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. For decades, biologists assumed a cell's energy simply diffused to wherever it was needed. It turns out the most important destination of all has a private delivery line. https://phys.org/news/2026-06-cells-secret-power-line-nucleus.html Cell & Microbiology Wed, 10 Jun 2026 17:30:03 EDT news700328042 How did life make the leap from single cells to coordinated, multicellular organisms? And how do genetically identical cells still perform a version of that feat every time an embryo begins to take shape? https://phys.org/news/2026-06-story-multicellular-life-physics-genes.html Evolution Tue, 02 Jun 2026 13:20:10 EDT news699616835 Cells are typically studied outside the body under controlled laboratory conditions. However, conventional flat cell culture methods do not fully reproduce the complex three-dimensional environments that cells experience in living tissues. Tiny hydrogel capsules offer one way to culture cells in a confined three-dimensional space, allowing researchers to study how cells grow, organize and interact under more tissue-like conditions. Current methods to do this come with a high cost and a set of requirements that put such research out of reach to many. https://phys.org/news/2026-06-workflow-uniform-cell-capsules-standard.html Cell & Microbiology Mon, 01 Jun 2026 16:20:07 EDT news699544861 Highlights from the last week of May, 2026: A key climate tipping point is disrupting the Arctic Ocean food chain (more of a lowlight, I guess). Scuba-diving tourism may not be the benefit to coral reef systems that we once thought, and might actually be unsustainable. And an experimental mRNA vaccine showed promising results against strains of Ebola. https://phys.org/news/2026-05-saturday-citations-failure-cellular-mortality.html Other Sat, 30 May 2026 09:20:02 EDT news699280662 The outer regions of the brain, the cortex, have specific layers of different cells—neurons—that are similarly ordered among all mammals, from tiny mouse brains to huge elephant brains. However, the proportions of different cell layers vary widely among species, and little is known about how and why this variation happens. https://phys.org/news/2026-05-early-brain-growth-mammals-cortexes.html Evolution Tue, 26 May 2026 10:40:01 EDT news699003541 What are the first steps that chart the path for a cell to become a blood cell, neuron cell, or pigment cell? Scientists have developed increasingly powerful tools to track those changes, but one challenge has persisted: understanding not just where cells are headed, but which regulators steer them to their final fate. https://phys.org/news/2026-05-ai-tool-cells-future-uncover.html Cell & Microbiology Mon, 11 May 2026 16:20:06 EDT news697733257 The development of an embryo is one of the most fundamental processes in biology. Early in this process, it is determined which cells will give rise to which tissues—controlled by epigenetic marks such as DNA methylation. Researchers at LMU have now shown that, rather surprisingly, this highly complex process is governed by physical laws. https://phys.org/news/2026-04-embryo-epigenome-universal-physical-reshaping.html Cell & Microbiology Wed, 29 Apr 2026 17:50:01 EDT news696696721 For centuries, the inability to regrow lost body parts has been considered a defining limitation of humans and other mammals. While animals like salamanders can regenerate entire limbs, humans are left with scar tissue. But new research from the Texas A&M College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences (VMBS) suggests that this limitation may not be permanent. Instead, the capacity for regeneration may still exist—hidden within the body's normal healing process. https://phys.org/news/2026-04-humans-regrow-tissue-science-closer.html Cell & Microbiology Thu, 23 Apr 2026 15:00:01 EDT news696165421 Picture this: your brain is a high-performance engine. Over decades, it doesn't just wear down, it also starts to run hot. Tiny "fires" of inflammation smolder deep within the brain's memory center, creating a persistent brain fog that makes it harder to think, form new memories or even adapt to new environments, all the while increasing the risk to disorders like Alzheimer's disease. https://phys.org/news/2026-04-nasal-spray-rewinds-aging-brain.html Bio & Medicine Tue, 14 Apr 2026 14:20:03 EDT news695386081 New research by an interdisciplinary team in Lithuania has revealed a promising and unconventional approach to cartilage regeneration. Using extracellular vesicles derived from menstrual blood stromal cells, the researchers demonstrated their potential to stimulate cartilage repair—paving the way for a future cell-free therapy for osteoarthritis. https://phys.org/news/2026-04-menstrual-blood-derived-particles-osteoarthritis.html Bio & Medicine Fri, 10 Apr 2026 11:40:03 EDT news695034481 A study published in Cell Research advances a central idea in stem cell biology by identifying a checkpoint that controls the identity of many different types of stem cells across developmental stages. For nearly two decades, scientists have understood that stem cell self-renewal depends on blocking differentiation signals—a concept described in earlier work, including Qi-Long Ying and Austin Smith's 2008 Nature paper titled "The ground state of embryonic stem cell self-renewal." https://phys.org/news/2026-04-stemness-checkpoint-stem-cell-identity.html Cell & Microbiology Wed, 08 Apr 2026 20:00:04 EDT news694884782 Creating artificial systems that mimic the functioning of cells is one of the goals of what is known as synthetic biology. These models, known as synthetic or biomimetic cells, allow some of the basic processes of life to be reproduced in the laboratory to better understand how natural cells work and develop new technologies. In this context, a study involving a team of researchers from the Center for Research in Biological Chemistry and Molecular Materials (CiQUS) of the University of Santiago (USC) proposes a more flexible chemical strategy to create this type of system. https://phys.org/news/2026-04-advancing-synthetic-cells-flexible-replicate.html Biochemistry Mon, 06 Apr 2026 18:10:06 EDT news694712221 In the world of advanced materials, the ultimate goal is to create a substance that possesses the adaptability of biological tissue: it must be strong enough to maintain its shape, yet fluid enough to be molded. The research team at National Taiwan University (NTU) has achieved this balance by developing a sophisticated CGB hydrogel system, with their findings recently published in the journal Carbohydrate Polymers. https://phys.org/news/2026-04-dual-network-chapter-3d-printable.html Polymers Sun, 05 Apr 2026 16:00:03 EDT news694363198 Cells are not isolated units; they continuously exchange proteins, genetic material, and even entire organelles with their neighbors. Intercellular transfer influences how tissues develop, respond to stress, and repair damage. In certain cancers, for example, tumor cells can acquire mitochondria from nearby cells to sustain growth; similar exchanges are also linked to aging processes. However, despite massive advances in gene-editing and molecular-targeting technologies, we still lack the tools to directly and reliably manipulate the cytoplasmic composition of living cells. https://phys.org/news/2026-04-nanotube-injector-cytoplasmic-contents-organelles.html Bio & Medicine Fri, 03 Apr 2026 10:40:04 EDT news694431001 Collagen is an important protein that helps build the tissues of humans and animals. It is very strong because it is made of three protein strands twisted tightly together like a rope. Because of this sturdy structure, ordinary protein-cutting enzymes usually cannot break it down. https://phys.org/news/2026-04-bacterial-enzyme-donut-shred-tough.html Cell & Microbiology Fri, 03 Apr 2026 09:33:10 EDT news694427529 Swallowing is a fundamental human function that supports nutrition and communication. Damage to swallowing muscles can reduce quality of life and even lead to aspiration pneumonia or malnutrition. Many patients suffer from swallowing difficulties after being treated for head or neck cancer, and swallowing disorders are also common in older adults, yet effective therapies have been limited. https://phys.org/news/2026-03-swallowing-nanogel-tweak-therapeutic-stem.html Bio & Medicine Wed, 11 Mar 2026 14:20:04 EDT news692447342 Although it also performs some functions in men, estrogen, the main female sex hormone, is involved in a myriad of processes, which is why the body changes so much during menopause. This is because estrogens regulate hundreds of genes. https://phys.org/news/2025-12-cells-estrogen-dna-supercoiled.html Cell & Microbiology Mon, 22 Dec 2025 14:42:23 EST news685636921 Canine induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cells possess the ability to differentiate into any type of cell, making them a useful tool for investigating common canine diseases and disease states, including those of humans. https://phys.org/news/2025-12-medium-canine-stem-cells-doesnt.html Cell & Microbiology Fri, 12 Dec 2025 13:46:14 EST news684769562 Two recently published studies led by Brazilian scientists reveal the key roles of multifunctional proteins, STIP1 and Maspin, in vital cellular processes. https://phys.org/news/2025-11-roles-stip1-maspin-proteins-cell.html Cell & Microbiology Wed, 19 Nov 2025 16:20:04 EST news682791601 A research team in South Korea has successfully developed a novel technology that combines nanoparticles with stem cells to significantly improve 3D bone tissue regeneration. This advancement marks a step forward in the treatment of bone fractures and injuries, as well as in next-generation regenerative medicine. https://phys.org/news/2025-11-nanoparticlestem-cell-hybrids-horizon-bone.html Bio & Medicine Wed, 12 Nov 2025 10:14:03 EST news682164841 A team of researchers from the National Institutes for Quantum Science and Technology (QST) and Tokyo Metropolitan University has developed a biomaterial that could change how we treat muscle degeneration and metabolic disorders. https://phys.org/news/2025-11-soft-gel-advance-enables-lab.html Cell & Microbiology Mon, 03 Nov 2025 15:20:04 EST news681405602 A new study published in Nature Biotechnology shows that stem cell differentiation is linked to cellular structures called P-bodies, providing a potential means of controlling cell identity. Researchers at Baylor College of Medicine, the University of Colorado Boulder and collaborating institutions studied P-bodies in various developmental stages across multiple vertebrate species and found that selective RNA sequestration directed cell fate transitions. https://phys.org/news/2025-10-cell-identity-rna-sequestration-p.html Cell & Microbiology Tue, 28 Oct 2025 14:19:03 EDT news680879941 Researchers have developed a novel application of histological staining to screen for ancient proteins in situ—within the fossil's microstructure—advancing the field of paleoproteomics by addressing long-standing challenges of contamination. https://phys.org/news/2025-10-visualizing-ancient-proteins-technique-reliably.html Molecular & Computational biology Mon, 20 Oct 2025 14:20:04 EDT news680188801 Controlling the state of a cell in a desired direction is one of the central challenges in life sciences, including drug development, cancer treatment, and regenerative medicine. However, identifying the right drug or genetic target for that purpose is extremely difficult. https://phys.org/news/2025-10-generative-ai-cell-drug-responses.html Cell & Microbiology Thu, 16 Oct 2025 10:11:03 EDT news679828261 EPFL researchers have uncovered how transcription factor dosage reshapes cell identity, showing that even small differences in dose can steer cells toward completely different fates. Their findings reveal a new layer of control in cell reprogramming. https://phys.org/news/2025-10-dose-reprogramming-cells.html Cell & Microbiology Wed, 15 Oct 2025 12:13:04 EDT news679749182 Egg whites may be perfect for a health-conscious breakfast, but egg yolks turned out to be the key ingredient for cultivating bird embryonic stem cells (ESCs) in the lab. Using a growing medium of egg yolk along with a few other key factors, a USC Stem Cell-led team of scientists has succeeded in deriving and maintaining authentic ESCs from chickens and seven other bird species. https://phys.org/news/2025-09-egg-yolk-key-authentic-embryonic.html Cell & Microbiology Tue, 30 Sep 2025 12:07:04 EDT news678452821 When model cell membranes bind to biomaterials, it is not the binding strength but the speed of the receptors in the membranes that is crucial. This was discovered by an international research team led by chemist Professor Dr. Shikha Dhiman from Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz. https://phys.org/news/2025-09-molecular-movement-cell-membranes-biomaterials.html Cell & Microbiology Fri, 19 Sep 2025 13:37:59 EDT news677507873 Imagine being able to flip a light switch to control disease pathways inside a living cell. A team of visionary researchers at the Texas A&M University Health Science Center (Texas A&M Health) is making this dream a reality with their genetic tools known as photo-inducible binary interaction tools, or PhoBITs. https://phys.org/news/2025-09-compact-genetic-safer-precise-disease.html Biotechnology Tue, 09 Sep 2025 10:40:05 EDT news676632577 In the past, scientists believed that the fast-acting biochemistry of genes and proteins was responsible for directing the forces that shape developing organs. But a new study from Syracuse University shows that steady, powerful flows of tissue might be equally significant in shaping an organ's development as biochemistry. By understanding this physical process, doctors could find ways to prevent or treat human illness. https://phys.org/news/2025-08-steady-tissue-important-genes-biochemistry.html Molecular & Computational biology Thu, 21 Aug 2025 14:56:03 EDT news675006961 Researchers at Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center, part of the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, have documented their use of a new RNA sequencing technology to uncover molecular drivers of cellular differentiation that could lead to better regenerative therapies. https://phys.org/news/2025-08-nascent-rna-profiling-uncovers-molecular.html Cell & Microbiology Fri, 08 Aug 2025 09:44:04 EDT news673865041