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. The COVID-19 pandemic highlighted severe consequences of unchecked respiratory disease, including cytokine storms. This phenomenon affected many COVID-19 patients and is a potential side effect of many other diseases involving significant inflammation, but approaches to treating these symptoms remain unclear. https://phys.org/news/2026-07-cell-vesicles-trigger-lipid-counterstorm.html Bio & Medicine Fri, 31 Jul 2026 14:00:04 EDT news704554321 The modern workday unfolds largely indoors. Long hours spent commuting, sitting in meetings and staring at screens can make time outdoors feel like a luxury. Finding time for nature in an already packed workday can feel impossible, especially if you think nature only "counts" when it involves hiking boots and camping gear. https://phys.org/news/2026-07-9to5-job-mental-health.html Environment Fri, 31 Jul 2026 11:20:05 EDT news704707982 When the COVID-19 pandemic forced in-person classroom instruction to go virtual, students suddenly needed their own laptops or tablets to interact with teachers and complete assignments. https://phys.org/news/2026-07-schools-rethinking-student-laptop.html Education Thu, 30 Jul 2026 14:40:03 EDT news704633401 Researchers from Trinity College Dublin have recovered and analyzed the first ancient smallpox virus genomes ever identified in the Americas, providing the strongest direct evidence to date that the disease was introduced through European colonization. https://phys.org/news/2026-07-ancient-smallpox-genomes-reveal-european.html Evolution Thu, 30 Jul 2026 14:00:04 EDT news704549521 Strategic public investment in research and development (R&D) can begin boosting economic activity immediately, according to a study led by the University of Southampton. The research shows it can also mobilize private R&D, supporting economic growth for years. https://phys.org/news/2026-07-money-private-investment-economic-growth.html Economics & Business Thu, 30 Jul 2026 12:40:06 EDT news704628902 How much of what you see on social media comes from sources that repeatedly post falsehoods? And if that content quietly vanished from your feed, would you believe anything different months later? https://phys.org/news/2026-07-exposure-untrustworthy-social-media-rare.html Social Sciences Thu, 30 Jul 2026 08:40:01 EDT news704611262 Invasive alien species are driving human displacement, according to a new research paper published this month in Frontiers. In Kenya, Opuntia stricta has displaced pastoralist communities, while the invasive little fire ant has led to farm abandonment in New Caledonia, the Galápagos Islands and French Polynesia. Water hyacinth has disrupted fishing livelihoods in much of Africa. https://phys.org/news/2026-07-invasive-species-emerge-driver-human.html Ecology Wed, 29 Jul 2026 18:40:01 EDT news704550791 Feeding wild animals is a popular activity at tourist destinations. While these interactions often appear harmless, scientists are recognizing how supplemental feeding of wild animals can alter ecosystems in unexpected ways. https://phys.org/news/2026-07-bunny-tourism-hidden-consequences-unregulated.html Plants & Animals Wed, 29 Jul 2026 11:20:03 EDT news704539796 Why do some people who embrace conspiracy theories simply hold those beliefs, while others act on them? A new study published in the British Journal of Social Psychology identifies three characteristics that help determine when conspiracy beliefs are most likely to shape real-world behavior: how certain people are that the belief is true, how personally important they consider it, and whether they see it as "actionable"—useful for deciding what to do. https://phys.org/news/2026-07-conspiracy-beliefs-action.html Social Sciences Wed, 29 Jul 2026 10:20:08 EDT news704538721 High schools in Massachusetts are struggling to accomplish the dual goal of helping immigrant newcomers progress toward English language proficiency and master the academic content required to graduate, according to a new report by the Annenberg Institute at Brown University. https://phys.org/news/2026-07-academic-success-immigrant-high-schoolers.html Education Tue, 28 Jul 2026 11:40:01 EDT news704452502 The rapid growth of sustainable finance in recent years has fueled interest in green investment, ranging from green bonds and environmental, social and governance (ESG) funds to energy-efficient cryptocurrencies. While these assets are often grouped under the broader umbrella of green finance, their interaction during periods of market stress remains largely unexplored. https://phys.org/news/2026-07-explores-hedging-capability-cryptocurrencies-turbulent.html Economics & Business Fri, 24 Jul 2026 16:20:01 EDT news704104832 La Trobe University scientists have uncovered the critical role fatty cell structures play in our body's early detection and defense against viruses. Published in Nature Communications, the discovery could open the door to a new type of antiviral strategy that harnesses the body's innate defense mechanisms rather than targeting individual viruses. https://phys.org/news/2026-07-fat-cell-block-viral-antiviral.html Cell & Microbiology Fri, 24 Jul 2026 13:00:01 EDT news704111702 It's no secret that management at major firms such as Starbucks and Tesla isn't exactly a fan of unionization. But for other companies, how does an anti-union stance affect worker output and performance? It might depend on whether that stance is, in fact, a secret. https://phys.org/news/2026-07-stance-unions-affect-worker.html Economics & Business Thu, 23 Jul 2026 13:40:03 EDT news704020022 As the world faces new and often untreatable viral threats, Simon Fraser University researchers have found a way to cut years off the time it takes to discover antiviral drugs. The new research enables scientists to quickly create large libraries of nucleoside analogs (NAs), compounds that mimic the building blocks of DNA and RNA and are widely used to treat cancer and viral infections such as HIV and hepatitis. https://phys.org/news/2026-07-driven-chemistry-method-antiviral-compound.html Analytical Chemistry Wed, 22 Jul 2026 18:20:01 EDT news703948201 Global hunger declined for a third consecutive year in 2025, demonstrating that progress is possible. However, the improvements remain fragile, unevenly distributed and insufficient to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals by 2030, according to The State of Food Security and Nutrition in the World 2026 (SOFI 2026) report, released Tuesday by five United Nations specialized agencies. https://phys.org/news/2026-07-global-hunger-ease-consecutive-year.html Economics & Business Tue, 21 Jul 2026 20:00:01 EDT news703856997 When talking about Hawaiʻi's food security, the conversation often focuses on physical infrastructure—warehouses, cold storage and doubling crop production to reduce the need to import 90% of food. A new policy article by a University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa researcher contends that physical infrastructure and production are essential but incomplete when addressing the challenges. https://phys.org/news/2026-07-key-ingredients-hawaii-food.html Agriculture Tue, 21 Jul 2026 11:20:03 EDT news703844582 As COVID-19 disrupted rural economies, communities living near protected rainforests faced rising uncertainty about jobs, health and basic needs. A new study in The Lancet Planetary Health shows that when communities were supported by health and livelihood programs they designed with local nongovernmental organizations, both people and ecosystems were more resilient. https://phys.org/news/2026-07-community-health-livelihood-rainforests-pandemic.html Environment Tue, 21 Jul 2026 10:20:07 EDT news703843982 As generative artificial intelligence (AI) is increasingly used in translation, questions have been raised about whether it could eventually replace professional interpreters. A joint study led by Lingnan University found that while AI can improve translation efficiency, it is still less capable than professional interpreters at adapting language to context and preserving rhetorical and communicative effects. The researchers conclude that human judgment and oversight remain essential, particularly in politically, diplomatically and culturally sensitive settings. These findings have been published in Humanities and Social Sciences Communications. https://phys.org/news/2026-07-ai-falls-short-context-cultural.html Social Sciences Mon, 20 Jul 2026 12:20:08 EDT news703767301 Increases to the standard federal tax deduction implemented in 2018 were made permanent a year ago, and researchers are beginning to understand the downstream effects on state and local governments. The increased deduction meant many taxpayers received a bigger tax break by taking the standard deduction instead of itemizing their expenses, including state and local taxes (SALT). However, a Penn State research team has found that lower-income taxpayers who take the standard deduction have become more likely to vote against local spending for repairing or building infrastructure or other community services. https://phys.org/news/2026-07-qa-federal-taxes-impact-local.html Economics & Business Mon, 20 Jul 2026 10:00:03 EDT news703750622 Advances in medical technology have improved health in part by bringing key aspects of care, once difficult to access, into the home. Tracking symptoms and even screening for certain types of illness outside of a laboratory or clinical setting puts more control into the hands of patients. https://phys.org/news/2026-07-airpods-sized-fluorescence-analytical-device.html Analytical Chemistry Sun, 19 Jul 2026 14:00:03 EDT news703496954 When schools closed and child care disappeared during the COVID-19 pandemic, millions of working parents faced the same difficult question: Whose job would have to change? https://phys.org/news/2026-07-family-collide-job-flexibility-adjusts.html Social Sciences Sun, 19 Jul 2026 14:00:02 EDT news703687732 A follow-up national survey developed by Western researchers shows workplace harassment and violence continue to be widespread in Canada, with some signs of improvement. The second national survey on harassment and violence at work in Canada was conducted by Western's Center for Research and Education on Violence Against Women and Children (CREVAWC), in partnership with the Canadian Labor Congress. https://phys.org/news/2026-07-workplaces-safer-violence-persist-survey.html Social Sciences Sun, 19 Jul 2026 10:00:01 EDT news703255503 At least 12,000 excess deaths were recorded across nine European countries during June's heat wave, national statistics indicated, a toll that could yet rise as more data are released, according to an AFP analysis. https://phys.org/news/2026-07-excess-deaths-europe-june.html Environment Fri, 17 Jul 2026 06:29:40 EDT news703488553 Studies published in prestigious academic journals receive more attention from scholars and media outlets, shaping public discourse and potentially accelerating academic careers. While the path to publication is often murky, a new analysis of more than 110,000 papers submitted to Science and Science Advances—two leading journals published by the world's largest general science association—reveals that Western scientists, larger teams, top-ranked universities and select regions have slight advantages in acceptance rates. https://phys.org/news/2026-07-reveals-editorial-trends-science-journals.html Education Wed, 15 Jul 2026 14:00:30 EDT news703325741 Scientists from prestigious universities and large research groups are significantly more likely to have their research published in general-interest, top-tier scientific journals. Meanwhile, authors based in China and those studying politics, economics, gender or other social issues face a significant disadvantage. https://phys.org/news/2026-07-analysis-prestige-topic-published.html Social Sciences Wed, 15 Jul 2026 14:00:01 EDT news703318133 The decades-long switch from human-centered to electronically-based trading has changed the way investors participate in and access financial markets. In a new article, researchers analyze how technology has shaped the retail investment market in the United States. While retail investors have seen dramatic drops in costs, hurdles remain in specific markets. The article addresses the implications of the changes for regulations and regulatory oversight. https://phys.org/news/2026-07-electronic-retail-investment.html Economics & Business Tue, 14 Jul 2026 15:20:01 EDT news703255141 The age-old question asks, "If a tree falls in a forest and no one is around to hear it, does it make a sound?" While philosophers and scientists alike have pondered this question for centuries, the more relevant question for today's recreation and wildlife managers is: Does it matter what makes the sound? https://phys.org/news/2026-07-human-noise-alaska-predators-night.html Ecology Tue, 14 Jul 2026 14:40:05 EDT news703246996 New research from Adelaide University has found customers can be an overlooked source of workplace discrimination, leaving gay and bisexual men feeling they must choose between being authentic or protecting themselves from prejudice. https://phys.org/news/2026-07-customer-isnt-reveals-overlooked-source.html Economics & Business Tue, 14 Jul 2026 11:00:09 EDT news703241941 Memories of pandemics are often contentious. They can be disputed, uncomfortable and politically charged. As the COVID-19 pandemic begins to feel more distant, governments, communities and families have started asking how it should be remembered. https://phys.org/news/2026-07-medieval-plague-survivors-left-graffiti.html Archaeology Mon, 13 Jul 2026 09:20:09 EDT news703152182 Domestic and family violence is an epidemic. In 2024, the prime minister declared it a national crisis. Official statistics show time and again that this violence is overwhelmingly perpetrated by men. This is unlikely to be news to most of us—we see it play out in our communities, online and on our screens. https://phys.org/news/2026-07-dozens-men-violence.html Social Sciences Sun, 12 Jul 2026 14:30:01 EDT news702553802