https://phys.org/ en-us Phys.org internet news portal provides the latest news on science including: Physics, Nanotechnology, Life Sciences, Space Science, Earth Science, Environment, Health and Medicine. Florida State University chemists have synthesized new molecules derived from bacteria found in a Pacific Ocean sea sponge, a breakthrough for the future of drug development, particularly for rare forms of cancer. https://phys.org/news/2026-05-chemists-sea-sponge-bacteria-molecules.html Biochemistry Tue, 19 May 2026 16:20:05 EDT news698420435 In every organism, the regulation of cell populations is a constant process. This balance relies on a continuous interplay between "guardian" proteins that promote cell survival and "killer" proteins that trigger programmed cell death, known as apoptosis. Any disruption of this balance can lead to diseases such as cancer. https://phys.org/news/2026-05-decoding-life-death-proteins.html Cell & Microbiology Tue, 19 May 2026 13:00:02 EDT news698408941 RNA technology is regarded as one of the newest frontiers in medicine, but in fact a primordial innovator got there way before we did. The malaria parasite, an ancient single-celled organism, has been using sophisticated RNA maneuvers for millennia. In a study recently published in Cell Reports, researchers at the Weizmann Institute of Science uncover the parasite's RNA strategies—mechanisms that could inspire unexpected applications for RNA-based tools in multiple areas of medicine. https://phys.org/news/2026-04-malaria-parasite-mrna-immune-cell.html Molecular & Computational biology Thu, 30 Apr 2026 15:50:02 EDT news696779701 Nicotine, a potent insecticidal alkaloid unique to the nightshade family, has been employed in agriculture as a pesticide since 1690. It also has therapeutic potential for neurological disorders such as Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, and depression. Despite its profound influence on human history, agriculture, and plant evolution, however, the final steps of nicotine biosynthesis have remained unclear until now. https://phys.org/news/2026-04-nicotine-biosynthesis-wild-tobacco-mystery.html Plants & Animals Fri, 10 Apr 2026 19:20:01 EDT news695047138 EPFL scientists have discovered that a simple shape change in mitochondria helps cells evenly distribute their mitochondrial DNA, solving a long-standing puzzle. https://phys.org/news/2026-04-mitochondria-genome.html Cell & Microbiology Thu, 02 Apr 2026 14:00:06 EDT news694281721 Many emerging medical technologies rely on seamless integration between biological systems and electronics. This requires materials that are soft, electrically conductive, and biologically active—properties that have been difficult to combine in a single system. Research teams led by Prof. Dr. Ivan Minev (TUD Dresden University of Technology, Leibniz Institute of Polymer Research Dresden) and by Dr. Christoph Tondera (Leibniz Institute of Polymer Research Dresden and Center for Regenerative Therapies Dresden at TUD) have now developed such a material. https://phys.org/news/2026-03-hydrogel-enables-electrical-biochemical.html Biochemistry Tue, 31 Mar 2026 17:20:05 EDT news694182121 Biomolecular condensates are tiny, droplet-like structures made up of molecules that help organize key processes in living organisms. Because they are so small and constantly changing, it has been difficult for scientists to measure their physical properties or control how they behave. Leiden researchers at the Mashaghi Lab have now discovered a surprising new way to shape and control tiny droplets of molecules found in living organisms. The breakthrough could lead to smarter biomaterials, improve drug delivery and even new insights into the emergence of life on Earth. The work is published in Nature Communications. https://phys.org/news/2026-03-life-molecular-droplets-uv.html Biotechnology Mon, 30 Mar 2026 19:00:07 EDT news694102910 Researchers from Xi'an Jiaotong-Liverpool University (XJTLU) in China have developed a streamlined process that makes it easier to produce tiny therapeutic particles released by cells, called exosomes, which are being explored as a new type of medical treatment. Using a nanoparticle-based system, the researchers were able to overcome a major barrier that has slowed the medical and industrial deployment of these therapies. Their findings were published in the journal Advanced Science. https://phys.org/news/2026-03-nanoparticles-enable-large-scale-production.html Bio & Medicine Tue, 24 Mar 2026 04:00:01 EDT news693133120 In the earliest phase of creating human proteins, the protein complex NAC performs an essential task by starting the first steps toward folding proteins into their correct three-dimensional structures. An international research team led by scientists from the Center for Molecular Biology of Heidelberg University has found that the NAC complex binds to the nascent protein building blocks formed by the ribosome, i.e., the amino acid chains, and initiates the folding that is essential for functional proteins. https://phys.org/news/2026-03-protein-synthesis.html Cell & Microbiology Mon, 23 Mar 2026 18:30:02 EDT news693505082 An international research team from Bielefeld University and the Leibniz-Forschungsinstitut für Molekulare Pharmakologie (FMP) has uncovered a previously unknown regulatory mechanism in human cells. For the first time, they demonstrate how a key molecular switch regulates the cell's "recycling centers." The findings, published in Nature Communications, provide important insights into the understanding of cancer and neurodegenerative diseases. https://phys.org/news/2026-03-lysosome-reshape-cancer-neurodegenerative-disease.html Cell & Microbiology Sun, 22 Mar 2026 15:00:02 EDT news693058440 Rendering a drug effective or ineffective in a flash at the appropriate location—this is the focus of research in photopharmacology. The goal is to develop drugs that can be switched on and off with light of a specific wavelength. Orally administered medications could then be selectively activated by irradiating only a specific part of the body with light; the medication would remain ineffective in the rest of the body—thus reducing side effects. For example, a drug intended to lower blood pressure in the heart could then be activated only there; other organs with identical binding sites for the active ingredient would remain unaffected. https://phys.org/news/2026-03-medicines-side-effects-switchable-beta.html Biochemistry Thu, 19 Mar 2026 15:40:03 EDT news693143281 Accurately measuring small shifts in biological markers, like proteins and neurotransmitters, or harmful chemicals in the water supply, can identify critical problems before they have a chance to impact patients or the environment. While some existing sensors can monitor the microscopic matter behind these issues, they often have limitations. A primary example is a device known as a field-effect transistor—a tiny component that controls the flow of electrical current in a system—that struggles to remain stable when exposed to liquid. https://phys.org/news/2026-03-graphene-sensors-stay-stable-liquids.html Nanomaterials Tue, 17 Mar 2026 17:10:01 EDT news692981281 An international team led by researchers from the University Medical Center Göttingen (UMG), Germany, has used advanced electron microscopy technologies to capture key cellular mechanisms of stress resistance with near-atomic precision. They were able to show that the protein mHsp60, which helps other proteins to adopt their functional form, remodels its structure under stress conditions and thereby increases its activity to ensure mitochondrial functionality. https://phys.org/news/2026-03-high-resolution-electron-microscopy-cellular.html Cell & Microbiology Mon, 16 Mar 2026 19:40:01 EDT news692895241 A drug to treat Parkinson's disease can be made from waste plastic bottles using a pioneering method, a study shows. The approach harnesses the power of bacteria to transform post-consumer plastic into L-DOPA, a frontline medication for the neurological disorder. It is the first time a natural, biological process has been engineered to turn plastic waste into a therapeutic for a neurological disease, researchers say. https://phys.org/news/2026-03-plastic-bottles-parkinson-drug-bacteria.html Cell & Microbiology Mon, 16 Mar 2026 06:00:03 EDT news692627939 Researchers at the University of Michigan have discovered that the constant gnawing of rodents isn't just a reflex or a consequence of a tough diet. It also triggers a release of dopamine in the brain—which acts as a biochemical reward or incentive—through a newly identified neural circuit. https://phys.org/news/2026-03-gnaw-nature-neural-circuit-rewards.html Plants & Animals Tue, 10 Mar 2026 17:00:01 EDT news692371482 Using a tool to solve a protein's structure, for most researchers in the world of structural biology and computational chemistry, is not unlike using the Rosetta Stone to unlock the secrets of ancient Egyptian texts. Once a protein's structure has been discovered or defined, one can infer crucial information about its function or, in a diseased state, its dysfunction. While researchers have been pursuing the quest of solving protein structure for decades, advancing tools and computing technologies offer a new frontier for this work. https://phys.org/news/2026-03-ai-enabled-quantum-refinement-code.html Biotechnology Tue, 10 Mar 2026 15:00:11 EDT news692362959 The origin of many diseases begins at the cellular level and involves multiple molecular interactions. However, previous methods have struggled to accurately observe changes in individual cells. Analyzing average values across thousands of cells made it challenging to detect the early signals of disease. https://phys.org/news/2026-03-simultaneously-decoding-transcriptome-epigenome-3d.html Cell & Microbiology Fri, 06 Mar 2026 13:00:01 EST news692023921 Innate immune sensors—known as pattern recognition receptors (PRRs)—detect specific molecular components of bacterial or viral intruders. The PRRs forward the signals which results in the production of interferons, which in turn guide the immune cells. However, until now the precise mechanism of how these signals are forwarded has remained enigmatic. https://phys.org/news/2026-03-molecular-inborn-immunity.html Cell & Microbiology Fri, 06 Mar 2026 12:00:02 EST news692019422 Mitochondria are essential for cell survival, repair, and adaptation. Not only do they generate most of the energy needed during a cell's life, but they also regulate cell death, calcium balance, and responses to stress. When mitochondria fail, which is a common feature of neurodegenerative diseases and many inflammatory and metabolic disorders, cells lose their ability to meet energy demands and maintain internal stability. https://phys.org/news/2026-03-cells-isolated-mitochondria-energy-function.html Cell & Microbiology Wed, 04 Mar 2026 17:00:05 EST news691859941 After more than a decade of research, scientists have discovered the natural mechanism behind a novel form of cell death called ferroptosis. The work, described in the current issue of Cell, points toward an entirely new strategy for treating many types of cancer and neurodegenerative diseases. https://phys.org/news/2026-03-discovery-natural-mechanism-ferroptosis-longstanding.html Cell & Microbiology Tue, 03 Mar 2026 17:20:01 EST news691770662 Intracellular protein trafficking and secretion of proteins into the extracellular environment are sequential and tightly regulated processes in eukaryotic cells. Conventionally, proteins that are bound for secretion harbor an N-terminal signal peptide that guides their movement from the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) and Golgi apparatus to the exterior of the cell. https://phys.org/news/2025-05-autophagy-lysosomal-pathways-orchestrate-unconventional.html Cell & Microbiology Fri, 23 May 2025 08:29:05 EDT news667207742 An international research collaboration led by Rutgers University-New Brunswick scientists that examined microscopic blobs of protein found in human cells has discovered that some morph from an almost honey-like substance to a hard candy-like solid. https://phys.org/news/2025-04-scientists-reveal-protein-linked-parkinson.html Cell & Microbiology Fri, 18 Apr 2025 14:00:03 EDT news664167770 Parkinson's disease (PD) is the second most common neurodegenerative disorder, primarily characterized by motor dysfunction. Its pathological hallmark is the abnormal aggregation of α-synuclein (α-syn) into insoluble fibrils and Lewy bodies, leading to the degeneration and death of dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra of the midbrain. https://phys.org/news/2025-01-nanoparticles-neurons-parkinson-wireless-brain.html Bio & Medicine Thu, 16 Jan 2025 11:13:04 EST news656248382 Is it possible for nanoparticles to go through the digestive system and deliver medicine directly to the brain tissue? Researchers from Michigan State University say yes, and their latest findings are expected to benefit patients with neurodegenerative disorders like multiple sclerosis, or MS; amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, or ALS; and Parkinson's disease, or PD. https://phys.org/news/2024-04-standards-nanoparticles-patients-ms-als.html Bio & Medicine Fri, 19 Apr 2024 12:31:23 EDT news632748680 University of Minnesota Twin Cities researchers have developed a new diagnostic technique that will allow for faster and more accurate detection of neurodegenerative diseases. The method will likely open a door for earlier treatment and mitigation of various diseases that affect humans, such as Alzheimer's and Parkinson's, and similar diseases that affect animals, such as chronic wasting disease (CWD). https://phys.org/news/2023-05-technique-rapid-neurodegenerative-diseases-parkinson.html Bio & Medicine Mon, 08 May 2023 14:02:48 EDT news602773364 Organic chemists at UCLA have created the first synthetic version of a molecule recently discovered in a sea sponge that may have therapeutic benefits for Parkinson's disease and similar disorders. The molecule, known as lissodendoric acid A, appears to counteract other molecules that can damage DNA, RNA and proteins and even destroy whole cells. https://phys.org/news/2023-01-chemists-ocean-based-molecule-parkinson.html Biochemistry Fri, 20 Jan 2023 04:26:04 EST news593411155 Flexible implanted electronics are a step closer toward clinical applications thanks to a recent breakthrough technology developed by a research team from Griffith University and UNSW Sydney. https://phys.org/news/2022-08-ultra-thin-tough-implantable-material-spinal.html Bio & Medicine Wed, 10 Aug 2022 08:33:18 EDT news579339194 In about a fifth of the cases of Parkinson's disease, look to a small, malfunctioning protein in the lysosome as a risk factor, say University of Michigan researchers. https://phys.org/news/2022-06-reveal-molecular-mechanism-parkinson-disease.html Cell & Microbiology Thu, 23 Jun 2022 12:31:50 EDT news575206305 Nanosized molecules of a particular chemical element can inhibit the formation of plaque in the brain tissues. This new discovery by researchers at Umeå University, Sweden, in collaboration with researchers in Croatia and Lithuania, provides renewed hope for novel treatments of, for instance, Alzheimer's and Parkinson's disease in the long run. https://phys.org/news/2021-07-discovery-nanosized-molecules-inhibit-alzheimer.html Bio & Medicine Thu, 01 Jul 2021 08:06:15 EDT news544345573 Scientists have produced a tomato enriched in the Parkinson's disease drug L-DOPA in what could become a new, affordable source of one of the world's essential medicines. https://phys.org/news/2020-12-tomatoes-source-parkinson-disease-drug.html Plants & Animals Wed, 09 Dec 2020 10:54:11 EST news526733643