution, researchers show how whole-genome analyses can help identify more precisely which populations are most vulnerable and where conservation measures could have the greatest impact. Research_News/Phys.org https://phys.org/news/2026-08-severe-weather-key-predictor-bird.html Wed, 12 Aug 2026 16:40:06 +0000 Scorching heat waves, severe cold snaps and other extreme weather events are limiting where species can existand affecting biodiversity estimatesfor more than 500 North American bird species, according to a new, Yaleled study. The issue is particularly acute in the Great Plains and southwestern regions of the United States, where species ranges and total species counts are significantly overestimated when variable and extreme weather are not considered, the study says. Research_News/Phys.org https://phys.org/news/2026-08-source-tool-automated-lipid.html Wed, 12 Aug 2026 16:40:01 +0000 In collaboration with the University of Vienna, the Technical University of Munich (TUM), and Heidelberg University, researchers at the TUD Dresden University of Technology have developed an innovative tool that significantly simplifies lipid research. The new open-source platform, LipidLibrarian, enables the automated consolidation of fragmented data from international lipid databases, such as LIPID MAPS, SwissLipids, and ALEX123, into a single, user-friendly interface for the first time. This enables researchers to identify new diagnostic markers more quickly, and to develop personalized therapies and innovative medicines. A study published in the Journal of Lipid Research details the platform's functionality and potential Research_News/Phys.org https://phys.org/news/2026-08-sugar-swap-production-cancer-therapies.html Wed, 12 Aug 2026 16:30:01 +0000 Researchers at the University of WisconsinMadison have developed a simpler way to produce a fast-growing class of targeted cancer therapies, a discovery that could make the medicines easier to manufacture consistently while driving the development of new treatment options. Research_News/Phys.org https://phys.org/news/2026-08-traffic-pollution-worsen-taiwan-haze.html Wed, 12 Aug 2026 16:20:07 +0000 Taiwan's air has gotten measurably cleaner over the past decade, yet in many towns the hazy, milky-white sky that blurs mountains and city skylines has not cleared at the same pace. A research team led by Prof. Ta-Chih Hsiao from the Graduate Institute of Environmental Engineering at National Taiwan University set out to find out why. Research_News/Phys.org https://phys.org/news/2026-08-stellar-stream-milky-tool-dark.html Wed, 12 Aug 2026 16:20:06 +0000 In the image above, a faint trail of stars can be seen stretching across the galaxy. These structures, known as globular cluster stellar streams, are coherent stellar structures that retain a record of their dynamical history and can provide unique insights into the evolution of galaxies and the nature of dark matter. Research_News/Phys.org https://phys.org/news/2026-08-genetic-tomatoes-fruit-cold-weather.html Wed, 12 Aug 2026 16:10:01 +0000 Every tomato begins with a flower. But before a fruit can grow, an intricate sequence of events must happen in perfect order. The flower's male and female organs must develop together, pollen must be released at exactly the right time, and fertilization must occur. Research_News/Phys.org https://phys.org/news/2026-08-routine-daily-life-rare-high.html Wed, 12 Aug 2026 16:00:09 +0000 Many people think of negotiation as something reserved for salary talks, car purchases, or business deals: infrequent, high-stake encounters most people would rather avoid. A new study shows that this assumption is misleading. Negotiation is, in fact, a routine part of everyday life, occurring in roughly one in three social interactions, and it is more often collaborative than adversarial. Research_News/Phys.org https://phys.org/news/2026-08-synthetic-peptide-electrically-polarized-hydrogel.html Wed, 12 Aug 2026 16:00:07 +0000 Researchers from the RIKEN Center for Sustainable Resource Science (CSRS) and RIKEN Pioneering Research Institute (PRI) in Japan, together with collaborators from the University of Münster, Germany, have developed a new hydrogel that offers significant advantages over others currently on the market in the field of biomaterials. Research_News/Phys.org https://phys.org/news/2026-08-restricting-short-term-rentals-housing.html Wed, 12 Aug 2026 15:40:03 +0000 Municipal regulation of short-term rentals "is low-hanging fruit" that helps improve housing affordability, a new study by McGill researchers suggests. The research shows that rents were relatively lower in Canadian municipalities that imposed restrictions on when and how principal residences can be offered as short-term rentals. Research_News/Phys.org https://phys.org/news/2026-08-ai-tool-veterinarians-track-heart.html Wed, 12 Aug 2026 15:30:01 +0000 For dogs with heart disease, a fraction of a centimeter can make a life-changing difference. Veterinarians often rely on chest radiographs to monitor subtle changes in heart size that help determine when treatment should begin. But those measurements can vary from one doctor to the next, making it difficult to know whether a dog's condition is truly changing or whether the difference is simply the result of human interpretation. Research_News/Phys.org https://phys.org/news/2026-08-tourists-mount-etna-italian-volcano.html Wed, 12 Aug 2026 15:20:05 +0000 Spectacular images of lava flowing down the slopes of erupting Mount Etna have drawn flocks of tourists to the Italian volcanoto the concern of local guides. Research_News/Phys.org https://phys.org/news/2026-08-frog-species-amazon-forests.html Wed, 12 Aug 2026 15:10:04 +0000 Scientists from Brazil and other countries have discovered a new species of frog in the flooded forests of the western Amazon. They named it Adenomera varcena. This finding significantly advances our understanding of Amazonian biodiversity and cryptic diversity, or cases in which two or more animals appear identical but are actually different species. To distinguish this species, the researchers analyzed details such as the frog's call and DNA. Research_News/Phys.org https://phys.org/news/2026-08-credit-corporate-financial-decisions.html Wed, 12 Aug 2026 15:00:01 +0000 On the surface, credit rating agencies simply score a company's financial health. They look at a business's equity and debt and diagnose how risky it is for investors. They slap on a letter grade to show how likely it is to repay its debts. Research_News/Phys.org https://phys.org/news/2026-08-chemical-fingerprints-reveal-hidden-binary.html Wed, 12 Aug 2026 14:40:03 +0000 More than 70% of massive stars are born in close binary systems, where gravitational tugs and mass transfer between companions dramatically alter their evolution. Yet once the interaction endswhether through mass transfer, merger or the supernova explosion of one partnerthe surviving star often appears as a solitary object, hiding its turbulent past. For decades, astronomers have struggled to detect these hidden histories. Research_News/Phys.org https://phys.org/news/2026-08-fertilizer-local-hungry-africa.html Wed, 12 Aug 2026 14:40:01 +0000 Food insecurity is a major problem in many parts of the world, particularly Africa, where more than 300 million people regularly go hungry. Now, using the Canadian Light Source (CLS) at the University of Saskatchewan, researchers from Morocco have developed a way to produce fertilizer from local African rocks, which could make it easier for farmers to grow the crops needed to feed local residents. Research_News/Phys.org https://phys.org/news/2026-08-ancient-penguin-fossils-window-antarctica.html Wed, 12 Aug 2026 14:20:03 +0000 A team of paleontologists from China University of Geosciences (Beijing) studying penguin fossils from Seymour Island off the Antarctic Peninsula have demonstrated how ancient bird bones can act as chemical archives of past climate change. The researchers used nondestructive X-ray mapping to examine the elemental composition of penguin remains spanning millions of years. They uncovered key insights into how Antarctica shifted from a warm, humid environment to a cooler world. The work is published in the journal Fossil Record. Research_News/Phys.org https://phys.org/news/2026-08-evidence-earliest-birds-flight.html Wed, 12 Aug 2026 14:20:01 +0000 The first bird to inhabit Earth used its robust hind legs to make two or three powerful leaps while flapping its way to flight, according to a study by the University of Southampton published in Developmental Biology. Research_News/Phys.org https://phys.org/news/2026-08-californians-louisianans-childfree-demographics-story.html Wed, 12 Aug 2026 14:00:09 +0000 Across the United States, the number of people who do not have and do not want to have children is growing. While they are twice as likely to live in California as Louisiana, individual demographic characteristics are the strongest predictors of who is childfree, according to a study published in PLOS One by Zachary Neal and Jennifer Watling Neal from Michigan State University, U.S. Research_News/Phys.org https://phys.org/news/2026-08-rangers-scientists-vulnerable-reefs-remote.html Wed, 12 Aug 2026 14:00:01 +0000 For thousands of years, the Anindilyakwa people have lived in deep connection with the waters surrounding Groote Eylandt, a remote island in the Gulf of Carpentaria. Research_News/Phys.org https://phys.org/news/2026-08-hybrid-bioprinter-capillary-networks-narrower.html Wed, 12 Aug 2026 13:40:06 +0000 More than 100,000 people are awaiting an organ transplant in the United States, with a new candidate added to the list every 10 minutes. Even if the transplant is carried out successfully, recipients must take immunosuppressive medications, elevating their risk of broader infections, and adhere to a strict lifestyle for the rest of their livesall while facing the possibility that their body could reject the donated organ at any time. Research_News/Phys.org https://phys.org/news/2026-08-qa-deploying-ai-proteins-nature.html Wed, 12 Aug 2026 13:40:04 +0000 The decades-old scientific quest to create brand-new proteins has been turbocharged in the era of artificial intelligence. Research_News/Phys.org https://phys.org/news/2026-08-oxytocin-nudges-distrustful-men-invest.html Wed, 12 Aug 2026 13:20:07 +0000 In 2005, a research team led by University of Zurich economics professor Ernst Fehr published a study in the journal Nature that provided evidence for the first time that intranasally administered oxytocin can increase trusting behavior in humans. Oxytocin is a hormone and neurotransmitter produced naturally in the body that influences social interactions, among other things. Research_News/Phys.org https://phys.org/news/2026-08-lipase-production-higher-specialized-lipids.html Wed, 12 Aug 2026 13:20:03 +0000 Food and pharmaceutical manufacturers increasingly seek lipids with carefully controlled fatty-acid compositions. However, natural oils usually contain mixtures of closely related fatty acids, and conventional enzymes often cannot distinguish reliably between them. Research_News/Phys.org https://phys.org/news/2026-08-year-pre-impacts-child-academic.html Wed, 12 Aug 2026 13:00:05 +0000 Students who attended public school pre-K performed better academically through high school than those in family-based child care, according to new research from Florida International University. Research_News/Phys.org https://phys.org/news/2026-08-famous-oddball-quasar-isnt-ray.html Wed, 12 Aug 2026 12:40:01 +0000 For more than two decades, the quasar PHL 1811 has been considered the prototype of a rare class of "intrinsically X-ray weak" quasars, thought to produce unusually little X-ray radiation. But in 2024, the Einstein Probe spacecraft caught the object in a bright X-ray flare. In a new study, astronomers combined that observation with more than 20 years of archival data to revisit the mystery. The findings were published in The Astrophysical Journal on July 28. Research_News/Phys.org https://phys.org/news/2026-08-human-clinicians-outperform-ai-stethoscope.html Wed, 12 Aug 2026 12:20:09 +0000 Fourth-year veterinary students matchedand experienced clinicians outperformedan AI-enabled digital stethoscope in diagnosing heart murmurs and arrhythmias in cats and dogs, according to a new study from North Carolina State University. The study emphasizes the importance of human expertise when using AI-assisted technology, particularly with instruments designed for "universal" usage. The research is published in the Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association. Research_News/Phys.org https://phys.org/news/2026-08-tropical-trees-unexpected-drought-puerto.html Wed, 12 Aug 2026 11:00:10 +0000 Tropical forests store enormous amounts of carbon and harbor most of the world's terrestrial biodiversity, but scientists fear that increasingly severe droughts threaten their ability to survive and continue absorbing carbon from the atmosphere. A new study published in Nature offers unexpected hope, however, and shows that tropical trees may be more adaptable to drought than scientists had previously believed. Research_News/Phys.org https://phys.org/news/2026-08-mirage-miracle-jwst-earliest-black.html Wed, 12 Aug 2026 11:00:08 +0000 Little red dots have puzzled astronomers since their discovery in James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) data from the universe's deep past. Their "powering engines" might resemble a newly discovered phenomenon dubbed a "black hole star"an early, rapidly growing black hole wrapped in dense gas. This object, described in a study published today in Nature by researchers at the Institute of Science and Technology Austria (ISTA) and international collaborators, may help explain how billion-solar-mass black holes formed so soon after the Big Bang. Research_News/Phys.org https://phys.org/news/2026-08-male-suitors-abound-female-treefrogs.html Wed, 12 Aug 2026 11:00:01 +0000 Much like an indecisive single person on a dating app, female treefrogs struggle to pick the most desirable mates when they have too many options to choose from. According to a new study published Aug. 12 in the journal iScience, when female Cope's gray treefrogs gather around ponds during mating season to listen to large groups of males chirping in noisy "choruses," they struggle to pick the most desirable male. The researchers call this phenomenon "choice overload," and it may affect the way species evolve over time. Research_News/Phys.org https://phys.org/news/2026-08-agricultural-tools-crop-disease.html Wed, 12 Aug 2026 10:40:01 +0000 The North Dakota Agricultural Weather Networkknown as NDAWNisn't just measuring precipitation amounts and temperatures across the state. It's also playing a role in developing tools for crop disease management. Research_News/Phys.org https://phys.org/news/2026-08-arctic-cyclone-clusters-batter-sea.html Wed, 12 Aug 2026 10:00:06 +0000 In the Arctic, weather plays a key role in determining how much ice covers the ocean. Arctic cyclones are one weather phenomenon with a significant influence, causing unusually warm and stormy conditions that typically lead to significant ice loss. These conditions last particularly long when several cyclones rapidly follow one another. Research_News/Phys.org https://phys.org/news/2026-08-good-news-false-people-potential.html Wed, 12 Aug 2026 10:00:02 +0000 A study involving the Cluster of Excellence ECONtribute at the Universities of Bonn and Cologne demonstrates that not only retail investors but also financial professionals often assess potential stock market returns differently from what standard financial economics models predict. This is due to differing ideas about how company news affects future stock returns. The study, titled "Mental Models of the Stock Market," was published in the Quarterly Journal of Economics. Research_News/Phys.org https://phys.org/news/2026-08-supermassive-black-holes-galaxy.html Wed, 12 Aug 2026 09:40:14 +0000 An international team of astronomers led by the Max Planck Institute for Extraterrestrial Physics has identified three actively accreting supermassive black holes in the galaxy J0148-4214. Matter is falling into the black holes from accretion disks surrounding them. Research_News/Phys.org https://phys.org/news/2026-08-quantum-advantage-reassessed-realistic-benchmarks.html Wed, 12 Aug 2026 09:20:08 +0000 Quantum advantage refers to the point at which a quantum computer solves a clearly defined task faster or more efficiently than any classical computeror makes it solvable in the first place. For many practical applications, this has not yet been demonstrated. Research therefore relies heavily on theoretical models and simulations to explore where and under what conditions such an advantage may realistically be achieved in the future. Research_News/Phys.org https://phys.org/news/2026-08-qa-amish-population-fast-america.html Wed, 12 Aug 2026 09:20:05 +0000 The Amish, a Christian denomination and a three-century-old ethnic group of German migrants known for its strict lifestyle standards, are one of the fastest-growing minority populations in the U.S. For more than a century, the number of Amish peoplewhose American lineage traces back to Pennsylvania in the early 1700s and the Midwest by the mid-1800shas grown rapidly, from several thousand in 1910 to 250,000 a century later. Research_News/Phys.org https://phys.org/news/2026-08-humans-baby-voice-pets.html Wed, 12 Aug 2026 09:00:05 +0000 You walk in a park. Children are playing, people are walking their dogs, and then you hear someone say, "Who's my little sweetie?" You turn around expecting to see a stroller. But someone is sitting beside a dog, speaking in the same voice they would use with a baby. Research_News/Phys.org https://phys.org/news/2026-08-moonquakes-reveal-lunar-ice-future.html Wed, 12 Aug 2026 08:40:05 +0000 The surface of the moon is a bleak and forbidding place that could be hiding a lot of water ice within its dusty landscape. However, most possible ice deposits don't just stand out in an image. Scientists need specialized mapping to find those deposits, so they have devised another way to find the moon's frosty hidden reserves. They use seismic waves from moonquakes as locator beacons. Research_News/Phys.org https://phys.org/news/2026-08-bumblebees-associate-queen.html Wed, 12 Aug 2026 08:40:03 +0000 Bumblebees are able to learn to associate new odors with their colony's queen, instead of being preprogrammed to recognize the queen's pheromones from birth, according to a new study led by researchers at Penn State. For the study, published in the journal Communications Biology, the researchers treated buff-tailed bumblebee queens daily with one of two different floral scents as they built their colonies. Research_News/Phys.org https://phys.org/news/2026-08-qa-flesh-screwworms-technologies.html Wed, 12 Aug 2026 08:30:01 +0000 They may look like any ordinary species of flies buzzing around on any given day, but the New World screwworm is quite extraordinary. Screwworm flies are highly destructive parasitic flies that feed on the tissue of warm-blooded animals, including humans (though the risk to humans is low). They burrow in a spiral (screw) pattern into wounds and bodily openings such as the ears, nose and mouth, laying hundreds of eggs. Research_News/Phys.org https://phys.org/news/2026-08-trees-sway-communicate-stress.html Wed, 12 Aug 2026 08:10:02 +0000 The Western U.S. is experiencing periods of increasingly intense drought, and higher temperatures are exacerbating the issue by drawing even more moisture from plants and soils into the atmosphere. The results can be seen in the ever-expanding wildfire footprint, with many of the region's largest recorded wildfires occurring over the past decade. One DRI scientist is innovating a new way to monitor water stress in treesone that may help monitor wildfire risk across the region. Research_News/Phys.org https://phys.org/news/2026-08-sought-zhang-rice-singlet-visualized.html Wed, 12 Aug 2026 08:00:01 +0000 Superconductors are materials that conduct electricity with zero electrical resistance below specific temperatures. Most of these materials become superconducting at very low temperatures, but some also exhibit superconductivity at higher temperatures. Research_News/Phys.org https://phys.org/news/2026-08-wildfire-ecosystems-term-recovery.html Wed, 12 Aug 2026 07:50:01 +0000 On a perfect, crisp fall day with blue skies, scientists in yellow safety coats gather in the sprawling desert north of Reno. They watch as flames consume a burning bush and quickly spread through the surrounding grass. The fire is completely controlled and monitored by dozens of sensors as three enormous drones buzz directly overhead, following the curl of smoke as it dances in the light breeze. Research_News/Phys.org https://phys.org/news/2026-08-framework-potential-reservoir-watersheds.html Wed, 12 Aug 2026 07:30:01 +0000 With extreme weather increasing around the world, scientists are working to help critical infrastructure, such as water management systems, adapt. On the U.S. West Coast, where both periods of prolonged drought and intense atmospheric river storms are common, effective water management can be particularly tricky. Research_News/Phys.org https://phys.org/news/2026-08-storm-turbocharged-venezuela-twin-quakes.html Wed, 12 Aug 2026 07:00:01 +0000 A dangerous cocktail of tectonic positioning, loose earth and shoddy construction contributed to the unprecedented damage caused by Venezuela's twin earthquakes, experts say. Research_News/Phys.org https://www.science.org/doi/abs/10.1126/scitranslmed.aea8468?af=R Wed, 12 Aug 2026 07:00:00 +0000 Science Translational Medicine, Volume 18, Issue 862, August 2026. Research_News/Science_Technology https://www.science.org/doi/abs/10.1126/scirobotics.aed4592?af=R Wed, 12 Aug 2026 07:00:00 +0000 Science Robotics, Volume 11, Issue 117, August 2026. Research_News/Science_Robotics https://www.science.org/doi/abs/10.1126/scirobotics.aee2921?af=R Wed, 12 Aug 2026 07:00:00 +0000 Science Robotics, Volume 11, Issue 117, August 2026. Research_News/Science_Robotics https://www.science.org/doi/abs/10.1126/scitranslmed.adv1289?af=R Wed, 12 Aug 2026 07:00:00 +0000 Science Translational Medicine, Volume 18, Issue 862, August 2026. Research_News/Science_Technology https://www.science.org/doi/abs/10.1126/scitranslmed.aea3104?af=R Wed, 12 Aug 2026 07:00:00 +0000 Science Translational Medicine, Volume 18, Issue 862, August 2026. Research_News/Science_Technology https://www.science.org/doi/abs/10.1126/scitranslmed.ads9325?af=R Wed, 12 Aug 2026 07:00:00 +0000 Science Translational Medicine, Volume 18, Issue 862, August 2026. Research_News/Science_Technology https://www.science.org/doi/abs/10.1126/scitranslmed.aeb4113?af=R Wed, 12 Aug 2026 07:00:00 +0000 Science Translational Medicine, Volume 18, Issue 862, August 2026. Research_News/Science_Technology https://www.science.org/doi/abs/10.1126/scitranslmed.aea8468?af=R Wed, 12 Aug 2026 07:00:00 +0000 Science Translational Medicine, Volume 18, Issue 862, August 2026. Research_News/Science_Technology https://www.science.org/doi/abs/10.1126/scirobotics.aed4592?af=R Wed, 12 Aug 2026 07:00:00 +0000 Science Robotics, Volume 11, Issue 117, August 2026. Research_News/Science_Robotics https://www.science.org/doi/abs/10.1126/scirobotics.aee2921?af=R Wed, 12 Aug 2026 07:00:00 +0000 Science Robotics, Volume 11, Issue 117, August 2026. Research_News/Science_Robotics https://www.science.org/doi/abs/10.1126/scitranslmed.adv1289?af=R Wed, 12 Aug 2026 07:00:00 +0000 Science Translational Medicine, Volume 18, Issue 862, August 2026. Research_News/Science_Technology https://www.science.org/doi/abs/10.1126/scitranslmed.aea3104?af=R Wed, 12 Aug 2026 07:00:00 +0000 Science Translational Medicine, Volume 18, Issue 862, August 2026. Research_News/Science_Technology https://www.science.org/doi/abs/10.1126/scitranslmed.ads9325?af=R Wed, 12 Aug 2026 07:00:00 +0000 Science Translational Medicine, Volume 18, Issue 862, August 2026. Research_News/Science_Technology https://www.science.org/doi/abs/10.1126/scitranslmed.aeb4113?af=R Wed, 12 Aug 2026 07:00:00 +0000 Science Translational Medicine, Volume 18, Issue 862, August 2026. Research_News/Science_Technology https://www.science.org/doi/abs/10.1126/scitranslmed.aee5425?af=R Wed, 12 Aug 2026 07:00:00 +0000 Science Translational Medicine, Volume 18, Issue 862, August 2026. Research_News/Science_Technology https://www.science.org/doi/abs/10.1126/scitranslmed.aee5273?af=R Wed, 12 Aug 2026 07:00:00 +0000 Science Translational Medicine, Volume 18, Issue 862, August 2026. Research_News/Science_Technology https://www.science.org/doi/abs/10.1126/sciadv.aef3487?af=R Wed, 12 Aug 2026 07:00:00 +0000 Science Advances, Volume 12, Issue 33, August 2026. Research_News/Science_Advances https://www.science.org/doi/abs/10.1126/sciadv.aed8901?af=R Wed, 12 Aug 2026 07:00:00 +0000 Science Advances, Volume 12, Issue 33, August 2026. Research_News/Science_Advances https://www.science.org/doi/abs/10.1126/sciadv.aef0259?af=R Wed, 12 Aug 2026 07:00:00 +0000 Science Advances, Volume 12, Issue 33, August 2026. Research_News/Science_Advances https://www.science.org/doi/abs/10.1126/sciadv.aee9298?af=R Wed, 12 Aug 2026 07:00:00 +0000 Science Advances, Volume 12, Issue 33, August 2026. Research_News/Science_Advances https://www.science.org/doi/abs/10.1126/sciadv.aee0509?af=R Wed, 12 Aug 2026 07:00:00 +0000 Science Advances, Volume 12, Issue 33, August 2026. Research_News/Science_Advances https://www.science.org/doi/abs/10.1126/sciadv.aef1581?af=R Wed, 12 Aug 2026 07:00:00 +0000 Science Advances, Volume 12, Issue 33, August 2026. Research_News/Science_Advances https://www.science.org/doi/abs/10.1126/sciadv.aed4055?af=R Wed, 12 Aug 2026 07:00:00 +0000 Science Advances, Volume 12, Issue 33, August 2026. Research_News/Science_Advances https://www.science.org/doi/abs/10.1126/sciadv.aed5692?af=R Wed, 12 Aug 2026 07:00:00 +0000 Science Advances, Volume 12, Issue 33, August 2026. Research_News/Science_Advances https://www.science.org/doi/abs/10.1126/sciadv.aee2305?af=R Wed, 12 Aug 2026 07:00:00 +0000 Science Advances, Volume 12, Issue 33, August 2026. Research_News/Science_Advances https://www.science.org/doi/abs/10.1126/sciadv.aee3993?af=R Wed, 12 Aug 2026 07:00:00 +0000 Science Advances, Volume 12, Issue 33, August 2026. Research_News/Science_Advances https://www.science.org/doi/abs/10.1126/sciadv.aee5305?af=R Wed, 12 Aug 2026 07:00:00 +0000 Science Advances, Volume 12, Issue 33, August 2026. Research_News/Science_Advances https://www.science.org/doi/abs/10.1126/sciadv.aee5871?af=R Wed, 12 Aug 2026 07:00:00 +0000 Science Advances, Volume 12, Issue 33, August 2026. Research_News/Science_Advances https://www.science.org/doi/abs/10.1126/sciadv.aee0180?af=R Wed, 12 Aug 2026 07:00:00 +0000 Science Advances, Volume 12, Issue 33, August 2026. Research_News/Science_Advances https://www.science.org/doi/abs/10.1126/sciadv.aee3254?af=R Wed, 12 Aug 2026 07:00:00 +0000 Science Advances, Volume 12, Issue 33, August 2026. Research_News/Science_Advances https://www.science.org/doi/abs/10.1126/sciadv.aec3399?af=R Wed, 12 Aug 2026 07:00:00 +0000 Science Advances, Volume 12, Issue 33, August 2026. Research_News/Science_Advances https://www.science.org/doi/abs/10.1126/sciadv.aee9000?af=R Wed, 12 Aug 2026 07:00:00 +0000 Science Advances, Volume 12, Issue 33, August 2026. Research_News/Science_Advances https://www.science.org/doi/abs/10.1126/sciadv.aee6914?af=R Wed, 12 Aug 2026 07:00:00 +0000 Science Advances, Volume 12, Issue 33, August 2026. Research_News/Science_Advances https://phys.org/news/2026-08-space-habitat-residents-mental-health.html Wed, 12 Aug 2026 05:00:04 +0000 In extreme environments, habitats are built for survival. Submarines, Antarctic bases and post-disaster dwellings are designed to prioritize health and safety. This is especially the case for habitats in space, where room is limited, contact with Earth is remote and hazards are numerous. Research_News/Phys.org https://phys.org/news/2026-08-total-solar-eclipse-spellbind-europe.html Wed, 12 Aug 2026 04:40:01 +0000 Millions of Europeans will contemplate the sky in awe on Wednesday as a rare total solar eclipse crosses part of the continent and plunges a swath of Spain into eerie daytime darkness. Research_News/Phys.org https://www.science.org/content/article/mismatched-vaccine-being-rolled-out-against-ebola-outbreak Wed, 12 Aug 2026 04:35:00 +0000 Amid ethical questions, DRC proceeds with shot that may offer some protection against the Bundibugyo virus Research_News/Science_News_Current https://www.science.org/content/article/behold-glueball-strange-new-form-matter Wed, 12 Aug 2026 04:35:00 +0000 Collider in China forges elusive particle, made of force-carrying gluons Research_News/Science_News_Current https://www.science.org/content/article/halted-dam-releases-threaten-colorado-river-ecosystems Wed, 12 Aug 2026 04:35:00 +0000 Amid severe water shortage, federal authorities canceled actions for managing fish and sandbars Research_News/Science_News_Current https://phys.org/news/2026-08-uk-warmest-summer-year-row.html Wed, 12 Aug 2026 04:20:01 +0000 Britain is "on course" to chalk up its warmest summer on record for the second year running, the UK's Met Office weather agency said Tuesday as the country braced for its fifth heat wave of the season. Research_News/Phys.org https://phys.org/news/2026-08-britain-mapmakers-track-climate.html Wed, 12 Aug 2026 04:10:01 +0000 Once used to defend Britain's shores against Napoleonic France, the Ordnance Survey's detailed maps are now essential for tracking and adapting to climate change. Research_News/Phys.org https://phys.org/news/2026-08-elvish-klingon-pig-latin-languages.html Wed, 12 Aug 2026 03:40:01 +0000 Invented languages tend to be the stuff of fantasy or science fiction worlds. But as a child, you may have made one up yourself. Research_News/Phys.org https://www.nature.com/articles/s41563-026-02704-5 Wed, 12 Aug 2026 00:00:00 +0000 Research_News/Nature_Research https://www.nature.com/articles/s41563-026-02693-5 Wed, 12 Aug 2026 00:00:00 +0000 Research_News/Nature_Research https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-026-66068-1 Wed, 12 Aug 2026 00:00:00 +0000 Research_News/Nature_Research https://phys.org/news/2026-08-civics-voter-dissatisfaction-political-corruption.html Tue, 11 Aug 2026 19:40:04 +0000 This summer, America celebrated the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence, widely recognized as the formal founding of our nation and one of the early stages of establishing a democratic government. Research_News/Phys.org https://phys.org/news/2026-08-genetic-neighborhoods-distinguish-poultry-bacteria.html Tue, 11 Aug 2026 19:40:02 +0000 When it comes to identifying harmful bacteria, it helps to look at the company their genes keep. Researchers with the Arkansas Agricultural Experiment Station, the research arm of the University of Arkansas Division of Agriculture, used a machine-learning approach to study not just which genes a bacterium has, but also where those genes sit next to each other. That "genetic neighborhood" helped researchers distinguish disease-causing strains of Enterococcus cecorum, a poultry pathogen, from nonpathogenic strains. Research_News/Phys.org https://phys.org/news/2026-08-fluorescence-lifetime-imaging-distinguishes-multiple.html Tue, 11 Aug 2026 18:40:05 +0000 Fluorescent protein imaging is an indispensable tool in life science research, enabling visualization of protein movement and localization, gene expression, signaling pathways, protein-protein interactions and more. For simultaneous analysis of multiple proteins (i.e., multiplex imaging), a variety of fluorescent proteins that emit different colors (blue, green, yellow and red) have been developed. Research_News/Phys.org https://phys.org/news/2026-08-lawn-grubs.html Tue, 11 Aug 2026 18:40:01 +0000 What does it mean when brown patches show up in a perfectly healthy lawn? The truth is, it could be anything from drought to dog urine, fungal diseases, pests or too much fertilizer. But many homeowners automatically blame grubs. Research_News/Phys.org https://phys.org/news/2026-08-climate-debate-dominated-voices-social.html Tue, 11 Aug 2026 18:20:07 +0000 When social media arrived on the scene, there were high hopes that they would improveor even "democratize"communication about climate change by, for instance, lowering access barriers, creating a more direct channel between science and the public, and giving more voices from civil society a chance to exchange ideas and views on the issue, goals and solutions. Research_News/Phys.org https://phys.org/news/2026-08-porous-material-disordered-gas-molecules.html Tue, 11 Aug 2026 18:20:05 +0000 Capturing carbon or storing hydrogen to combat global warming requires compressing gases into sponge-like porous materials. Until now, gas molecules were thought to adsorb in a disordered manner throughout the pores. But what if invisible gas molecules could be lined up in regular orderlike ice crystals or LEGO bricks? Research_News/Phys.org https://phys.org/news/2026-08-potatoes-ai.html Tue, 11 Aug 2026 18:00:07 +0000 Karevo's AI-powered optical recognition system can sort up to 10 tons of potatoes per hour with 95% accuracy. The founder's journey took him from a potato farm to the Technical University of Munich (TUM) and ultimately to his own startup. Research_News/Phys.org https://phys.org/news/2026-08-late-paleozoic-ice-age-event.html Tue, 11 Aug 2026 18:00:01 +0000 Researchers say a spike in temperatures during an ice age 304 million years ago could inform what climate scientists are learning about rapidly changing conditions today. Research_News/Phys.org https://phys.org/news/2026-08-ray-analysis-reveals-life-advancing.html Tue, 11 Aug 2026 17:50:01 +0000 In the Midwestern summer, humans and plants have to breathe through the heat and humidity. Researchers hope that a retooled crop plantone with an improved ventilation system within its leavescould thrive while avoiding drought stress by reducing "crop sweat." Thanks to next-generation imaging technology powered by Argonne National Laboratory's particle collider beamline, a team of scientists now has precise schematics of the leaf's interior and can refine approaches to breeding hardier crop plants. Research_News/Phys.org https://phys.org/news/2026-08-cern-conventional-gluons-atomic-nuclei.html Tue, 11 Aug 2026 17:40:04 +0000 A University of Kansas physicist played a leading role in a CERN study showing that two rival explanations for how gluons behave inside atomic nuclei can now be experimentally distinguished. Research_News/Phys.org https://phys.org/news/2026-08-world-screwworm-dashboard-tracks.html Tue, 11 Aug 2026 17:40:01 +0000 In the 1950s, the New World screwworm cost U.S. livestock producers tens of millions of dollars a year, reaching $50 million to $100 million annually in the hardest-hit Southwest, before it was eradicated from the United States and pushed south to Panama. Now the flesh-eating pest has spread north again, reaching Texas and New Mexico and threatening livestock, wildlife and even people. Research_News/Phys.org https://phys.org/news/2026-08-himalayan-grain-potential-pangenome-higher.html Tue, 11 Aug 2026 17:30:01 +0000 Scientists from the Centre for Crop and Food Innovation (CCFI) at Murdoch University have participated in a landmark proof-of-concept research project demonstrating how pangenome-guided breeding strategies can reunite two traits that usually involve trade-offs: stress tolerance and yield. Research_News/Phys.org https://phys.org/news/2026-08-malaysian-farmers-environmental-groups-gmo.html Tue, 11 Aug 2026 17:00:08 +0000 A coalition of farmers, consumer associations and environmental groups is urging Malaysia's National Biosafety Board to reject a proposed field trial of genetically modified rice, warning Tuesday the project could pose risks to food safety, the environment and farmers. Research_News/Phys.org https://phys.org/news/2026-08-fungal-chitin-route-tougher-hydrogels.html Tue, 11 Aug 2026 17:00:05 +0000 Researchers at the Department of Energy's (DOE) Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) and the University of Tennessee (UT), Knoxville, have made an advance by using a natural substance from fungi called chitin to create hydrogels that are significantly stronger and tougher. This new material could lead to safer medical devices, longer-lasting coatings and other innovations that improve everyday technology and health care. Research_News/Phys.org https://phys.org/news/2026-08-based-rewards-cooperation-free-riders.html Tue, 11 Aug 2026 17:00:03 +0000 A vaccine only protects a whole community if enough people get it, including those who would stay safe anyway once their neighbors are covered. The same tension runs through climate action and social movements: The shared payoff arrives only when enough people pitch in. Research_News/Phys.org https://phys.org/news/2026-08-energy-loss-routes-tarantula-nebula.html Tue, 11 Aug 2026 16:50:01 +0000 Like a collage made of layered sheets of colored cellophane, a vibrant new image layers observations of a famous star-forming nebula from NASA's space telescopes. The resulting cosmic "craft" reveals new details about the star-forming region known as 30 Doradus, or the Tarantula Nebula. Research_News/Phys.org https://phys.org/news/2026-08-early-housing-evictions.html Tue, 11 Aug 2026 16:40:02 +0000 Human service organizations play an important role in connecting people to housing, health care, food access and other essential services. Yet forecasting community needs can be difficult in times of rapid change or crisis because of limited resources and restricted access to data. For instance, during the COVID-19 pandemic, concerns about a potential surge in evictions exposed gaps in the data used to assess housing instability. Research_News/Phys.org https://phys.org/news/2026-08-naturalness-emerges-key-driver-climate.html Tue, 11 Aug 2026 16:40:01 +0000 From nuclear energy to lab-grown meat, the list of effective but unpopular climate solutions is long. A new University of Colorado Boulder study sheds light on why people reject or accept some proposed sustainability technologies: If it doesn't seem natural, they won't go for it. And that holds across political ideologies. Research_News/Phys.org https://phys.org/news/2026-08-chinese-boston-tea-party-reveals.html Tue, 11 Aug 2026 16:30:02 +0000 When MIT historian Tristan Brown first examined a Chinese tea chest label displayed as a relic of the Boston Tea Party, he had no reason to doubt its story. Research_News/Phys.org https://phys.org/news/2026-08-contactless-method-reveals-mirror-image.html Tue, 11 Aug 2026 16:20:04 +0000 New research introduces a contactless way to see how mirror-image materials respond differently to circularly polarized light, without first building them into a complete electronic device. The researchers developed a novel method based on light-induced charge separation that allows researchers to directly probe how the material's structure acts like a microscopic filter, influencing how electrons separate and move. Research_News/Phys.org https://phys.org/news/2026-08-legal-reforms-shift-discourse-social.html Tue, 11 Aug 2026 16:20:01 +0000 The past decade has brought a wave of legal reforms around same-sex relationships across Asia: India struck down its colonial-era ban in 2018; Taiwan legalized same-sex marriage in 2019; Singapore repealed Section 377A, with the change taking effect in 2023; and Thailand's marriage equality law came into effect in 2025. Research_News/Phys.org https://phys.org/news/2026-08-decade-seattle-suburbs-sensitive-bird.html Tue, 11 Aug 2026 16:10:01 +0000 Nearly 30 years ago, a simple question sent University of Washington researchers into the Puget Sound lowlands to look for birds. With Seattle's population swelling and housing developments pushing into once-forested suburbs, researchers wanted to know how land conversion was affecting birds and whether the type of development mattered. Research_News/Phys.org https://phys.org/news/2026-08-climate-climateflation.html Tue, 11 Aug 2026 16:00:09 +0000 If you ask an economist why everything is so expensive these days, you will likely get an answer explaining how oilthe lifeblood of the global economyis currently facing supply bottlenecks in the Strait of Hormuz, thereby driving up global energy prices. Research_News/Phys.org https://phys.org/news/2026-08-major-genetic-weakness-threatens-future.html Tue, 11 Aug 2026 16:00:04 +0000 A new study led by University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign scientists reveals critically low genetic variation in one of the country's primary breeding stocks for corn. The finding relates specifically to grain yield in intermediate-maturity hybrids, which dominate commercial production in the U.S. and represent nearly a third of the world's corn production. The researchers say it's a crisis waiting to happen. Research_News/Phys.org https://phys.org/news/2026-08-mitochondrial-proteins-trigger-inflammation-mimicking.html Tue, 11 Aug 2026 15:50:01 +0000 Mitochondria are often called the powerhouses of the cell. But their ancient origins may also make them drivers of inflammation. Researchers at the University of Illinois Chicago have discovered that proteins released from mitochondria can activate the immune system in a similar way to invading bacteria. The findings suggest that remnants of mitochondria's evolutionary past may contribute to inflammation in infections and autoimmune disorders. Research_News/Phys.org https://phys.org/news/2026-08-larger-natural-diamonds-retain-carat.html Tue, 11 Aug 2026 15:40:07 +0000 Natural diamonds consistently command higher prices per carat than laboratory-grown synthetic diamonds, according to a large-scale analysis of online diamond sales published in the International Journal of Electronic Marketing and Retailing. This perhaps unsurprising finding suggests that the two products should be treated as distinct market segments. Research_News/Phys.org https://phys.org/news/2026-08-early-farmers-larger-grains-rainfall.html Tue, 11 Aug 2026 15:40:05 +0000 A new archaeobotanical study by researchers from the University of Oxford and Kiel University (CAU) has revealed that increases in cereal grain size at the dawn of agriculture, more than 11,000 years ago, were initially driven by plants' plastic responses to favorable growing conditions, rather than by genetic selection under cultivation as previously thought. Research_News/Phys.org https://phys.org/news/2026-08-hurricane-graphic-people-areas-doesnt.html Tue, 11 Aug 2026 15:20:04 +0000 Hurricane warnings are only effective if people understand them. A new study by Florida State University faculty members in the School of Communication in the College of Communication and Information and the Department of Geography in the College of Social Sciences and Public Policy examined an experimental forecast graphic developed by the National Hurricane Center (NHC) that adds inland tropical storm and hurricane watches and warnings to the traditional track-forecast cone, which historically emphasized coastal impacts. Research_News/Phys.org https://phys.org/news/2026-08-genome-reveals-centromeres-fastest-regions.html Tue, 11 Aug 2026 15:20:02 +0000 A centromere is a specific region on a chromosome that ensures that, when a cell divides, the chromosome separates accurately so each new cell receives the correct amount of genetic material. Despite their essential role, centromeres remain one of the last major blind spots in the human genome. Research_News/Phys.org https://phys.org/news/2026-08-radar-creeks-carbon-salt-marshes.html Tue, 11 Aug 2026 15:00:05 +0000 Salt marshes are coastal wetlands that are alternately inundated and exposed by tides. These marshes, like other coastal ecosystems, are hotspots of carbon cycling. Research_News/Phys.org https://phys.org/news/2026-08-sexual-role-identities-gay-bisexual.html Tue, 11 Aug 2026 15:00:01 +0000 A new study has found that sexual role identities among men who have sex with men vary systematically by age and geographic region. Research_News/Phys.org https://phys.org/news/2026-08-star-cluster-discovery-scientists-universe.html Tue, 11 Aug 2026 14:40:07 +0000 University of Missouri researchers have uncovered evidence that challenges one of astronomy's most trusted assumptions, a breakthrough that could reshape how scientists measure galaxies and reconstruct the history of the universe. Research_News/Phys.org https://phys.org/news/2026-08-pizza-delivery-sellers-view-foodservice.html Tue, 11 Aug 2026 14:40:02 +0000 What can a pizza shop teach us about the dramatic shifts taking place in consumer marketing? Quite a lot, actually. New research focused on pizza delivery has found that consumer impatience is driving so much consumer decision-making that even location, price and quality can take a back seat. While this study focused on pizza delivery, its findings have ramifications for all business-to-consumer firms. Research_News/Phys.org https://phys.org/news/2026-08-health-healthy-happy-school-kids.html Tue, 11 Aug 2026 14:20:02 +0000 It can be a little hard to believe it's back-to-school season already. And while there are still some long, relaxed days of summer ahead, it's also the time when families begin to plan for the coming school year. School clothes and notebooks are just around the corner. Research_News/Phys.org https://phys.org/news/2026-08-scientists-uncover-hidden-mechanism-rna.html Tue, 11 Aug 2026 14:20:01 +0000 Scientists have long been fascinated by two promising classes of antibiotics that disable RNA polymerase (RNAP). They knew that these drugs could grind gene expression to a halt in several pathogens, including the bacterium behind tuberculosis, by binding to specific locations in RNAP. But despite decades of study, a key question remained: What process are the drugs actually targeting? Research_News/Phys.org https://phys.org/news/2026-08-biocultural-families-centers-indigenous-priorities.html Tue, 11 Aug 2026 14:00:07 +0000 Washington State University horticulturist Jeffrey Wall partnered with members of the Mi'kmaq First Nations people of Canada to create a new, Indigenous-centered model of the connections that link humans with plants, animals and the environment. Research_News/Phys.org https://phys.org/news/2026-08-dna-origami-nanosyringe-molecules-synthetic.html Tue, 11 Aug 2026 14:00:01 +0000 Transporting molecules across biological membranes is essential for life. In nature, this can occur through passive transport, known as diffusion. "Biological systems often use mechanical motion to accomplish tasks that cannot be achieved by diffusion alone," says Professor Laura Na Liu, director of the 2nd Physics Institute at the University of Stuttgart. For example, certain bacteria use extracellular contractile injection systems. These molecular nanomachines puncture target cells and deliver molecular cargo. Research_News/Phys.org https://phys.org/news/2026-08-rays-nobel-prize-limit.html Tue, 11 Aug 2026 13:40:07 +0000 When certain atoms are irradiated with laser light, they can produce a very different kind of laser light: laser pulses with extremely high frequencies in the X-ray range. These laser pulses, which helped achieve record-breaking results at TU Wien in the 1990s, were the subject of the 2023 Nobel Prize in Physics. Research_News/Phys.org https://phys.org/news/2026-08-hazardous-sites-facilities-toxic-chemicals.html Tue, 11 Aug 2026 13:40:01 +0000 While parks, playgrounds and hiking trails are generally thought of as "healthy" spaces, researchers from the University of Michigan have found that many of them overlap with old toxic waste sites or sit dangerously close to facilities that actively release hazardous chemicals. Their new study, published in Scientific Reports, looks at the proximity of 151,366 U.S. public parks to facilities in the EPA's Toxics Release Inventory (TRI) and Superfund sites (SFS). Research_News/Phys.org https://phys.org/news/2026-08-magnetic-field-newborn-star-decades.html Tue, 11 Aug 2026 13:20:07 +0000 Astronomers using the Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array (ALMA), of which the U.S. National Science Foundation National Radio Astronomy Observatory (NSF NRAO) is a partner, have captured the first direct, high-resolution images of a magnetic field wrapped tightly around the outflow of gas streaming away from a forming starevidence that solves a decades-old puzzle about how young stars sculpt the powerful jets that form them. Research_News/Phys.org https://phys.org/news/2026-08-banking-apps-mental-health.html Tue, 11 Aug 2026 13:20:03 +0000 While the link between financial stability and mental health is well-established, a new University College Dublin (UCD) study reveals a major blind spot in current research: an overreliance on self-reported surveys rather than objective financial data. The joint review published in Frontiers in Public Health by UCD School of Computer Science and UCD School of Psychology evaluated 43 studies on financial habits and mental illness, uncovering significant gaps. Research_News/Phys.org https://phys.org/news/2026-08-dolphins-tools-fish-mothers.html Tue, 11 Aug 2026 11:20:01 +0000 From spears and the invention of the wheel to smartphones and robots, human societies have been building and using tools from the beginning. Human tool use has helped conquer new environments, increase communication and ultimately alter the course of human evolution. Research_News/Phys.org https://phys.org/news/2026-08-toxoplasma-parasite-reveals-unusual-strategy.html Tue, 11 Aug 2026 11:00:01 +0000 Toxoplasma gondii, or Toxoplasma, is a parasite that infects hundreds of millions of people around the world. Although cases are often mild, it can cause severe symptoms in people with weakened immune systems and developing fetuses. It can also persist for years by forming long-lived cysts in tissues, allowing infection to become chronic. Research_News/Phys.org https://phys.org/news/2026-08-telescope.html Tue, 11 Aug 2026 10:40:01 +0000 I'll admit to using AI for things it was probably never designed for. When my van threw a fault I couldn't immediately figure outone that seems notorious for trips back and forth to a repair shopI ended up in a long (but cheaper) back-and-forth with an AI system, working through the symptoms. The same happened with a run of gutters and with stud framing in my house. It isn't magic, and perhaps more often than I'd like, it's wrong, but as a way of thinking through a problem with something that's read more manuals than I ever will, it has earned its place in the toolbox. So I read this next story with some sympathy and interest. Research_News/Phys.org https://phys.org/news/2026-08-decoding-reveals-odor.html Tue, 11 Aug 2026 09:20:05 +0000 Humans trust dogs to help find missing people, and bees to pollinate their crops. But scientists still don't fully understand how these animals use their extraordinary sense of smell to locate the source of an odor. Research_News/Phys.org https://phys.org/news/2026-08-smarter-track-satellites-earth-orbit.html Tue, 11 Aug 2026 09:00:05 +0000 Most current space activities operate close to Earth in what is called nearEarth orbit. However, as more satellites and other infrastructure begin to extend beyond that region, maintaining situational awareness of those objects will be crucial. Research_News/Phys.org https://phys.org/news/2026-08-happier-marriage-simple-habit.html Tue, 11 Aug 2026 08:40:02 +0000 Research has long shown that exercise benefits both physical and mental health. Now, a new study from researchers at BYU suggests that it may also strengthen marriages, especially when couples exercise together. Research_News/Phys.org https://phys.org/news/2026-08-australia-plastic-exports-deepen-health.html Tue, 11 Aug 2026 08:20:01 +0000 A new commentary in BMJ Global Health, co-authored by the George Institute, reveals that Australia exported 22,333 metric tons of plastic waste to Indonesia in 202324 alone, part of a wider crisis that has seen the country take in more than 200,000 metric tons of imported waste it cannot safely process. Up to 80% of it ends up burned or dumped. Research_News/Phys.org https://phys.org/news/2026-08-barramundi-breeders.html Tue, 11 Aug 2026 08:00:05 +0000 Barramundi farmers will soon be able to improve stock genetics by placing more emphasis on the sex of their breeding fish. University of Queensland Ph.D. candidate Jessica Hintzsche has produced the most detailed genetic map ever created for barramundi, showing how traits can be passed between generations. Research_News/Phys.org https://phys.org/news/2026-08-historical-dna-reveals-largetooth-sawfish.html Tue, 11 Aug 2026 08:00:04 +0000 The genetic diversity of the largetooth sawfish (Pristis pristis), a critically endangered ray, has plummeted over the past century and a half, according to a study published in the Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences. The species once lived in tropical waters worldwide but has disappeared from much of its former range. Research_News/Phys.org https://phys.org/news/2026-08-large-scale-link-crime-unauthorized.html Tue, 11 Aug 2026 07:40:01 +0000 For more than two decades, Charis E. Kubrin has followed the data wherever it leads. As UC Irvine Chancellor's Professor of Criminology, Law and Society, she has built a career studying one of America's most politically charged questions: Does immigration drive crime? Research_News/Phys.org https://phys.org/news/2026-08-oregon-voters-passage-gun-firearms.html Tue, 11 Aug 2026 07:20:03 +0000 Oregon voters' narrow 2022 approval of a referendum designed to limit gun purchases has instead resulted in thousands more firearms in the state than there otherwise would have been, a new analysis suggests. Research_News/Phys.org https://phys.org/news/2026-08-evidence-neanderthal-bone-tool-romania.html Tue, 11 Aug 2026 07:00:04 +0000 Deep in the Vârghiș Gorges, tucked away in the dark recesses of a cave, researchers have found the first evidence that Neanderthals used bone tools in Romania. Research_News/Phys.org https://phys.org/news/2026-08-pathogens-dna-qa-biologist.html Tue, 11 Aug 2026 07:00:03 +0000 Every living cell, from the simplest bacterium to a human neuron, relies on the same basic machinery to read, interpret, and use its DNA. This molecular machinery is so fundamental that life as we know it cannot exist without it. And because it is so essential, it has long been a target for drugs; it shuts down a bacterium's ability to access its own genes and it quickly dies. Research_News/Phys.org https://www.science.org/doi/abs/10.1126/scisignal.aeh8955?af=R Tue, 11 Aug 2026 07:00:00 +0000 Science Signaling, Volume 19, Issue 950, August 2026. Research_News/Science_Signaling https://www.science.org/doi/abs/10.1126/scisignal.aeh8955?af=R Tue, 11 Aug 2026 07:00:00 +0000 Science Signaling, Volume 19, Issue 950, August 2026. Research_News/Science_Signaling https://www.science.org/doi/abs/10.1126/scisignal.ael2465?af=R Tue, 11 Aug 2026 07:00:00 +0000 Science Signaling, Volume 19, Issue 950, August 2026. Research_News/Science_Signaling https://phys.org/news/2026-08-secret-gardeners-parasitic.html Tue, 11 Aug 2026 06:00:01 +0000 In the coastal forests of a tropical Japanese island near Okinawa grows an inconspicuous plant that is easy to mistake for a mushroom. It is a non-green parasite that feeds on the roots of other plants and produces up to 1 million tiny seeds, each covered in a minuscule, dry fruit. The seeds, in particular, present a mystery to scientists: How do they get dispersed? Research_News/Phys.org https://www.science.org/content/article/newly-discovered-virus-sickening-cattle-western-europe Tue, 11 Aug 2026 05:00:35 +0000 The pathogen, which reduces milk production, is the latest midge-transmitted virus affecting ruminants to reach the continent Research_News/Science_News_Current https://www.science.org/content/article/senate-votes-block-rule-giving-white-house-more-control-over-research Tue, 11 Aug 2026 05:00:35 +0000 Language is part of bill to fund government until mid-December Research_News/Science_News_Current https://www.science.org/content/article/how-europe-can-prevent-repeat-year-s-devastating-wildfires Tue, 11 Aug 2026 05:00:35 +0000 As climate change heats up the continent, experts say countries must shift focus toward preventing fires, rather than just suppressing them Research_News/Science_News_Current https://www.science.org/content/article/planned-satellite-megaconstellations-could-generate-runaway-space-debris Tue, 11 Aug 2026 05:00:35 +0000 Modeling suggests infamous Kessler syndrome would make the swarms unsustainable Research_News/Science_News_Current https://www.science.org/content/article/gut-microbes-may-help-wild-horses-evolve-survive-harsh-canadian-winters Tue, 11 Aug 2026 05:00:35 +0000 Study is first to show that the bacteria in an animals gut can give it an evolutionary leg up Research_News/Science_News_Current https://phys.org/news/2026-08-optical-method-reveals-internal-dynamics.html Tue, 11 Aug 2026 05:00:03 +0000 Researchers at the University of Basel and the Technical University of Munich have developed a new method to reveal the collective motion of electrons in one of the most elusive states of matter: the Wigner crystal. Using light, the physicists were able to uncover previously inaccessible properties of this fragile quantum state. Research_News/Phys.org https://phys.org/news/2026-08-jackie-california-bald-eagle-internet.html Tue, 11 Aug 2026 03:10:02 +0000 Jackie, the bald eagle who became an internet sensation and a symbol of the species' recovery in California, died Monday after being treated for an illness at a veterinary facility, her caretakers announced. Research_News/Phys.org https://www.science.org/content/blog-post/proposed-changes-childhood-vaccination-strongly-felt-opinion Tue, 11 Aug 2026 02:58:03 +0000 Let’s talk a bit about the Executive Order on the administration of childhood vaccines. But let me make it clear up front: I am not going to do the president the favor of taking his arguments seriously and doing any sort of point-by-point refutation. That’s because the premise of the whole thing is that there is something about childhood vaccination - and the MMR shot in particular - that Trump believes has caused an “autism epidemic”. There is no such connection, not least because as far as anyone can tell there is no such epidemic. And numerous, numerous attempts have been made to search through the medical data to look for such a link, with no success at all. This has been an effort spanning many countries and many researchers and vast numbers of patient records, and no such link has ever been shown to exist. Over and over and over. And the reason that all this got going was fraudulent in the first place. The physician who started the whole MMR/autism controversy, Andrew Wakefield, had his license to practice stripped in the UK because the entire claim turned out to be knowingly false. The original paper itself was retracted - no one had been able to reproduce his findings even before that, and it turned out that Wakefield had an undisclosed financial interest in selling test kits as a result of its publication. The British General Medical Council found that Wakefield had lied during the publication process and had mistreated children and acted against their best interests. So the whole thing is a lie and no truth has ever been found in it despite a very large expenditure of time and money. People who tell you otherwise - like President Trump and his Secretary of Health and Human Services, RFK Jr., are at best grievously misinformed or simply lying to you for their own benefit. My opinion on that versus Kennedy is a matter of record already. I must say, though, Trump is so erratic and disconnected from reality that it’s really hard to tell what he believes from one minute to the next. Here is a direct quote from his announcement yesterday: ”I have seen proof of where they have a vaccination thing that looks like the size of a bottle of soda and pour it into a little child’s body”. This is deranged nonsense, expressed in the words of someone whose cerebral cortex is shedding vocabulary by the day - “vaccination thing”, really? A brief reminder: this man not only imagines that he is making medical policy, but he also has the nuclear launch codes and that part is unfortunately no delusion. I say “imagine he’s making medical policy”, because (despite what some headlines might have you believe), an Executive Order is not an instant law, or a royal decree, or a thunderbolt launched from the throne of Zeus. It is a memo to agencies in the Executive Branch on how the President believes that a given policy should be implemented. Now, HHS (and the NIH, CDC et al.) are indeed in the Executive Branch, so they have to listen to this garbage. But physicians do not. This is not a new law, and no one will be breaking the law if they instead follow the vaccination schedule laid out by the American Academy of Pediatrics. There are in fact many states that have publicly rejected the CDC’s stated vaccination schedule in favor of the AAP’s, and this latest nonsense is reason for many more to join them. And besides, this executive order not only calls for fewer shots and fewer diseased to be immunized against, it calls for vaccines that don’t even exist here. Trump apparently thinks that the MMR vaccine can somehow be split up into its component parts, but there are no such individual vaccines licensed for use in the US. Stat reports that the makers of the MMR vaccine itself are showing no interest at all in producing and testing these components separately, and good for them. And again, this EO does not force them to do so in any way whatsoever. It’s a painfully stupid idea and the potential disruption it could cause in childhood vaccine schedules is going to make more children sick and inevitably kill some of them along the way. All these Executive Order noises seem to be a show put on for people who are already unsure about childhood vaccination (or who are downright opposed to it), and catering to these points of view is going to lead to an upsurge in disease and an upsurge in the sale of extra-small coffins. We are being governed by ignorant, malevolent fools who are leaving death and destruction in their wake. I can’t put it any more plainly than that. Research_News/Science_Pipeline https://www.science.org/content/blog-post/proposed-changes-childhood-vaccination-strongly-felt-opinion Tue, 11 Aug 2026 02:58:03 +0000 Lets talk a bit about the Executive Order on the administration of childhood vaccines. But let me make it clear up front: I am not going to do the president the favor of taking his arguments seriously and doing any sort of point-by-point refutation. Thats because the premise of the whole thing is that there is something about childhood vaccination - and the MMR shot in particular - that Trump believes has caused an autism epidemic. There is no such connection, not least because as far as anyone can tell there is no such epidemic. And numerous, numerous attempts have been made to search through the medical data to look for such a link, with no success at all. This has been an effort spanning many countries and many researchers and vast numbers of patient records, and no such link has ever been shown to exist. Over and over and over. And the reason that all this got going was fraudulent in the first place. The physician who started the whole MMR/autism controversy, Andrew Wakefield, had his license to practice stripped in the UK because the entire claim turned out to be knowingly false. The original paper itself was retracted - no one had been able to reproduce his findings even before that, and it turned out that Wakefield had an undisclosed financial interest in selling test kits as a result of its publication. The British General Medical Council found that Wakefield had lied during the publication process and had mistreated children and acted against their best interests. So the whole thing is a lie and no truth has ever been found in it despite a very large expenditure of time and money. People who tell you otherwise - like President Trump and his Secretary of Health and Human Services, RFK Jr., are at best grievously misinformed or simply lying to you for their own benefit. My opinion on that versus Kennedy is a matter of record already. I must say, though, Trump is so erratic and disconnected from reality that its really hard to tell what he believes from one minute to the next. Here is a direct quote from his announcement yesterday: I have seen proof of where they have a vaccination thing that looks like the size of a bottle of soda and pour it into a little childs body. This is deranged nonsense, expressed in the words of someone whose cerebral cortex is shedding vocabulary by the day - vaccination thing, really? A brief reminder: this man not only imagines that he is making medical policy, but he also has the nuclear launch codes and that part is unfortunately no delusion. I say imagine hes making medical policy, because (despite what some headlines might have you believe), an Executive Order is not an instant law, or a royal decree, or a thunderbolt launched from the throne of Zeus. It is a memo to agencies in the Executive Branch on how the President believes that a given policy should be implemented. Now, HHS (and the NIH, CDC et al.) are indeed in the Executive Branch, so they have to listen to this garbage. But physicians do not. This is not a new law, and no one will be breaking the law if they instead follow the vaccination schedule laid out by the American Academy of Pediatrics. There are in fact many states that have publicly rejected the CDCs stated vaccination schedule in favor of the AAPs, and this latest nonsense is reason for many more to join them. And besides, this executive order not only calls for fewer shots and fewer diseased to be immunized against, it calls for vaccines that dont even exist here. Trump apparently thinks that the MMR vaccine can somehow be split up into its component parts, but there are no such individual vaccines licensed for use in the US. Stat reports that the makers of the MMR vaccine itself are showing no interest at all in producing and testing these components separately, and good for them. And again, this EO does not force them to do so in any way whatsoever. Its a painfully stupid idea and the potential disruption it could cause in childhood vaccine schedules is going to make more children sick and inevitably kill some of them along the way. All these Executive Order noises seem to be a show put on for people who are already unsure about childhood vaccination (or who are downright opposed to it), and catering to these points of view is going to lead to an upsurge in disease and an upsurge in the sale of extra-small coffins. We are being governed by ignorant, malevolent fools who are leaving death and destruction in their wake. I cant put it any more plainly than that. Research_News/Science_Pipeline https://phys.org/news/2026-08-magnitude-quake-western-colombia-people.html Tue, 11 Aug 2026 02:36:14 +0000 A powerful 7.4 magnitude earthquake struck western Colombia on Monday, killing at least 111 people, damaging hundreds of buildings and leaving many trapped under debris while their loved ones and rescue workers searched through rubble. Research_News/Phys.org https://www.nature.com/articles/s41563-026-02674-8 Tue, 11 Aug 2026 00:00:00 +0000 Research_News/Nature_Research https://www.nature.com/articles/s41563-026-02701-8 Tue, 11 Aug 2026 00:00:00 +0000 Research_News/Nature_Research https://phys.org/news/2026-08-high-greenhouse-gases-global-sea.html Mon, 10 Aug 2026 19:20:01 +0000 According to the 36th annual State of the Climate report, greenhouse gas concentrations, global sea level and ocean heat content all reached record highs in 2025. Research_News/Phys.org https://phys.org/news/2026-08-common-ground-curriculum-boosts-tolerance.html Mon, 10 Aug 2026 19:00:01 +0000 Social cohesion is the glue that holds society together. Now, those bonds are breaking, and polarization has been growing for years. Educational programs aimed at strengthening social cohesion by promoting greater tolerance often focus on social differences, such as ethnicity, religion or nationality. Yet are such programs effective? A GermanAmerican team of researchers involving the University of Konstanz recommends the opposite approach: Instead of focusing on differences, such programs should center on universal human values. Research_News/Phys.org https://phys.org/news/2026-08-dna-enzymes-favor-specific-sequences.html Mon, 10 Aug 2026 18:40:03 +0000 When a wound does not heal properly, it leaves a scar. Similarly, mutationswhich are permanent changes to genetic codeare often the result of damaged DNA that has not been properly repaired. Mutations can impede the function of genes and lead to disease and aging, but they are also the source of genetic variation, which allows new traits to emerge and facilitates the evolutionary process. Scientists still do not fully understand why some damaged DNA segments are successfully repaired while others are not. Research_News/Phys.org https://phys.org/news/2026-08-hottest-month-july.html Mon, 10 Aug 2026 18:40:01 +0000 July 2026 marked the hottest month on record for the contiguous United States, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration said Monday, continuing a recent trend driven by human-caused climate change. Research_News/Phys.org https://phys.org/news/2026-08-enzymes-forge-carbon-nitrogen-bonds.html Mon, 10 Aug 2026 18:20:05 +0000 Researchers from the Manchester Institute of Biotechnology, including Dr. Zachary Birch-Price and professor Anthony Green, have developed a new family of engineered enzymes that can create several different types of chemical bonds used to build complex molecules. This work demonstrates how artificial enzymes can be adapted to carry out a broad range of carbon-carbon (C-C) and carbon-nitrogen (C-N) bond-forming reactions with high selectivity, offering new possibilities for biocatalysis. Research_News/Phys.org https://phys.org/news/2026-08-drought-dries-major-european-rivers.html Mon, 10 Aug 2026 18:20:03 +0000 Vast tracts of many of Europe's largest rivers, including the Rhine, Rhone and Danube, have slowed to a trickle never before recorded in July, data from a European climate observatory showed Monday. Research_News/Phys.org https://phys.org/news/2026-08-people-pays-power.html Mon, 10 Aug 2026 18:00:02 +0000 In his 1927 paper, "A law of comparative judgment," the American psychologist L. L. Thurstone proposed that when people select one option among multiple alternatives, they are picking the one that has the highest value to them, even though they cannot assign a particular number to that choice. Research_News/Phys.org https://phys.org/news/2026-08-quality-scarcity-future-competition-limited.html Mon, 10 Aug 2026 17:50:01 +0000 Climate change is largely to blame for water scarcity. The low water levels in European rivers this summer speak volumes in that respect. Research_News/Phys.org https://phys.org/news/2026-08-common-carp-blunt-koi-herpesvirus.html Mon, 10 Aug 2026 17:40:03 +0000 Common carp are among the world's most widely farmed freshwater fish, providing food and livelihoods for millions of people. But across fish farms and freshwater ecosystems, they face a formidable threat: a highly contagious virus capable of causing devastating outbreaks and wiping out entire populations in a matter of days. Research_News/Phys.org https://phys.org/news/2026-08-photosynthetic-microorganisms-renewable-chemical-production.html Mon, 10 Aug 2026 17:40:01 +0000 Photosynthetic microorganisms can use light energy to convert carbon dioxide into useful compounds under mild, environmentally compatible conditions. However, many current photosynthetic production systems rely on cells growing freely in large volumes of liquid. This creates a substantial demand for water and requires extensive mixing to keep the cells evenly distributed and exposed to light, increasing the resource and energy requirements of the process. Research_News/Phys.org https://phys.org/news/2026-08-uncovering-cryptococcus-shifts-silent-infection.html Mon, 10 Aug 2026 17:30:01 +0000 For most healthy people, Cryptococcus is an unnoticed infection. The immune system walls it off in the lungs and keeps it dormant for life. But in patients undergoing cancer chemotherapy, recovering from an organ transplant, living with HIV or taking newer immunosuppressing drugs for autoimmune disease, the fungus can reactivate, spread to the brain and cause meningitis. Research_News/Phys.org https://phys.org/news/2026-08-rocket-debris-moon-threaten-future.html Mon, 10 Aug 2026 17:20:09 +0000 In the early hours of Wednesday morning, Aug. 5, the upper stage of a Falcon 9 rocket crashed into the moon in an uncontrolled collision. Research_News/Phys.org https://phys.org/news/2026-08-fermentation-emerges-key-pathway-ammonium.html Mon, 10 Aug 2026 17:20:01 +0000 A study led by Professor Jimmy Jiujiu Jiao from the Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences at The University of Hong Kong (HKU) and Professor Meng Li from Shenzhen University has identified microbial fermentation as the likely main pathway for ammonium production in sediments beneath the Pearl River Delta, helping to explain the region's exceptionally high natural groundwater ammonium levels. Research_News/Phys.org https://phys.org/news/2026-08-mars-liquid-thought.html Mon, 10 Aug 2026 17:00:13 +0000 For decades, astronomers have assumed that the Martian surface froze solid around 3 billion years ago and has stayed that way ever since. If this were really the case, any liquid water would have long since either been locked away underground or lost to space. Research_News/Phys.org https://phys.org/news/2026-08-ai-disinformation-harder-weve.html Mon, 10 Aug 2026 17:00:01 +0000 Do you ever see comments on social media that seem way off-topic but still manage to wrench the discussion around to divisive political debate? Research_News/Phys.org https://phys.org/news/2026-08-quantum-circuits-electronics-oldest-power.html Mon, 10 Aug 2026 16:40:10 +0000 Every electronic and optoelectronic device generates heat, and today that heat is managed almost entirely from the outside. Heatsinks, fans, cold plates and refrigerators are bulky exterior measures bolted onto a chip or package after the fact. They treat heat as a single averaged quantity to be removed in bulk, even though the heat is actually produced locally, component by component, deep inside the circuitry. Research_News/Phys.org https://phys.org/news/2026-08-charitable-food-aid-policy.html Mon, 10 Aug 2026 16:40:03 +0000 As food insecurity persists across high-income countries, charitable organizations and food banks are playing an increasingly important role in helping households access food. A new study from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem and Sheba Medical Center examines the scale and structure of one such system and raises questions about how philanthropic food aid should fit within national food security policy. Research_News/Phys.org https://phys.org/news/2026-08-distant-crystals-oscillate-unison-paving.html Mon, 10 Aug 2026 16:20:09 +0000 In January 2024, physicists at TU Dortmund University demonstrated a continuous time crystal in a semiconductor whose oscillations remained stable for hours. In a new study published in Nature Communications, Professor Alex Greilich and his team show that many such time crystals can form in the same material and synchronize their electron-nuclear spin oscillations. Research_News/Phys.org https://phys.org/news/2026-08-meat-doesnt-female-guinea-baboons.html Mon, 10 Aug 2026 16:20:04 +0000 Meat is a rare and highly prized resource for wild Guinea baboons (Papio papio). Yet, contrary to long-standing assumptions based on human huntergatherer societies, a new study by the German Primate CenterLeibniz-Institute for Primate Research (DPZ) reveals that female Guinea baboons do not preferentially choose males who are more skilled at acquiring meat as their mates. Research_News/Phys.org https://phys.org/news/2026-08-july-regions-home-million-people.html Mon, 10 Aug 2026 16:00:10 +0000 Regions home to around 900 million people experienced their hottest July on record in 2026, including in the Sahel, Central America, France and Spain, according to AFP analysis of Copernicus data. Research_News/Phys.org https://phys.org/news/2026-08-impact-super-el-nios-sea.html Mon, 10 Aug 2026 16:00:08 +0000 El Niños and La Niñas are the third-most dominant influences on Earth's climate, after the sun and the greenhouse effect. But they haven't been easy to decipher or to predict in terms of when they will happen and what exact effects they will have on the global climate. Research_News/Phys.org https://phys.org/news/2026-08-climate-extra-hours-extreme-hot.html Mon, 10 Aug 2026 15:40:05 +0000 Hot days could gain more than four additional hours of extreme heat by the end of the 21st century under a high-emissions scenario, according to a modeling study published in Nature Climate Change. The findings show that hourly assessments can capture heat exposure overlooked by daily metrics and could support more effective heat risk management and public health planning. Research_News/Phys.org https://phys.org/news/2026-08-europe-braces-summer.html Mon, 10 Aug 2026 15:40:04 +0000 Much of Europe is bracing for another scorching heat wave following periods of record drought that have driven rivers to historic lows, ignited historic forest fires and contributed to thousands of deaths. Research_News/Phys.org https://phys.org/news/2026-08-arctic-fossil-abandoned-size-triassic.html Mon, 10 Aug 2026 15:20:05 +0000 Nearly 80 years ago, a British expedition discovered the battered remains of a giant fossil on the peak of an Arctic island. Unable to take it with them, they snapped some pictures, took some bones and left the fossil to be ravaged by the icy winds and rain. Little did they know it would be found again decades later and turn out to be the first of its kind and a giant among its peers. Research_News/Phys.org https://phys.org/news/2026-08-impacts-west-nile-virus-pennsylvania.html Mon, 10 Aug 2026 15:20:03 +0000 A new study out of the University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine suggests that West Nile virus (WNV) has had impacts on one in five Pennsylvania bird species, demonstrating how decades of community science data and mosquito surveillance can uncover the long-term ecological effects of wildlife disease. Research_News/Phys.org https://phys.org/news/2026-08-composite-retains-response-strain.html Mon, 10 Aug 2026 15:00:05 +0000 Researchers have developed a polymer composite that combines vibration damping with reliable strain sensing. The material uses a thermoplastic polyurethane matrix containing UPy (2-ureido-4[1H]-pyrimidinone) units, which form reversible quadruple hydrogen bonds. These molecular links can break and reform. Research_News/Phys.org https://phys.org/news/2026-08-discovery-electrons-2d-material-memory.html Mon, 10 Aug 2026 13:20:05 +0000 Over the last decade, researchers have developed two-dimensional materials with fascinating quantum effects that could be harnessed for next-generation technologies. Research_News/Phys.org https://phys.org/news/2026-08-desi-biggest-2d-universe.html Mon, 10 Aug 2026 13:00:05 +0000 Hold on to your telescopes: The DESI Legacy Imaging Surveys team has released the largest-ever 2D color map of the universe. The 5.6-trillion-pixel map contains nearly 4 billion celestial objects, primarily stars and galaxies. The data is available for all to use and publicly view through the Legacy Survey Sky Viewer. Research_News/Phys.org https://phys.org/news/2026-08-international-links-ageist-attitudes-memory.html Mon, 10 Aug 2026 12:40:05 +0000 An international study finds that older adults who have strong beliefs about how other seniors should behave also report having more memory problems themselves. The study suggests a relationship between "ageist attitudes" and memory. Research_News/Phys.org https://phys.org/news/2026-08-gases-ancient-global-explanation-billion.html Mon, 10 Aug 2026 12:40:01 +0000 Roughly 2.52 billion years ago, Earth's surface experienced the biggest chemical change in its history when oxygen became abundant in the atmosphere, eventually leading to the evolution of complex life forms such as plants and animals that emerged half a billion years ago. Research_News/Phys.org https://phys.org/news/2026-08-unsocial-kids-happier.html Mon, 10 Aug 2026 12:20:01 +0000 The child who plays alone during recess may be perfectly content doing so, according to a new study from the University of Georgia. Research_News/Phys.org https://phys.org/news/2026-08-americans-underestimate-health-extreme-weather.html Mon, 10 Aug 2026 12:00:06 +0000 A changing climate increases the health risks posed by extreme weather. However, according to the 2024 Yale Climate Opinion Maps, only 47% of U.S. survey participants believed that global warming would harm them personally. Research_News/Phys.org https://phys.org/news/2026-08-real-reveal-antiferromagnetic-skyrmions-line.html Mon, 10 Aug 2026 12:00:03 +0000 Skyrmionsessentially magnetic vorticesrepresent a promising approach in spintronics; in the future, they could serve as components in storage media or computers, potentially complementing established CMOS technologies. Researchers at Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz (JGU) have now visualized the interaction of antiferromagnetic skyrmions for the first time and shown that antiferromagnetic skyrmions move reproducibly along straight trajectories aligned with the driving electric current. Research_News/Phys.org https://phys.org/news/2026-08-veterinarians-case-pet-dog-cat.html Mon, 10 Aug 2026 11:40:06 +0000 A favorite toy or treat can become dangerous in an instant if it gets lodged in your pet's airway. Because choking is a terrifying emergency for pets and their owners, Dr. Christine Rutter, a clinical associate professor at the Texas A&M College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, shares what every pet owner and pet sitter should know about recognizing choking and responding safely. Research_News/Phys.org https://phys.org/news/2026-08-salt-drug-particles-deeper-difficult.html Mon, 10 Aug 2026 11:40:05 +0000 Biofilmsbacterial communities encased in a sticky, polymer-rich matrixcan be difficult to treat because that matrix slows antibiotics and drug-carrying particles. With help from salt, though, Yale researchers have found a way to steer these particles into some biofilms and even deform the biofilm itself in certain cases. The study is published in Soft Matter. Research_News/Phys.org https://www.science.org/content/article/nih-director-bhattacharya-kills-more-health-disparities-grants Mon, 10 Aug 2026 11:30:00 +0000 Letter says agency is adjusting its extramural research portfolio, which includes terminating grant awards Research_News/Science_News_Current https://www.science.org/content/article/global-warming-coming-countryside Mon, 10 Aug 2026 11:30:00 +0000 Pioneering study projects rural heat will edge closer to city swelter Research_News/Science_News_Current https://www.science.org/content/article/dna-reveals-hidden-past-north-america-s-bison-and-keys-their-future Mon, 10 Aug 2026 11:30:00 +0000 Scientists are racing to conserve what remains of these majestic animals genetic diversity Research_News/Science_News_Current https://www.science.org/content/article/astrophysicists-find-best-evidence-yet-galaxies-get-some-spin-birth Mon, 10 Aug 2026 11:30:00 +0000 New study spots primordial spin imprinted on galaxies by churning halos of dark matter Research_News/Science_News_Current https://www.science.org/content/article/i-am-what-i-am-fauci-s-private-notes-reveal-scientist-navigating-science-politics-and Mon, 10 Aug 2026 11:30:00 +0000 Diary entries from the retired NIAID director address presidential relationships, crazy RFK, and death threats Research_News/Science_News_Current https://www.science.org/content/article/tau-protein-can-sneak-brain-cells-energy-factories-and-wreak-havoc Mon, 10 Aug 2026 11:30:00 +0000 Study of mitochondria suggests new treatment strategy for Alzheimers and other diseases Research_News/Science_News_Current https://phys.org/news/2026-08-mri-dogs-distinguish-human-sadness.html Mon, 10 Aug 2026 11:00:07 +0000 Scientistsand dog lovershave long known that dogs are remarkably good at interpreting our laughs, frowns and tears. But the biology behind this ability has remained largely unexplored until now. In a study published in the journal iScience on Aug. 7, researchers peered inside the brains of dogs as they viewed images of various human expressions. The brain scans revealed that dogs process smiles in a unique brain region and, for the first time, provided evidence that dogs can distinguish between negative facial expressions, including anger, sadness and fear. Research_News/Phys.org https://phys.org/news/2026-08-survey-parents-ai-requires-students.html Mon, 10 Aug 2026 11:00:01 +0000 As artificial intelligence rapidly reshapes education and the workforce, a majority of parents and educators believe it's essential for students to develop data literacy skills, according to a new survey released today by Data Science 4 Everyone and Mathematica. Research_News/Phys.org https://phys.org/news/2026-08-species-mountain-horned-dragon-thailand.html Mon, 10 Aug 2026 10:40:04 +0000 Scientists have described a new species of lizard from the high mountain forests of western Thailand and have given it a name straight out of an American fantasy drama television series: Acanthosaura syrax, named after Syrax, the dragon ridden by Queen Rhaenyra Targaryen in "House of the Dragon." Research_News/Phys.org https://phys.org/news/2026-08-generative-ai-mathematics.html Mon, 10 Aug 2026 10:20:06 +0000 A little over a week ago, artificial intelligence company OpenAI announced 10 advances in mathematics and computer science made with its as-yet-unreleased model Astra. The discoveries cover a wide range of mathematical fields, including geometry, cryptography and coding theory. Research_News/Phys.org https://phys.org/news/2026-08-corn-stalk-sugars-bacterial-strain.html Mon, 10 Aug 2026 10:20:04 +0000 Engineers have developed a strain of a common bacterial species that can feed exclusively on the three major sugars present in corn stalks. While the new multiple-sugar-consuming strain of the bacterium Pseudomonas putida is interesting in its own right, a new paper published in Nature Communications on July 29, 2026, outlines the broader implications of this project for the future of biomanufacturing. Research_News/Phys.org https://phys.org/news/2026-08-monsoon-cooling-great-barrier-reef.html Mon, 10 Aug 2026 10:10:01 +0000 A late-summer monsoon in 2026 brought the Great Barrier Reef a reprieve from unfolding coral bleaching, aiding its initial recovery from recent climate-induced disturbances, according to the Australian Institute of Marine Science's (AIMS) annual survey report on the ecosystem. Research_News/Phys.org https://phys.org/news/2026-08-planets-hellish.html Mon, 10 Aug 2026 10:00:01 +0000 Hundreds of Venus-like planets could soon help determine why some worlds become sweltering greenhouse hellscapes while others remain capable of supporting life. But before answering that question, scientists first need to know how fast those planets are spinning. Research_News/Phys.org https://phys.org/news/2026-08-major-quebec-survey-flaws-augmented.html Mon, 10 Aug 2026 09:40:12 +0000 We're being promised a revolution. Artificial intelligence is said to make work both more productive and more enjoyable by freeing us from tedious tasks and allowing us to devote more time to what really matters. This is the narrative of "augmented work." Research_News/Phys.org https://phys.org/news/2026-08-mirror-surfaces-conceal-optical.html Mon, 10 Aug 2026 09:40:02 +0000 Mirrors normally reveal what is placed in front of them, even when their curvature distorts a reflection. Researchers at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) have introduced a different optical concept: a "lying mirror" that hides information carried by an input image and transforms it into a misleading, ordinary-looking pattern at the output. The study is published in the journal Nature Communications. Research_News/Phys.org https://phys.org/news/2026-08-students.html Mon, 10 Aug 2026 09:20:06 +0000 Children with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) often struggle with executive functionstasks involving managing their time, completing their homework, turning in assignments and planning for upcoming projects. These limitations, says clinical psychologist Jenelle Nissley-Tsiopinis, can contribute to conflicts with caregivers and affect high school and college placement, causing students to lose interest in school and confidence in themselves. Research_News/Phys.org https://phys.org/news/2026-08-beef-based-meat.html Mon, 10 Aug 2026 09:00:01 +0000 Meat eaters view plant-based meat as riskier and offering less value than conventional meat, regardless of how it is marketed, according to new Adelaide University research. Research_News/Phys.org https://phys.org/news/2026-08-urban-canals-temperatures-2c.html Mon, 10 Aug 2026 08:40:04 +0000 New research from The University of Manchester has found that urban canals can cool their immediate surroundings by more than 2C during heat waves. Research_News/Phys.org https://phys.org/news/2026-08-poles-hidden.html Mon, 10 Aug 2026 08:20:03 +0000 At the top and bottom of the planet, the seasons arrive on a schedule all their own. Satellite data from a mission measuring infrared energy reveal just how differentlyand how dramaticallysurface temperatures swing across two full years at the poles. Research_News/Phys.org https://phys.org/news/2026-08-drought-war-ukraine-families-kenya.html Mon, 10 Aug 2026 08:00:03 +0000 Russia's invasion of Ukraine in February 2022 had an almost immediate impact on global energy markets and the movement of food around the world. During the first year of the conflict, international crude oil and natural gas prices rose sharply. Disruptions to exports of wheat, maize, sunflower oil and fertilizers from Russia and Ukraine contributed to record global food prices. Research_News/Phys.org https://www.science.org/content/blog-post/so-how-ai-drug-discovery-doing-really Mon, 10 Aug 2026 03:34:19 +0000 The deluge of articles, presentations, and press releases on the applications of AI techniques to drug discovery does not make it easy to tell just what those applications are and how useful they might be (at least so far). This is an excellent new article from a number of people who know what they’re talking about in the field and who (importantly) are not trying to sell you anything, either. Its authors point out (correctly, I’d say) that the evidence for real clinical impact so far is very thin: “Although a wide variety of AI methods have been developed, applied and benchmarked, evidence of their clinically relevant impact is, so far, disappointingly limited. . .It can be concluded that we are still at a stage with an ‘absence of evidence’ (and not necessarily an ‘evidence of absence’) when it comes to the translation of AI into clinically relevant impact.” One of the effects you’d really like to see is better decision making with the help of AI - better selection of disease areas, of targets, of lead molecules and clinical candidates, of trial designs and more. I go around telling people that these are some of the areas that current AI techniques are least equipped to help us out with, but I always need to emphasize that world “current”. There’s no fundamental reason why these things can’t be improved, but such improvements are going to be slower and more expensive than claimed by many of the people who send out all those press releases. You can see why it’s hard to get good data on these effects. Even without AI, it’s been hard! There’s a natural tendency to ascribe successful projects to keen insights, bold leadership, and relentless hard work, while unsuccessful ones, umm, is there some reason why you’d want to talk about those? I mean, really? Because if you buy into the story completely, that means that unsuccessful projects were doomed by what, fuzzy thinking and laziness? I’m not saying that those won’t doom your project - they probably will - but they’re not the only reasons that drug discovery and development efforts fail. There are plenty of examples where people did the right things the right way and for the right reasons and still found themselves sliding into the mudpit. So you get the “When we win we’re England, when we lose we’re MCC” effect (deep British sports history cut there). Any project that had any AI aspect to it likely succeeded because of that, don’t you know, and the other projects that failed even though they had the Digital Laying On of Hands, well, moving right along. . . The paper rightly identifies Phase II success rates as where you really would want to see the most impact from any purported improvements in drug development. All that stuff in early-stage discovery work is a roundoff error in time and money compared to the clinical trials, and Phase II is where you first run into the really large cross-section for failure in the clinic. This has of course not escaped anyone’s notice in this business, and pre-AI there have been all sorts of Capitalized Revolutionary Acronymic Protocols announced in various companies to try to get those success rates up. None of this has had much impact in the end. The AI era has just been more of the same, as far as I can tell so far. The paper exhorts practitioners to get down to it: “. . .the focus of AI in drug discovery must shift from doing what can be done - such as modelling data that is readily available, but that is unlikely to move the needle - to doing what should be done, even if this requires, for example, substantial data generation. . .” It’s a worthy goal, but I think that many involved in this work might be thinking, even unconsciously, “You first”. Making this commitment is an expensive proposition with murky chances of success (albeit for very high rewards), and it also implicitly means telling the investors (and the press) that things are going to take longer than they’re used to hearing about. There’s a very useful discussion of the difference between a ligand and a drug, which all to often has translated to the difference between the preclinical organization’s goals and the clinical ones that come afterwards. As always, you should work in as close to the real system as you can: if you say you have a good compound in a cloned isolated protein, I want to know how it is in cells. If it works in cells, tell me about the rodents. If it works there, I want to know about two-week dog tox, and if it gets through that, then why aren’t you putting it into human patients now? Finding AI systems that will move those steps along and (far more importantly) make them translate into clinical success is not easy. The authors also go into another major problem: sure, we have piles and piles of data about compounds in all sorts of assays (including all those stages just mentioned). But machine-learning your way to happiness with those numbers is very likely impossible, due to the huge numbers of variables in the assay conditions and indeed, in biological systems themselves. We don’t know how to clean this stuff up and categorize it for real ML/AI, and honestly, we don’t even know if it can be. The same considerations apply to data that you might hope would be less shaggy (structure-activity relationships in the chemistry, for example). This is a good point on top of all of these: Another key problem is that the nature of the data at hand in drug discovery — its confounding factors, conditionality and epistemic opacity — may not be understood by everyone aiming to model such data, and hence the limitations of labelling data and using labelled data are not understood either. As a consequence of ‘believing the labels’, there is a considerable knock-on effect on benchmarks that are being used in the field. Benchmarks have been crucial to provide some estimate of progress in AI, given that otherwise no quantitative comparison of novel approaches to the existing ‘state-of-the-art’ (SOTA) would be possible. In some areas, such as image recognition and speech recognition, benchmarks by and large translated to better performance in real-world use cases. However, in the area of data used in drug discovery, this has to be viewed with caution The paper goes on to make recommendations for AI companies and investigators, and these are well worth reading. The common theme is that people need to think more about why they’re doing certain techniques or using certain technologies, rather than just using them because they’re newly available. How many of these can (realistically) improve the chances of clinical success? Do you have any good ways to estimate that? What would you need to get such estimates? Are you guarding at every stage against the tendency to take shortcuts or to believe your own hype? Are you making sure that you’re not setting up benchmarks and targets that are better designed to give you (and others!) the illusion of progress rather than delivering the real thing? Do you have enough time and money to get to the real thing at all? Real application of the principles laid out in this paper would do the field a lot of good, probably save a number of investors some very unpleasant experiences, and would absolutely turn down the noise of the hype machines. Not everyone is aligned on those goals, however. . . Research_News/Science_Pipeline https://www.science.org/content/blog-post/so-how-ai-drug-discovery-doing-really Mon, 10 Aug 2026 03:34:19 +0000 The deluge of articles, presentations, and press releases on the applications of AI techniques to drug discovery does not make it easy to tell just what those applications are and how useful they might be (at least so far). This is an excellent new article from a number of people who know what theyre talking about in the field and who (importantly) are not trying to sell you anything, either. Its authors point out (correctly, Id say) that the evidence for real clinical impact so far is very thin: Although a wide variety of AI methods have been developed, applied and benchmarked, evidence of their clinically relevant impact is, so far, disappointingly limited. . .It can be concluded that we are still at a stage with an absence of evidence (and not necessarily an evidence of absence) when it comes to the translation of AI into clinically relevant impact. One of the effects youd really like to see is better decision making with the help of AI - better selection of disease areas, of targets, of lead molecules and clinical candidates, of trial designs and more. I go around telling people that these are some of the areas that current AI techniques are least equipped to help us out with, but I always need to emphasize that world current. Theres no fundamental reason why these things cant be improved, but such improvements are going to be slower and more expensive than claimed by many of the people who send out all those press releases. You can see why its hard to get good data on these effects. Even without AI, its been hard! Theres a natural tendency to ascribe successful projects to keen insights, bold leadership, and relentless hard work, while unsuccessful ones, umm, is there some reason why youd want to talk about those? I mean, really? Because if you buy into the story completely, that means that unsuccessful projects were doomed by what, fuzzy thinking and laziness? Im not saying that those wont doom your project - they probably will - but theyre not the only reasons that drug discovery and development efforts fail. There are plenty of examples where people did the right things the right way and for the right reasons and still found themselves sliding into the mudpit. So you get the When we win were England, when we lose were MCC effect (deep British sports history cut there). Any project that had any AI aspect to it likely succeeded because of that, dont you know, and the other projects that failed even though they had the Digital Laying On of Hands, well, moving right along. . . The paper rightly identifies Phase II success rates as where you really would want to see the most impact from any purported improvements in drug development. All that stuff in early-stage discovery work is a roundoff error in time and money compared to the clinical trials, and Phase II is where you first run into the really large cross-section for failure in the clinic. This has of course not escaped anyones notice in this business, and pre-AI there have been all sorts of Capitalized Revolutionary Acronymic Protocols announced in various companies to try to get those success rates up. None of this has had much impact in the end. The AI era has just been more of the same, as far as I can tell so far. The paper exhorts practitioners to get down to it: . . .the focus of AI in drug discovery must shift from doing what can be done - such as modelling data that is readily available, but that is unlikely to move the needle - to doing what should be done, even if this requires, for example, substantial data generation. . . Its a worthy goal, but I think that many involved in this work might be thinking, even unconsciously, You first. Making this commitment is an expensive proposition with murky chances of success (albeit for very high rewards), and it also implicitly means telling the investors (and the press) that things are going to take longer than theyre used to hearing about. Theres a very useful discussion of the difference between a ligand and a drug, which all to often has translated to the difference between the preclinical organizations goals and the clinical ones that come afterwards. As always, you should work in as close to the real system as you can: if you say you have a good compound in a cloned isolated protein, I want to know how it is in cells. If it works in cells, tell me about the rodents. If it works there, I want to know about two-week dog tox, and if it gets through that, then why arent you putting it into human patients now? Finding AI systems that will move those steps along and (far more importantly) make them translate into clinical success is not easy. The authors also go into another major problem: sure, we have piles and piles of data about compounds in all sorts of assays (including all those stages just mentioned). But machine-learning your way to happiness with those numbers is very likely impossible, due to the huge numbers of variables in the assay conditions and indeed, in biological systems themselves. We dont know how to clean this stuff up and categorize it for real ML/AI, and honestly, we dont even know if it can be. The same considerations apply to data that you might hope would be less shaggy (structure-activity relationships in the chemistry, for example). This is a good point on top of all of these: Another key problem is that the nature of the data at hand in drug discovery its confounding factors, conditionality and epistemic opacity may not be understood by everyone aiming to model such data, and hence the limitations of labelling data and using labelled data are not understood either. As a consequence of believing the labels, there is a considerable knock-on effect on benchmarks that are being used in the field. Benchmarks have been crucial to provide some estimate of progress in AI, given that otherwise no quantitative comparison of novel approaches to the existing state-of-the-art (SOTA) would be possible. In some areas, such as image recognition and speech recognition, benchmarks by and large translated to better performance in real-world use cases. However, in the area of data used in drug discovery, this has to be viewed with caution The paper goes on to make recommendations for AI companies and investigators, and these are well worth reading. The common theme is that people need to think more about why theyre doing certain techniques or using certain technologies, rather than just using them because theyre newly available. How many of these can (realistically) improve the chances of clinical success? Do you have any good ways to estimate that? What would you need to get such estimates? Are you guarding at every stage against the tendency to take shortcuts or to believe your own hype? Are you making sure that youre not setting up benchmarks and targets that are better designed to give you (and others!) the illusion of progress rather than delivering the real thing? Do you have enough time and money to get to the real thing at all? Real application of the principles laid out in this paper would do the field a lot of good, probably save a number of investors some very unpleasant experiences, and would absolutely turn down the noise of the hype machines. Not everyone is aligned on those goals, however. . . Research_News/Science_Pipeline https://phys.org/news/2026-08-hong-kong-weather-observatory-high.html Sun, 09 Aug 2026 14:53:13 +0000 Hong Kong's weather observatory posted a record high temperature of 36.9C (98F) on Sunday as Typhoon Dolphin swept warm air over the city, the meteorological service said. Research_News/Phys.org https://phys.org/news/2026-08-perseid-meteor-shower-summer-dazzle.html Sun, 09 Aug 2026 14:52:39 +0000 The Perseid summer light show is backand viewing conditions are especially promising for the Northern Hemisphere. Research_News/Phys.org https://phys.org/news/2026-08-early-snakes-explored-life-underground.html Sun, 09 Aug 2026 14:40:01 +0000 Snakes are highly modified lizards, with more than 4,000 living species today. The origin of snakes has long been one of evolutionary biology's most debated questions. Their sparse fossil record has made it hard to pin down what drove the evolution of their limbless body plan. Research_News/Phys.org https://phys.org/news/2026-08-catalyst-platinum-hydrogen-fuel-cells.html Sun, 09 Aug 2026 14:00:01 +0000 The high cost of platinum is one of the main barriers to the wider adoption of hydrogen fuel cells. Now, researchers at IMDEA Materials Institute have developed a catalyst that delivers the same performance while using 75% less of this expensive metal. The study, published in Electrochimica Acta, demonstrates a breakthrough made possible by applying controlled mechanical compression to the catalyst. This modifies its atomic-scale structure, enabling it to achieve energy efficiency comparable to that of pure platinum. Research_News/Phys.org https://phys.org/news/2026-08-australia-pledged-nature-lost-ecosystems.html Sun, 09 Aug 2026 13:20:01 +0000 Nature is not doing well in Australia. Many unique mammals, birds and insects are struggling. Entire ecosystems are collapsing. Research_News/Phys.org https://phys.org/news/2026-08-tiny-particles-defy-action-reaction.html Sun, 09 Aug 2026 12:40:01 +0000 From schools of fish and flocks of birds to microscopic synthetic particles, many systems in nature and the laboratory consist of individual units or agents that move by consuming energy. These systems are known as active matter because their components continuously use energy to generate motion, either individually or through interactions with their environment. Research_News/Phys.org https://phys.org/news/2026-08-cosmic-filaments-limits-dark-decay.html Sun, 09 Aug 2026 12:00:01 +0000 Composing some 85% of the universe's total mass, dark matter betrays its presence only through gravity, unlike ordinary matter. Yet through new research published in Physical Review D, a team led by David Dunsky of New York University has proposed a new way to hunt for the elusive substance. Their approach involves searching for the decay of dark matter particles into gravitons: the hypothetical particles thought to carry the force of gravity itself. Research_News/Phys.org https://phys.org/news/2026-08-people-unaware-environmental-effects-sunscreen.html Sun, 09 Aug 2026 11:20:01 +0000 This summer, millions of people across the country have been digging out sunscreen to protect themselves from a record-breaking series of heat waves. Research_News/Phys.org https://phys.org/news/2026-08-rare-mars-meteorite-billion-year.html Sun, 09 Aug 2026 10:20:01 +0000 Boston College scientists have determined that a newly discovered meteorite from Mars is 1.27 billion years old and derived from a previously unsampled, pristine source on the Red Planet. The study is published in the journal Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta. Research_News/Phys.org https://phys.org/news/2026-08-oldest-giant-scallop-bead-california.html Sun, 09 Aug 2026 08:40:03 +0000 Archaeologists have discovered two giant rock scallop beads that push back the clock on the first appearance of these high-status ornaments. The discovery shows that these prized marine beads were traded hundreds of miles from the California coast thousands of years earlier than previously thought. Research_News/Phys.org https://phys.org/news/2026-08-based-strategy-delivery-therapeutic-peptides.html Sun, 09 Aug 2026 07:20:01 +0000 Rice University engineers have developed a new strategy for controlling how therapeutic peptides are released from gelatin-based materials, a step that could make the small but powerful molecules more useful in tissue engineering and drug delivery. Research_News/Phys.org https://phys.org/news/2026-08-asteroid-worlds.html Sun, 09 Aug 2026 06:40:01 +0000 What shape is an asteroid? For (44) Nysa, the honest answer until now has been that nobody knew. It is one of the brightest and largest E-type asteroids in the main belt, a class with a surface rich in enstatite, and its oddness has made it a favorite target for well over a hundred years. Successive observations hinted that it was elongated, perhaps even two lumps stuck together, but the picture stayed frustratingly blurred. Research_News/Phys.org https://phys.org/news/2026-08-flying-focus-laser-key-limitation.html Sat, 08 Aug 2026 15:40:03 +0000 In a new Nature Physics study, researchers accelerated electrons to more than twice the energy predicted by the traditional dephasing limit for laser-plasma accelerators operating over the same distance. This was made possible by a specially engineered laser pulse called a flying focus, which counteracts a longstanding limitation known as "dephasing." Research_News/Phys.org https://phys.org/news/2026-08-butterfly-ranges-shift-worldwide-climate.html Sat, 08 Aug 2026 13:40:04 +0000 A global analysis of range-shift records for 1,758 butterfly species10% of known butterfly speciesfound that 80% had expanded their range and that 79% of all recorded range shifts were linked to climate change and extreme weather events. The new study, published in Nature Ecology & Evolution, also reports range contractions for 27% of species, and 22% of species showed a change in elevation. Because many species exhibited multiple types of range shifts, the percentages for expansions, contractions and elevation changes are above 100%. Research_News/Phys.org https://phys.org/news/2026-08-pulsed-radiofrequency-magnetic-fields-disorient.html Sat, 08 Aug 2026 12:40:01 +0000 Every year, millions of migratory birds travel between different geographical regions on Earth to find food, escape cold weather or reach safe environments to raise chicks. To determine which direction to fly, these birds rely on various types of sensory cues and information, including the magnetic field surrounding our planet, known as the geomagnetic field. Research_News/Phys.org https://www.science.org/content/article/covid-19-can-wake-dormant-viruses-body-large-study-confirms Sat, 08 Aug 2026 12:30:00 +0000 Virus reactivations by SARS-CoV-2 could worsen initial symptoms and increase risk of Long Covid Research_News/Science_News_Current https://phys.org/news/2026-08-dodo-birds-clever-thought.html Sat, 08 Aug 2026 11:20:01 +0000 The Mauritian dodoa global symbol of human-caused extinction and one of the world's largest pigeonsmay not have deserved its reputation as a silly simpleton and may have been the only member of its group to live in the dark. Research_News/Phys.org https://phys.org/news/2026-08-winter-canola-profit-illinois-farmers.html Sat, 08 Aug 2026 10:40:01 +0000 A new simulation study from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign suggests winter canola could be profitable and environmentally beneficial if added to a conventional corn-soy rotation in the U.S. Midwest. Research_News/Phys.org https://phys.org/news/2026-08-dodos-werent-stupid-historians.html Sat, 08 Aug 2026 10:00:01 +0000 The dodo has been extinct for more than 300 years, wiped out within decades of humans arriving on its home island of Mauritius, but it lives on in the public imagination. Research_News/Phys.org https://phys.org/news/2026-08-gravity-people-simpler-movement-patterns.html Sat, 08 Aug 2026 09:20:01 +0000 From reaching for a cup of coffee to tying your shoelaces, gravity shapes nearly all human movement. So how do our bodies react when that familiar force begins to change? Texas A&M University researchers are exploring the answer through a multiphase project supported by NASA. Research_News/Phys.org https://phys.org/news/2026-08-swarms-tiny-robots-microplastics-soil.html Sat, 08 Aug 2026 08:40:01 +0000 Microplastics, which are plastic particles under 5 millimeters, are a major and growing threat in both soil and water. They damage soil fertility, disrupt nutrient cycling, harm aquatic and terrestrial life, and can move through the food chain. That makes cleaning them up an urgent priority. Research_News/Phys.org https://phys.org/news/2026-08-gut-cells-hunger-watery-insides.html Sat, 08 Aug 2026 08:00:01 +0000 Researchers led by Sa Kan Yoo at the RIKEN Center for Biosystems Dynamics Research (BDR) in Japan have discovered that the natural turnover of gut cells in fruit flies depends on how much food the flies get, rather than on any specific nutrient. They found that gut cells were replaced more frequently when nutrient levels were low and the insides of gut cells were fluid and watery. Research_News/Phys.org https://phys.org/news/2026-08-mega-impact-gratitude-interventions.html Sat, 08 Aug 2026 07:20:03 +0000 Are some interventions designed to induce gratitude more effectively than others? In which countries and cultures do they work best to improve mood, strengthen bonds between people and promote social reciprocity? A study aimed at answering these questionsconducted in 34 countries with more than 10,000 participantshad its results published in PNAS. In Brazil, the project received the help of researchers and 598 volunteers who responded to intervention prompts via an online tool. Research_News/Phys.org https://phys.org/news/2026-08-canada-future-wildfires.html Sat, 08 Aug 2026 07:00:04 +0000 Faced with another summer when wildfires have scorched millions of hectares of land and blankets of smoke have disrupted daily life nationwide, Canada is trying to limit the annual devastation. Research_News/Phys.org https://phys.org/news/2026-08-loneliness-health-ways-isolation.html Sat, 08 Aug 2026 06:40:02 +0000 You can spend every day surrounded by other people and still feel lonely. You can also spend long periods alone without finding the experience distressing. Research_News/Phys.org https://phys.org/news/2026-08-nocturnal-coffee-frog-costa-rica.html Sat, 08 Aug 2026 06:00:03 +0000 A tiny greenish, nocturnal frog that thrives in coffee plantations has been discovered in Costa Rica's central Pacific region, where it also faces risks from agrochemicals used in farming. Research_News/Phys.org https://phys.org/news/2026-08-silver-nanocatalysts-reaction-sites-power.html Sat, 08 Aug 2026 02:50:52 +0000 For the first time, researchers have discovered that the same silver (Ag) nanocatalyst operates at different reaction sites depending on whether a solid oxide cell is generating electricity or producing hydrogen. This finding introduces a new design principle for improving the performance of next-generation solid oxide cells. Research_News/Phys.org https://phys.org/news/2026-08-million-years-sex-erase-insects.html Fri, 07 Aug 2026 19:00:02 +0000 Scientists have made a surprising finding about how an asexually reproducing stick insect has evolved. Research led by Dr. Darren Parker, lecturer in evolutionary biology at Bangor University, studied the genes of several species of Timema (a type of stick insect), which have not engaged in sexual reproduction for 1 million yearsthe longest known asexual period for any insect. Research_News/Phys.org https://phys.org/news/2026-08-ai-reveals-volume-world-glaciers.html Fri, 07 Aug 2026 18:40:01 +0000 How much ice is stored in the world's glaciers? And where exactly is it located? A new study led by Ca' Foscari University of Venice, in collaboration with the Institute of Polar Sciences of the National Research Council of Italy (CNR-ISP), provides an updated global map of glacier ice volume. Research_News/Phys.org https://phys.org/news/2026-08-cleaner-chemical-reactions-oxygen.html Fri, 07 Aug 2026 18:20:01 +0000 Oxygen provides the driving force for many vital chemical reactions. Two well-known examples include respiration, the process that allows living things to break down food to release its energy, and combustion, reactions that produce heat and light. But oxygen has an unusual electronic configuration that tends to slow reactions with organic matter, so reactions often need help to get started. In nature, specialized proteins called enzymes can activate oxygen on demand by first rearranging its electrons. Research_News/Phys.org https://phys.org/news/2026-08-high-res-view-2d-materials.html Fri, 07 Aug 2026 18:00:03 +0000 By rapidly twisting a microscopically small tip back and forth, researchers at the University of Maryland (UMD) have unlocked a new way to detect subtle changes on the surface of a material flexing in response to infrared light. Research_News/Phys.org https://phys.org/news/2026-08-hidden-anatomy-clouds-reveals-ice.html Fri, 07 Aug 2026 17:40:02 +0000 The initiation of rain in clouds without ice remains one of the largest unsolved mysteries in atmospheric science. Research_News/Phys.org https://phys.org/news/2026-08-laser-spectroscopy-reveal-hidden-nuclear.html Fri, 07 Aug 2026 17:20:01 +0000 For the first time, researchers have determined the shape of the actinide nucleus of fermium-255 and measured its structure with high precision and resolution. Research_News/Phys.org https://phys.org/news/2026-08-shifting-architecture-versatility-photonic-quantum.html Fri, 07 Aug 2026 17:00:01 +0000 Using light to process quantum information is one of the most promising approaches to building future quantum computers. Light particles, known as photons, are excellent carriers of quantum information, but their lack of natural interactions has created a major challenge for researchers seeking to build systems capable of performing a full range of computations. Research_News/Phys.org https://phys.org/news/2026-08-mirror-world-particles-wisps-fog.html Fri, 07 Aug 2026 16:40:02 +0000 In Goethe's ballad "Erlkönig," immortalized in Schubert's fevered 1815 setting, a dying boy riding through the night sees a spectral king beckoning from the darkness. His father calms him: "Mein Sohn, es ist ein Nebelstreif"my son, it is only a wisp of fog. In the poem, the father's reassurance proves tragically wrong. In the quantum world, however, his words acquire an uncanny new meaning. Research_News/Phys.org https://phys.org/news/2026-08-tiny-magnet-ultrafaint-magnetic-fields.html Fri, 07 Aug 2026 16:20:02 +0000 Measuring faint magnetic fields is useful in a number of areas, including mapping brain activity, monitoring hearts and probing fundamental physics. Typically, picking up such weak signals requires expensive or bulky equipment, such as liquid-helium cooling tanks or specially shielded rooms that block out Earth's magnetic field. Research_News/Phys.org https://phys.org/news/2026-08-antenna-cell-appendage-turtle-embryos.html Fri, 07 Aug 2026 16:00:01 +0000 When most baby turtles hatch, their sex depends on the temperature of the sand or soil where their mother laid her eggs. Warm incubation produces females, while cool nests produce males. Research_News/Phys.org https://phys.org/news/2026-08-hydraulic-traits-reveal-mountain-trees.html Fri, 07 Aug 2026 15:40:01 +0000 As global temperatures rise, scientists have largely assumed that mountain tree species will move uphill in search of cooler conditions. A new study published in Nature Climate Change reveals a more complex reality: Some tree species are moving uphill, while others are shifting downhill, and the key to understanding these contrasting responses lies in how trees manage water. Research_News/Phys.org https://phys.org/news/2026-08-boron-layers-superconductivity-theoretical.html Fri, 07 Aug 2026 15:20:01 +0000 Scientists in China predict that stacking two microscopic layers of boron could set a new record for superconductivity. Superconductors are materials that conduct electricity with zero resistance. Traditional types need temperatures close to absolute zero to work, requiring complex and expensive cooling equipment. Research_News/Phys.org https://phys.org/news/2026-08-platform-bacterial-gene-biotech.html Fri, 07 Aug 2026 15:00:01 +0000 Scientists at the Department of Energy's Oak Ridge National Laboratory have created a platform that pinpoints genetic triggers that turn microbes into efficient factories for new chemicals and materials. The method enables rapid, precise reprogramming of bacteria as biotechnology tools, supporting domestic production of valuable products and recovery of critical minerals and materials to enhance the nation's supply chains and global competitiveness. Research_News/Phys.org https://phys.org/news/2026-08-mobile-fungal-starship-protein-triggers.html Fri, 07 Aug 2026 14:40:01 +0000 An international research team led by plant scientist Professor Dr. Bart Thomma of the Institute of Plant Sciences at the University of Cologne, the MiBiNet Collaborative Research Center and the CEPLAS Cluster of Excellence for Plant Sciences has identified the region of the genome in the pathogenic fungus Verticillium dahliae responsible for producing a specific protein that the pathogen secretes during infection. Research_News/Phys.org https://phys.org/news/2026-08-photocatalytic-method-cleaves-strong-ch.html Fri, 07 Aug 2026 13:40:05 +0000 -Silyl alcohols are unique organosilicon compounds bearing a silyl group and a hydroxy group on the same carbon atom. Because these compounds serve as precursors to reactive species, such as carbanions and carbon radicals, they are pivotal building blocks for synthesizing pharmaceuticals and functional materials. However, their synthesis often requires multistep procedures and suffers from poor functional group tolerance. Developing simpler and more versatile synthetic methodologies has therefore become increasingly important. Research_News/Phys.org https://phys.org/news/2026-08-oil-dispersants-reshape-arctic-sea.html Fri, 07 Aug 2026 13:36:42 +0000 By making the Arctic less ice-covered, climate warming has increased both shipping traffic and the risk of oil spills in the region. Changing ice conditions may, however, affect the effectiveness of currently available oil spill response measures, according to a recent study by researchers from Estonia and Norway. Research_News/Phys.org https://phys.org/news/2026-08-natural-insecticide-compound-garlic-spearmint.html Fri, 07 Aug 2026 13:00:07 +0000 In an effort to develop more environmentally friendly alternatives to synthetic insecticides, researchers from Kyushu University have developed and tested a new insecticide made from compounds derived from garlic and spearmint. Research_News/Phys.org https://phys.org/news/2026-08-ai-method-reveals-hidden-patterns.html Fri, 07 Aug 2026 13:00:01 +0000 Microbial communities are highly sensitive to environmental changes, yet their enormous diversity makes it difficult to identify ecological patterns. A research team from the Leibniz Institute for Baltic Sea Research Warnemünde (IOW) has shown that an AI method originally developed for text analysis can be successfully applied to analyzing complex environmental samples. The method identified five seasonally successive microbial subcommunities in the Warnow Estuary while preserving ecological and functional information just as well as conventional methodsin some cases, it performed better. The study was published in the journal Environmental Microbiome. Research_News/Phys.org https://phys.org/news/2026-08-50c-ultrathin-magnetic-stays-flat.html Fri, 07 Aug 2026 12:40:07 +0000 Magnetic storage technologies, which store information in the direction of magnetization, play an essential role in modern data storage. Hard disk drives (HDDs) are widely used for long-term storage, while nonvolatile magnetic random-access memory (MRAM) is emerging as a promising alternative to flash memory. Research_News/Phys.org https://phys.org/news/2026-08-food-fraud-uk-economy-billion.html Fri, 07 Aug 2026 12:40:03 +0000 Food fraud is costing the UK economy up to 2 billion every year, according to the first study to calculate its full economic impact. The research, from the University of Portsmouth, estimates that food fraud costs between 400 million and 2 billion annually, making it one of the country's most expensive forms of economic crime. Research_News/Phys.org https://phys.org/news/2026-08-adults-ai-financial-guidance-gallup.html Fri, 07 Aug 2026 12:20:07 +0000 Some U.S. adults are using artificial intelligence for financial guidance, but it's far from the most trusted source of advice, according to a new Gallup survey conducted in partnership with Edward Jones, a financial services firm. Research_News/Phys.org https://phys.org/news/2026-08-uranus-unusual-rotation-day.html Fri, 07 Aug 2026 12:20:05 +0000 Within our solar system, Uranus is a geometric oddball. Its spin axis tilts more than 90 from its orbit, so it essentially rolls on its side through space. In contrast, Earth and other planets tilt only moderately or not at all. What's more, the ice giant's magnetic field is strangely offset and tilted another 60. Research_News/Phys.org https://www.science.org/content/blog-post/why-we-run-trials-unfortunately Fri, 07 Aug 2026 12:16:16 +0000 Inflammation is one of those huge topics in medicine that you really cant seem to escape. The immune system is constantly at work - well, it had better be - monitoring for signs of infection and damage and responding to these through a bewildering number of pathways. Its become apparent over the decades, though, that the immune response is not only a double-edged sword, but that it might well be larger, sharper, and swinging around more constantly than we realized. You can see this most vividly in the recognized autoimmune disorders like lupus, arthritis, Hashimotos, multiple sclerosis and more, which are a flagrant attack on the bodys own tissues. But less-obvious long-running inflammation is widely thought to be a contributor (and perhaps even a root cause) of many other conditions, particularly with aging. Its a drain on the bodys resources to keep these fights going, and it appears to cause all kinds of slow, inexorable damage along the way. But what to do about that? The entire evolutionary story of the immune system is walking that line between benefit and damage, between doing too little and doing too much. The biological systems we see are the result, and one big part of it is that selection pressure is strongest by far during the childbearing years when genes are passed on to another generation. Having a system that protects your body vigorously in your early decades but gradually goes awry if your lifespan stretches out enough isnt really much of a problem. And thats true even if some of those earlier protections are a bit too vigorous or go off the rails once in a while, just so long as having the system working at that level provides more benefit most of the time. That seems to be the situation were in - but more people are living longer lifespans and the entire story of medical science is that we dont necessarily have to take the hand that were dealt by nature. And there are many therapies that have been developed in that way for inflammation and immune response. A lot of the time in this field you find yourself working with antibody therapies, because the various signaling networks are not necessarily driven by small-molecule binding sites at their receptors, activating or inactivating enzymes, etc. If you look at the list of highest-selling prescription drugs, you find antibodies that block interleukin-4 and interleukin 13, or block IL-23A, or block IL-23A and IL-12, or block tumor necrosis factor, and thats just the beginning. Novo Nordisk has been trying to add to that list with ziltivekimab, which targets interleukin-6. Like a lot of these targets, IL-6 has a very wide range of actions. Just look at that last link, where the biological functions just keep going and going - metabolic, immune, CNS, cardiovascular, musculoskeletal, aging in general. Novo was building on a large body of evidence that elevated IL-6 is associated with all kinds of cardiovascular risk (heart attack and heart failure in general, stroke, artery disease, you name it). These associations have shown up in multiple studies in many different populations, and human genetic studies indicate that lowering IL-6 activity is associated with lower cardiovascular risk. So a direct pharmacological shot at IL-6 activity like this one has been highly anticipated. (As an aside, I have no idea if there were any bets on this one on the prediction markets I wrote about yesterday. . .) Well, you see where this is going. A large trial (ZEUS) just read out a few days ago, and yes, ziltivekimab did indeed lower IL-6 in the treated patients as well as lowered markers of inflammation like C-reactive protein. This was in a patient population that had high levels of both and had heart or kidney disease already, and the thinking was that these people would be the best group to show benefits from IL-6 inhibition. But that simply didnt happen. Cardiovascular events and deaths were no different from the control group. A higher number of people in the treatment group came down with serious infections - which is what you always have to expect when youre dialing back the immune system - but all-causes mortality was the same in both the treatment group and the placebo controls. This really makes a person wonder about the whole cardiovascular inflammation idea. Novo Nordisk has another ongoing trial in patients with heart failure, and a third in people who have already had a heart attack, but after these results, itll be another major surprise if either of those are encouraging. As this New York Times article notes, there have been occasional puzzling results over the years in connecting inflammation with cardiovascular disease, but this is by far the biggest hit the hypothesis has ever taken. Maybe these patients were too far long in the disease process to be helped? Thats a worry with designing trials in any chronic condition, of course (as see the never-ending arguments about Alzheimers trial results). Or maybe the connection between chronic inflammation and cardiac events is a lot more complicated than we realized. Sadly, that point of view is often a winner in this business. Research_News/Science_Pipeline https://www.science.org/content/article/neanderthal-growth-gene-turns-modern-humans-muscle-heads Fri, 07 Aug 2026 12:15:00 +0000 People with DNA variant from our evolutionary cousins tend to have more lean muscle mass Research_News/Science_News_Current https://phys.org/news/2026-08-protein-enriched-ketchup-boost-algae.html Fri, 07 Aug 2026 12:00:03 +0000 Added protein is showing up in foods from breakfast cereal to pasta, but not many condiments yet. Researchers have now developed an enriched tomato ketchup by incorporating protein extracted from algae. A panel of taste testers preferred recipes containing up to 3% added algal extract, saying the samples maintained the sweet, tangy taste and reddish appearance expected of the condiment. Research_News/Phys.org https://www.science.org/doi/abs/10.1126/sciimmunol.ael0168?af=R Fri, 07 Aug 2026 07:00:00 +0000 Science Immunology, Volume 11, Issue 122, August 2026. Research_News/Science_Immunology https://www.science.org/doi/abs/10.1126/sciimmunol.adv9397?af=R Fri, 07 Aug 2026 07:00:00 +0000 Science Immunology, Volume 11, Issue 122, August 2026. Research_News/Science_Immunology https://www.science.org/doi/abs/10.1126/sciimmunol.aei8902?af=R Fri, 07 Aug 2026 07:00:00 +0000 Science Immunology, Volume 11, Issue 122, August 2026. Research_News/Science_Immunology