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. Living bacteria embedded in coatings could clean wastewater, capture carbon and generate biofuels—but only if they survive the manufacturing process. Researchers at the University of Surrey and the University of Warwick have developed a method that keeps bacteria submerged throughout coating formation, increasing the number of surviving cells by around 500 times compared to conventional approaches. https://phys.org/news/2026-05-permanently-coating-method-wastewater-treatment.html Biochemistry Sat, 23 May 2026 14:00:05 EDT news698423065 A single scoop of water from an Irish river has revealed evidence not only of Ireland's only frog species—as expected—but also signs of the dreaded B. dendrobatidis fungus, marking the first time this devastating amphibian disease has been spotted in the country and exposing a previously unknown risk to Ireland's frog population. https://phys.org/news/2026-05-river-dna-track-fish-frogs.html Molecular & Computational biology Sat, 09 May 2026 17:00:01 EDT news697300018 University of Birmingham researchers have demonstrated a new method to break down toxic pollutants in wastewater, using sunlight and molecular-thin catalysts created using an innovative "mechanical" approach. Non-degradable dyes originating from industries such as textiles, cosmetics, food, pharmaceuticals, and printing, are among the most prominent sources of industrial pollution. Left untreated, they disperse in both land and water, leading to contamination that poses serious risks to human health and the environment. https://phys.org/news/2026-05-mechanical-method-sunlight-driven-wastewater.html Analytical Chemistry Thu, 07 May 2026 18:30:02 EDT news697392421 Scientists led by the University of Southampton have revealed that an imbalance of nutrients in seawater can cause coral disease—possibly to a greater extent than that from heat stress of warming oceans. New research conducted at Southampton's Coral Reef Laboratory, and with colleagues at the University of Derby, shows disruption of the delicate nutrient balance of the sea can destabilize microbial communities that live in harmony with corals, triggering disease. https://phys.org/news/2026-05-nutrient-imbalance-coral-disease-stress.html Ecology Tue, 05 May 2026 05:00:02 EDT news697105682 A team of scientists from Berlin analyzed water and sediment samples from six water bodies in Berlin and the adjacent federal states of Brandenburg and Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, as well as the inflow and outflow of a wastewater treatment plant in Berlin. The scientists analyzed bacteria found in these samples and detected a higher diversity and load of antibiotic resistance genes in urban samples. The inflow and effluent from the treatment plant were the most heavily contaminated, but resistant bacteria were also found in rural lakes far from urban areas. The study is published in the journal iScience. https://phys.org/news/2026-05-antibiotic-resistant-bacteria-lakes-urban.html Ecology Mon, 04 May 2026 18:00:02 EDT news697125841 Researchers at the University of Bayreuth have discovered a new class of polymers as part of the work carried out within the Collaborative Research Center (CRC) 1357 Microplastics. These polymers are characterized by biodegradable and recyclable properties and can also be processed in a more sustainable way. The researchers report their findings in the journal Small. https://phys.org/news/2026-04-discovery-polymer-class-compostable-alternative.html Polymers Wed, 22 Apr 2026 12:40:04 EDT news696075541 An international study, led by researchers from Griffith University, the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, the Zoological Society of London and the Max Planck Institute of Animal Behavior, is the first to demonstrate the effects of cocaine contamination on fish behavior in the wild rather than in laboratory conditions. https://phys.org/news/2026-04-cocaine-pollution-salmon-behavior-wild.html Plants & Animals Mon, 20 Apr 2026 11:00:15 EDT news695633221 Because methane has around 80 times the warming potential of CO2 over a 20-year period, it has been a major focus for climate action groups. The Global Methane Pledge, launched at COP26 in November 2021, aims to cut human-caused methane emissions by 30% by 2030. https://phys.org/news/2026-04-blended-satellite-reveal-drove-methane.html Earth Sciences Wed, 15 Apr 2026 13:20:05 EDT news695476107 Urban emissions of methane—a potent greenhouse gas—are rising faster than bottom-up accounting estimates anticipated, according to a study led by University of Michigan Engineering. The discrepancy was found with satellite measurements of methane over 92 major cities around the world. For 72 of the cities, there were sufficient data to track changes in methane emissions between 2019 and 2023. Overall, global urban methane emissions in 2023 were 6% higher than 2019 levels and 10% higher than 2020 levels, although they tended to decrease in European cities. https://phys.org/news/2026-04-satellites-reveal-city-methane-emissions.html Earth Sciences Mon, 13 Apr 2026 18:50:01 EDT news695320261 After a successful trip around the moon, everything has been going smoothly on the Orion spacecraft's journey back to Earth—except for the $23 million toilet, which has gotten clogged. https://phys.org/news/2026-04-houston-problem-toilet.html Space Exploration Thu, 09 Apr 2026 04:28:32 EDT news694927657 Worldwide, billions of people rely on water sources whose hygienic quality is unclear or difficult to monitor. Conventional microbiological analysis methods take up to 24 hours, are costly, and require specialized laboratories for evaluation. These delays complicate the provision of safe drinking water, decision-making during flood events, or in regions with insufficient laboratory infrastructure. Researchers at the Federal Institute for Materials Research and Testing (BAM) have now developed a portable rapid test capable of detecting the molecule urobilin at extremely low concentrations. Their study is published in ACS Sensors. https://phys.org/news/2026-04-smartphone-rapid-microbiologically-contaminated-minute.html Biochemistry Thu, 02 Apr 2026 13:40:03 EDT news694346643 A review finds that antibiotic resistance genes—capable of undermining modern medicine—can travel through the air across both cities and farmland, and argues that airborne spread represents an overlooked public health risk. https://phys.org/news/2026-04-air-surveillance-reveals-hidden-reservoirs.html Ecology Wed, 01 Apr 2026 09:19:44 EDT news694253901 Each year, antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is responsible for an estimated 1.1 to 1.4 million deaths worldwide. Now, scientists have found evidence that the spread of AMR isn't always driven by bacteria evolving to resist the antibiotics themselves: rather, certain weedkillers can have the same effect. https://phys.org/news/2026-03-agricultural-soils-exposed-controversial-weedkiller.html Cell & Microbiology Tue, 24 Mar 2026 01:00:01 EDT news693477721 Detergents may begin their journey by cleaning our clothes, but they end up contaminating the environment, flowing into rivers, ponds, and oceans, where they severely disrupt aquatic animal life. Even after wastewater treatment, some chemicals remain and pass through filtration systems, continuing to pollute natural water bodies. A team of researchers from China explored the question: What if our clothes could be washed without detergent? https://phys.org/news/2026-03-fabric-detergent.html Polymers Mon, 23 Mar 2026 11:20:03 EDT news693479435 Kitchen sponges are considered a potential, yet largely understudied, source of microplastics in households. A study in Environmental Advances investigated how many microplastic particles are released from kitchen sponges during use and what environmental impacts result. The paper is titled "From sink to sea: Microplastic release from kitchen sponges and potential environmental effects." https://phys.org/news/2026-03-dishwashing-side-effects-kitchen-sponges.html Environment Sat, 21 Mar 2026 14:00:03 EDT news693046153 Every time we do a load of laundry, tiny fibers of polyester escape from our clothes and slip down the drain. These microfibers, so small they can be invisible to the naked eye, are among the most common forms of microplastic in the ocean. Yet, new research published in Journal of Geophysical Research: Oceans shows that most of them may not make it that far. https://phys.org/news/2026-03-rivers-tidal-currents-microfibers-oceans.html Earth Sciences Fri, 20 Mar 2026 14:40:01 EDT news693227053 Antidepressants and other psychoactive drugs are designed to affect the human brain. But after they enter the water system in excrement or unused drugs flushed down the drain, traces of these compounds can enter the environment in biosolids—the nutrient-rich material left over after wastewater treatment that is used as fertilizer. New research suggests an unexpected mitigation strategy: using wood-rotting fungi that can break down these chemicals before they reach soil, crops, and people. https://phys.org/news/2026-03-white-fungi-pharmaceutical-residues-biosolids.html Biochemistry Wed, 18 Mar 2026 18:30:01 EDT news693072902 Substances capable of mutating human genetic material—altering and permanently damaging it—are present in many everyday products. Researchers at Justus Liebig University Giessen (JLU) have, for the first time, detected mutagens and concurrently cytotoxic substances in food, meat, smoke flavorings, personal care products, and even water. https://phys.org/news/2026-03-lipstick-flags-hidden-mutagens.html Analytical Chemistry Tue, 17 Mar 2026 16:50:01 EDT news692981102 In areas where freshwater is scarce, farmers often turn to treated wastewater to irrigate crops. And many regulators and consumers worry about exposing food to compounds routinely found in wastewater, including many psychoactive medications that treat mental disorders. But new research from Johns Hopkins University has found that certain crops—tomatoes, carrots, and lettuce—store those chemicals in their leaves. This may be good news for tomato and carrot lovers who eat the fruit and roots of those vegetables, respectively. https://phys.org/news/2026-03-good-news-wastewater-irrigation-crops.html Molecular & Computational biology Thu, 12 Mar 2026 17:40:02 EDT news692537462 What governs the speed at which raindrops fall, sediment settles in river estuaries, and matter is ejected during a supernova? These questions circle around one, deceitfully simple factor: the rate at which a fluid filled with particles mixes with a particle-free one. Raindrops travel from one layer of air to another; sediment falls from river to seawater, and ejecta travels from the exploding star through the surrounding dust cloud. The same principle dictates sediment mixing in rising smoke, dust storms, nuclear explosions, hydrocarbon refining, metal smelting, wastewater treatment, and more. https://phys.org/news/2026-03-fluid-simulation-unprecedented-scale-toolkit.html General Physics Wed, 11 Mar 2026 17:10:07 EDT news692463481 The growth form of giant kelp (Macrocystis pyrifera) is composed of shoots known as stipes instead of branches. From one parent holding fast to the hard bottom might come as many as 150 stipes. Typically, the tips of the biggest kelp bob at the ocean surface and calm the waters, appearing as patches of gold visible from land—a sign of the good health of the ecosystem that it anchors. But the kelp, as San Diego knows it, is in trouble. https://phys.org/news/2026-03-marine-biologists-family-history-san.html Plants & Animals Thu, 05 Mar 2026 17:20:03 EST news691947061 Viruses such as human norovirus can travel in vesicles, small fluid-filled sacs that are like shipping containers for cells. Viruses hidden in these containers are often harder to detect and may be more infectious than free-floating viral material. In addition, their prevalence in the environment remains relatively unknown, raising public health concerns. https://phys.org/news/2026-03-isolating-vesicle-cloaked-viruses-city.html Environment Mon, 02 Mar 2026 18:00:02 EST news691689129 The amount of greenhouse gases produced by the wastewater sector may be higher than reports suggest. According to a paper published in the journal Nature Climate Change, countries are missing out on reporting a significant portion of their emissions. https://phys.org/news/2026-02-methane-countries-underestimating-wastewater-greenhouse.html Environment Sat, 28 Feb 2026 13:00:02 EST news691247217 Duckweed is the fastest-growing flowering plant, but new knowledge of duckweed genetics discovered by Adelaide University researchers could lead to even faster growing rates. The research team, led by Professor Nikolai Borisjuk at the Institute of Cell Biology and Genetic Engineering in Kyiv, Ukraine, described for the first time the architecture of the duckweed 5S ribosomal DNA (rDNA) chromosomal locus at the nucleotide level. https://phys.org/news/2026-02-genetic-discovery-faster-duckweed.html Molecular & Computational biology Fri, 27 Feb 2026 13:00:03 EST news691410782 A study published in the Chemical Engineering Journal proposes a new approach to environmental remediation of pharmaceutical pollutants in water flows. This approach is based on a phenomenon known as "sparks," which refers to the sparks that appear on the surface of a metal when it is subjected to plasma electrolytic oxidation (PEO). https://phys.org/news/2026-02-high-energy-degrade-pollutants-generating.html Analytical Chemistry Thu, 26 Feb 2026 19:20:03 EST news691346581 A University of Missouri researcher is pioneering an innovative solution to remove tiny bits of plastic pollution from our water. Mizzou's Susie Dai recently applied a revolutionary strain of algae toward capturing and removing harmful microplastics from polluted water. Driven by a mission to improve the world for both wildlife and humans, Dai also aims to repurpose the collected microplastics into safe, bioplastic products such as composite plastic films. https://phys.org/news/2026-02-lab-grown-algae-microplastics.html Biotechnology Mon, 02 Feb 2026 14:30:11 EST news689264522 Industrial dye pollution remains one of the most persistent and hazardous challenges in global wastewater management. The dyes from textile and chemical manufacturing sectors are difficult to remove, non-biodegradable, and can be toxic to plants, animals, and humans. However, conventional treatment technologies for dyes often fail to efficiently purify the wastewater without significant trade-offs. https://phys.org/news/2026-01-3d-covalent-framework-sustainable-solution.html Analytical Chemistry Fri, 30 Jan 2026 12:59:25 EST news689000341 It's been known for nearly a century that swarms of single-celled organisms thrive by consuming chemicals from their environments and expelling methane gas as a byproduct. In 2024, researchers in the laboratory of Roland Hatzenpichler, associate professor in the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry in Montana State University's College of Letters and Science, published the first-ever descriptions of methane-producing microbes outside the lineage Euryarchaeota, which—in a study published on the bioRxiv preprint server—they have confirmed to be ubiquitous in the environment. https://phys.org/news/2025-12-newly-microbes-assumptions-methane-production.html Ecology Thu, 18 Dec 2025 16:11:26 EST news685296661 When University at Buffalo chemists analyzed samples of water, fish, and bird eggs, they weren't surprised to find plenty of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). After all, these "forever chemicals" turn up nearly everywhere in the environment. https://phys.org/news/2025-12-tracking-chemicals-food-web-isomers.html Biochemistry Tue, 02 Dec 2025 16:32:24 EST news683915521 A comprehensive study by the CritMET research group, led by Prof. Michael Bau, a geochemist at Constructor University in Bremen, provides evidence of widespread contamination of the North Sea and the Baltic Sea with MRI contrast agents. As modern wastewater treatment plants cannot remove these contaminants from the wastewater, they can freely enter the environment and pollute rivers and lakes. Recently published research from a Bremen area group has shown that rare earth elements directly attributed to MRIs are now present in the North and the Baltic seas. https://phys.org/news/2025-11-north-baltic-seas-widespread-contamination.html Environment Wed, 26 Nov 2025 17:30:01 EST news683385699