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. A new genetic screening method allows researchers to efficiently modulate individual genes across entire tissues and provides new insights into human development. The research, published in eLife, is described as a landmark study by the journal's editors. They go on to say in their assessment of the work that "this technical tour de force is exceptional and one of the first studies to reveal new knowledge on human development through embryo models." https://phys.org/news/2026-07-unveils-genetic-screen-human.html Biotechnology Tue, 07 Jul 2026 14:20:11 EDT news702646951 An international team, including the University of Tokyo, has created a sensor inspired by the lateral line in fish—their "sixth sense" organ—which measures the pulse of lab-grown 3D heart tissue (cardiac organoids). The device, called a biomechanical well plate, looks like a small white box containing four liquid-filled wells. https://phys.org/news/2026-06-mini-artificial-heartbeat.html Biotechnology Sun, 05 Jul 2026 09:00:04 EDT news702009512 Human embryo models can help researchers study early human development and infertility without relying solely on human embryos. As the technology advances, these models are becoming more complex and can be maintained in culture for longer periods. These developments have raised new questions about how such research should be regulated. https://phys.org/news/2026-07-rethinking-human-embryo-japan-guidelines.html Cell & Microbiology Thu, 02 Jul 2026 11:00:01 EDT news702142741 Korea Research Institute of Standards and Science has developed a toxicity assessment system that automatically measures and analyzes the heart rate of Daphnia magna. Capable of processing heart rate data from approximately 150 individuals per hour, the system can assess the toxic effects of pollutants at low concentrations more sensitively than conventional methods that rely on average values from a small number of specimens. The technology is expected to help detect early warning signs of hazardous nanomaterials and environmental pollutants before more visible effects appear. https://phys.org/news/2026-06-automated-early-nanomaterials-toxicity.html Analytical Chemistry Wed, 24 Jun 2026 12:00:06 EDT news701516770 Researchers at The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST) have uncovered how mutations in a specific gene can trigger a rare respiratory disease, shedding light on the critical role played by cellular structures known as cilia. Cilia are tiny hair-like organelles extruding from the surface of most cell types, serving either sensory or motile functions. https://phys.org/news/2026-06-reveal-pathogenesis-rare-respiratory-disease.html Cell & Microbiology Mon, 22 Jun 2026 13:40:04 EDT news701350441 Humans develop sharp vision during early fetal development thanks to an interplay between a vitamin A derivative and thyroid hormones in the retina, Johns Hopkins University scientists have found. The findings could upend decades of conventional understanding of how the eye grows light-sensing cells and could inform new research into treatments for macular degeneration, glaucoma, and other age-related vision disorders. Details of the study, which used lab-grown retinal tissue, are published today in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. https://phys.org/news/2026-02-humans-sharp-vision-lab-grown.html Cell & Microbiology Fri, 13 Feb 2026 14:30:02 EST news690214638 The human kidney filters about a cup of blood every minute, removing waste, excess fluid, and toxins from it, while also regulating blood pressure, balancing important electrolytes, activating Vitamin D, and helping the body produce red blood cells. This broad range of functions is achieved in part via the kidney's complex organization. In its outer region, more than a million microscopic units, known as nephrons, filter blood, reabsorb necessary nutrients, and secrete waste in the form of urine. https://phys.org/news/2026-02-bioengineers-perfusable-kidney-ducts-3d.html Cell & Microbiology Mon, 09 Feb 2026 16:21:51 EST news689876461 Scientists at the University of Osaka have developed a novel hydrogel that enables the efficient, three-dimensional (3D) culture of human induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs). https://phys.org/news/2025-11-matrigel-hydrogel-3d-stem-cell.html Cell & Microbiology Wed, 12 Nov 2025 13:40:03 EST news682177201 This week, researchers reported the discovery of four Late Bronze Age stone megastructures likely used for trapping herds of wild animals. Physicists have proven that a central law of thermodynamics does not apply to atomic-scale objects that are linked via quantum correlation. And two Australian Ph.D. students coded a software solution for the James Webb Space Telescope's Aperture Masking Interferometer, which has been producing blurry images. https://phys.org/news/2025-10-saturday-citations-solution-universal-expansion.html Other Sat, 18 Oct 2025 09:00:02 EDT news679921929 Inside cells there are tiny particles, known as extracellular vesicles, that store and move molecules. Our cells naturally package beneficial proteins and healing compounds into these tiny bubbles, dispatching them to where they are needed to deliver molecular cargo or to communicate with other cells. https://phys.org/news/2025-09-bioreactors-yield-extracellular-vesicles-medicine.html Bio & Medicine Tue, 16 Sep 2025 13:30:18 EDT news677247964 European rabbits have plagued the Australian environment since 1859, when they were introduced to Australia near Geelong in Victoria. https://phys.org/news/2025-09-organoids-viral-rabbit-biocontrol-advancement.html Ecology Wed, 10 Sep 2025 09:48:06 EDT news676716482 Just a few weeks after conception, stem cells are already orchestrating the future structure of the human brain. A new Yale-led study shows that, early in development, molecular "traffic cops" known as morphogens regulate the activation of gene programs that initiate stem cells' differentiation into more specialized brain cells. https://phys.org/news/2025-05-morphogens-early-brain-stem-cell.html Cell & Microbiology Thu, 01 May 2025 14:11:04 EDT news665327461 The journal Advanced Materials recently published a study introducing a new method for monitoring molecular processes deep within tissue. Developed at the Technion–Israel Institute of Technology, the innovation is expected to accelerate key advancements in personalized medicine, cancer diagnosis, and early disease detection. https://phys.org/news/2025-03-insect-vision-noninvasive-method-deep.html Biotechnology Fri, 07 Mar 2025 04:29:36 EST news660544173 Metabolic imaging is a noninvasive method that enables clinicians and scientists to study living cells using laser light, which can help them assess disease progression and treatment responses. https://phys.org/news/2024-12-noninvasive-imaging-method-penetrate-deeper.html Cell & Microbiology Wed, 11 Dec 2024 14:00:01 EST news653131806 When a vertebrate embryo develops, a group of cells self-organizes into the neural tube, eventually becoming the brain and the spinal cord. This involves specific signals, but how these signals are interpreted by developing cells remains unclear. A team of researchers at the Institute of Science and Technology Austria (ISTA) now has more insights—thanks to miniature 2D organs and rubbery silicone molds. https://phys.org/news/2024-11-tissue-temporally.html Cell & Microbiology Wed, 27 Nov 2024 12:30:04 EST news651933001 Researchers from the Institute of Process Engineering (IPE) of the Chinese Academy of Sciences have recently developed a neotype lysosomal trap for clearing viruses and variants. This lysosomal "TRAP" (lysoTRAP) shows efficient viruses and variants infection inhibition potential in cell, mouse, hamster, and human lung organoid models. https://phys.org/news/2024-11-lysosomal-clearance-viruses-variants.html Biotechnology Tue, 26 Nov 2024 11:02:16 EST news651841329 A team of neurologists, bioengineers and radiologists has found that two neurons in the human brain that code for dopamine production have to work harder than similar cells in primate relatives. The group has posted a paper describing their work on the bioRxiv preprint server. https://phys.org/news/2024-11-human-brain-organelles-dopamine-neurons.html Evolution Mon, 18 Nov 2024 11:30:01 EST news651148682 Recent advances that have enabled the growth of tissue cultures into organoids and embryoids have heightened interest as to how tissue growth is controlled during the natural processes of embryo development. It is known that the diffusion of signaling molecules called morphogens directs patterned tissue growth, but what has been harder to understand is how the gradient of morphogens from this diffusion can lead to sharply defined domains in the resulting tissue. https://phys.org/news/2024-10-collaboration-tissues-sharply.html Cell & Microbiology Tue, 08 Oct 2024 10:55:04 EDT news647603702 Measuring and analyzing three-dimensional (3D) images of live cells and tissues is considered crucial in advanced fields of biology and medicine. Organoids, which are 3D structures that mimic organs, are particular examples that significantly benefit 3D live imaging. Organoids provide effective alternatives to animal testing in the drug development processes, and can rapidly determine personalized medicine. On the other hand, active research is ongoing to utilize organoids for organ replacement. https://phys.org/news/2024-08-paper-strategies-holotomography-advanced-bio.html Cell & Microbiology Tue, 27 Aug 2024 11:52:37 EDT news643978352 Researchers are expanding the possibilities of 3D printing to create miniature human organs and a variety of products made from living tissue, including food. https://phys.org/news/2024-08-3d-cells-pave-tomorrow-medicine.html Cell & Microbiology Mon, 26 Aug 2024 09:29:05 EDT news643883341 An extensive family of proteins that gives human skin mechanical strength also appears to organize molecular signals that control skin cell activity, a study led by UT Southwestern Medical Center researchers shows. The team's findings, published in Developmental Cell, could lead to new ways to fight a host of skin diseases, including ulcers and skin cancer. https://phys.org/news/2024-08-proteins-skin-strength-cell.html Cell & Microbiology Wed, 21 Aug 2024 10:22:03 EDT news643454521 In a paper published in hLife, a team of Chinese scientists describes simple procedures for generating mouse and bovine cholangiocyte organoids (Chol-orgs) and establishing an in vitro system for culturing Cryptosporidium and transcriptomic studies of biliary cryptosporidiosis. https://phys.org/news/2024-07-team-simple-generate-mouse-bovine.html Biotechnology Mon, 08 Jul 2024 15:58:34 EDT news639673112 How do pathogens invade the lungs? Using human lung microtissues, a team at the Biozentrum of the University of Basel has uncovered the strategy used by a dangerous pathogen. The bacterium targets specific lung cells and has developed a sophisticated strategy to break through the lungs' line of defense. https://phys.org/news/2024-06-lung-organoids-reveal-pathogens-infect.html Cell & Microbiology Mon, 10 Jun 2024 09:50:24 EDT news637231821 A study led by Professor Shimpei Gotoh (Department of Clinical Application), introduces a new culturing method to generate alveolar organoids suitable for medium- and high-throughput screening and identified several chemicals with synergistic effects on AT1 cell differentiation. The work is published in the journal Stem Cell Reports. https://phys.org/news/2024-03-gel-alveolar-organoids-screening-platform.html Cell & Microbiology Fri, 29 Mar 2024 10:20:03 EDT news630926401 Hair has a significant impact on how society and we, as individuals, see ourselves. Consequently, hair loss or alopecia causes considerable emotional distress and anxiety and often results in a reduced quality of life for those suffering from its effects. Most alopecia patients choose drug therapy as their first treatment option. Currently, there are drugs that are effective in improving some symptoms of alopecia. However, these drugs often have side effects, and their efficacy may vary widely. https://phys.org/news/2024-03-cinnamic-acid-developmental-avenue-hair.html Cell & Microbiology Tue, 26 Mar 2024 13:17:32 EDT news630677849 Queensland researchers have become the first in Australia to use human stem cells to generate fully functioning skin tissue in a laboratory, a significant step toward better treatments for severe burns and wounds. https://phys.org/news/2024-03-lifelike-lab-grown-skin-human.html Cell & Microbiology Thu, 07 Mar 2024 09:28:03 EST news629026082 Studies of neurological organoids, plant growth, and shifts in body fluids are among the scientific investigations that NASA astronauts Matthew Dominick, Michael Barratt, Jeanette Epps, and Tracy C. Dyson will help support aboard the International Space Station as part of Expedition 71. The crew members are targeting launch to the space station in February and March. https://phys.org/news/2024-02-astronauts-nasa-aboard-space-station.html Space Exploration Mon, 12 Feb 2024 15:36:00 EST news626974556 The contraceptive pill is obviously not intended for fish and frogs. However, the hormones in the pill and other pharmaceuticals that are not completely broken down in sewage treatment plants can affect aquatic organisms. https://phys.org/news/2024-02-range-adulterants-disrupt-hormones-fish.html Plants & Animals Mon, 12 Feb 2024 15:30:46 EST news626974239 One of the important breakthroughs that made it possible to program or reprogram cell fate more efficiently and with higher fidelity in a dish was discovering how to make use of a small set of molecular cowboys called pioneer transcription factors (TFs). https://phys.org/news/2024-01-transcription-factors-blaze-trail-cell.html Cell & Microbiology Wed, 10 Jan 2024 11:00:10 EST news624106807 Feng Guo, an associate professor of intelligent systems engineering at the Indiana University Luddy School of Informatics, Computing and Engineering, is addressing the technical limitations of artificial intelligence computing hardware by developing a new hybrid computing system—which has been dubbed "Brainoware"—that combines electronic hardware with human brain organoids. https://phys.org/news/2023-12-bioengineers-intersection-organoids-ai-brainoware.html Biotechnology Sat, 23 Dec 2023 08:30:02 EST news622283260