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. Multicellular life depends on remarkable acts of cooperation. Every cell in the human body must sense what is happening around it, interpret signals from its neighbors and respond in ways that support the larger tissue. These chemical, physical and electrical messages help determine when cells grow, repair damage, fight infection or quiet down after a threat has passed—and tissue health depends on how well those parts come together. https://phys.org/news/2026-06-scientists-cells-language-aim-decode.html Cell & Microbiology Tue, 23 Jun 2026 14:40:01 EDT news701434081 Heat waves are arriving sooner and becoming hotter, with the United Kingdom recording May 25 as its hottest day in May since tracking began more than a century ago, only for the record to be broken again the next day. While humans can turn to artificial means of cooling, such as air conditioning or swimming pools, plants are left to cope with heat and frequently co-occurring droughts on their own. Sarah M. Assmann, Waller Professor of Biology at Penn State, is working to better understand how plants respond to environmental signals—and is applying that understanding to develop crops more resilient to environmental stress. https://phys.org/news/2026-06-qa-crop-resilience-drought-reverse.html Plants & Animals Tue, 16 Jun 2026 16:20:01 EDT news700832941 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 Dr. Ainara Ballesteros is a Juan de la Cierva postdoctoral researcher at the Institute of Environment and Marine Science Research at the Catholic University of Valencia, where she leads a research group focused on jellyfish biology, aquaculture, and the sustainable use of marine resources. https://phys.org/news/2026-05-qa-jellyfish-bycatch-valuable-collagen.html Ecology Mon, 11 May 2026 00:00:01 EDT news697383061 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 A team at Japan's National Institutes for Quantum Science and Technology (QST) has published a field-defining Perspective that places the societal payoff of quantum technologies front and center: earlier disease detection, faster drug development, and new routes to clean energy. Their paper has been published online in the journal ACS Nano on December 18, 2025. https://phys.org/news/2026-01-quantum-tools-life-science.html Bio & Medicine Thu, 15 Jan 2026 16:57:39 EST news687718621 Teeth function not only because of the hard enamel on the surface, but also because they have roots that anchor them firmly in the jawbone beneath the gums. Eating, speaking, and maintaining the shape of the face—teeth are essential for supporting our daily lives. https://phys.org/news/2026-01-center-cell-orchestrates-tooth-root.html Cell & Microbiology Fri, 09 Jan 2026 09:45:40 EST news687174296 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 With a Kobe University-developed procedure, induced pluripotent stem cells can now be frozen directly in their dishes without losing their viability or undifferentiated state after thawing. This marks a significant step for research automation, personalized medicine and drug discovery research. https://phys.org/news/2025-12-pluripotent-stem-cells-dish-freezer.html Cell & Microbiology Thu, 18 Dec 2025 15:28:19 EST news685294081 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 Syntax Bio, a synthetic biology company programming the next generation of cell therapies, has published new research in Science Advances detailing the company's CRISPR-based Cellgorithm technology, which lays the groundwork for programmable control of gene activity in human stem cells and offers an alternative to the slow, variable manual processes researchers use today. https://phys.org/news/2025-12-programmable-crispr-platform-stem-cell.html Biotechnology Fri, 05 Dec 2025 14:00:01 EST news684060781 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 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 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 Southwest Research Institute (SwRI) has demonstrated a new application for its cell-expansion bioreactor to advance tissue engineering and cell-based therapies for treatment of injuries and diseases. https://phys.org/news/2025-11-bioreactor-replicates-versatile-pluripotent-stem.html Cell & Microbiology Mon, 10 Nov 2025 10:29:03 EST news681992941 Short ultraviolet/ozone (UVO) treatment optimizes cell adhesion on plastic culture substrates by selectively enriching adhesion proteins, as reported by researchers from Institute of Science Tokyo. Their latest study explains the underlying reason why there is an optimal UVO treatment time, with the optimal surface condition arising when the ability to selectively adsorb and immobilize key adhesion proteins is maximized. This study paves the way for the design of polymeric materials used in medical research. https://phys.org/news/2025-11-revealing-cells-adhere-surface-plastic.html Biochemistry Thu, 06 Nov 2025 17:11:04 EST news681671462