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. Amino acids, the building blocks necessary for life, were previously found in samples of 4.6-billion-year-old rocks from an asteroid called Bennu, delivered to Earth in 2023 by NASA's OSIRIS-REx mission. How those amino acids—the molecules that create proteins and peptides in DNA—formed in space was a mystery, but new research led by Penn State scientists shows they could have originated in an icy-cold, radioactive environment at the dawn of Earth's solar system. https://phys.org/news/2026-02-blocks-life-bennu-asteroid-rewrite.html Astrobiology Mon, 09 Feb 2026 15:20:42 EST news689872765 In nature, molecules often show a strong preference for partnering with other molecules that share the same chirality or handedness. A behavior that is quite evident in the phenomenon known as homochirality-driven entanglement, where molecules that are all left-handed or all right-handed preferentially recognize and wrap around one another, forming complex and interlocked structures. https://phys.org/news/2026-02-scientists-harness-nature-chirality-bias.html Analytical Chemistry Mon, 09 Feb 2026 11:20:05 EST news689857447 Among the many trillions of microorganisms in the human gut is Blautia luti. Like many gut bacteria, it metabolizes indigestible dietary components, such as fiber in the form of carbohydrates. This process produces, among other things, acetic acid (acetate), an important energy source for our intestinal cells and a signaling molecule that can even influence our well-being via the gut-brain axis. https://phys.org/news/2026-02-gut-microbe-blautia-luti-formate.html Cell & Microbiology Fri, 06 Feb 2026 14:06:27 EST news689609162 Plant-based food as an alternative to meat is high on the agenda today, and mycoprotein (fungal protein) in particular has come into focus in recent years. A new doctoral thesis from the University of Borås in Sweden, has investigated how mycoprotein and its minerals are digested in the body. https://phys.org/news/2026-02-potential-mycoprotein-alternative-meat.html Biotechnology Fri, 06 Feb 2026 14:04:23 EST news689609041 Proteins are the building blocks of life. These biomolecules comprise chains of amino acids that fold into precise shapes to perform specific jobs in nature. But these elegant structures form only under narrow pH and temperature conditions, a property dictated by billions of years of evolution that has limited efforts to develop synthetic, protein-based advanced materials. https://phys.org/news/2026-02-bundlemers-reshape-generation-protein-based.html Biochemistry Fri, 06 Feb 2026 13:20:23 EST news689606401 A research team led by Dr. Dandan Gao from the Department of Chemistry at Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz (JGU) has developed a new method for the sustainable production of ammonia and formic acid. Ammonia is indispensable in modern agriculture and, like formic acid, an important industrial feedstock. Conventionally, ammonia is produced using the Haber-Bosch process, which is extremely energy-intensive and causes significant CO₂ emissions. It is also possible to produce ammonia via electrolysis, i.e., using electrical current, but this remains a relatively young field of research. Electrolysis offers a sustainable alternative for production because it can be powered by renewable electricity. https://phys.org/news/2026-02-component-catalyst-boosts-ammonia-nitrate.html Analytical Chemistry Fri, 06 Feb 2026 12:11:21 EST news689602201 Scientists have identified the molecular interactions that give spider silk its exceptional strength and flexibility, opening the door to new bio-inspired materials for aircraft, protective clothing and medical applications, and even advancing our understanding of neurological conditions such as Alzheimer's disease. https://phys.org/news/2026-02-amino-acid-stickers-decode-spider.html Plants & Animals Fri, 06 Feb 2026 07:00:01 EST news689573056 Proteins are the molecular machines of cells. They are produced in protein factories called ribosomes based on their blueprint—the genetic information. Here, the basic building blocks of proteins, amino acids, are assembled into long protein chains. Like the building blocks of a machine, individual proteins must have a specific three-dimensional structure to properly fulfill their functions. https://phys.org/news/2026-02-cell-tracking-reveals-dynamic-interaction.html Cell & Microbiology Thu, 05 Feb 2026 16:07:47 EST news689530022 A study from FAU has shown that lipid nanoparticles restructure their membrane significantly after being absorbed into a cell and ending up in an acidic environment. Vaccines and other medicines are often packed in little fat droplets, or lipids. In this form, they are absorbed by cells and release their "cargo" once they are there. The trigger is a change in the pH value in the droplet's surroundings. Researchers at Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU) have now created a computer simulation of what exactly happens. Their findings may help to optimize the release of the active substances. The results have been published in the journal Small. https://phys.org/news/2026-02-lipid-nanoparticles-vaccines-cargo.html Bio & Medicine Wed, 04 Feb 2026 16:16:49 EST news689444161 A new study has uncovered a hidden step that helps the deadliest malaria parasite survive and multiply inside the human body. Researchers studying Plasmodium falciparum found that the parasite relies on a brief but essential stage, nicknamed the "Crown" stage, to make sure a crucial internal structure is passed on correctly when it divides. The discovery offers a fresh look at how the parasite reproduces and could point to new ways to stop malaria by disrupting this process. https://phys.org/news/2026-02-uncover-hour-crown-checkpoint-enables.html Cell & Microbiology Wed, 04 Feb 2026 12:00:01 EST news689422182 Some mammals hibernate to survive in winter, but the Eurasian common shrew (Sorex araneus) employs Dehnel's phenomenon to get through it. This is a metabolic process that enables shrews to conserve energy by shrinking their brain and other energy-consuming organs. In the spring, the organs grow back to normal size. Scientists are learning more about how shrews can do this, and their findings may help us understand certain metabolic and neurological diseases. https://phys.org/news/2026-02-unraveling-shrew-winter-decode-genetic.html Plants & Animals Tue, 03 Feb 2026 12:56:45 EST news689345761 In a study published in Nature on January 28, a research team led by Eric H. Xu (Xu Huaqiang) from the Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, along with Ma Xiong from Renji Hospital, determined how Ostα/β transports bile acids and why it differs fundamentally from previously characterized carriers through cryo-EM structure determination, molecular dynamics simulations, and electrophysiological analyses. https://phys.org/news/2026-02-northwest-passage-mechanism-bile-acid.html Cell & Microbiology Mon, 02 Feb 2026 11:10:01 EST news689252691 The lower hinge of immunoglobulin G (IgG), an overlooked part of the antibody, acts as a structural and functional control hub, according to a study by researchers at Science Tokyo. Deleting a single amino acid in this region transforms a full-length antibody into a stable half-IgG1 molecule with altered immune activity. https://phys.org/news/2026-01-immunoglobulin-overlooked-hinge-hub.html Biochemistry Fri, 30 Jan 2026 13:11:20 EST news689001062 A new study out of York University has found that the amount of atmospheric trifluoroacetic acid (TFA), the tiniest forever chemical, significantly declined in Toronto during COVID in 2020, which researchers say is good news for the world's ability to mitigate it in the future. The paper, "Atmospheric Removal of Trifluoroacetic Acid by Dry and Wet Deposition: A Multiyear Analysis in Toronto," was published in the journal Environmental Science & Technology Letters. https://phys.org/news/2026-01-toronto-covid-key-chemical-rapidly.html Environment Thu, 29 Jan 2026 15:34:35 EST news688923241 Scientists at IOCB Prague are uncovering new details of gene transcription. They have identified a previously unknown molecular mechanism by which the transcription of genetic information from deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) into ribonucleic acid (RNA) can be initiated. The researchers focused on a specific class of molecules known as alarmones, which are found in cells across a wide range of organisms and whose levels often increase under conditions of cellular stress. The results were published in Nature Chemical Biology. https://phys.org/news/2026-01-unusual-rna-caps-reveal-previously.html Cell & Microbiology Thu, 29 Jan 2026 06:00:01 EST news688815754 Gifu University scientists have uncovered how a brain-specific enzyme reshapes protein-linked sugar chains to facilitate the formation of complex glycans essential for normal brain function. These insights could inform future research into glycan-related brain disorders and open new avenues for therapeutic investigation. https://phys.org/news/2026-01-brain-enzyme-sugar-chains-linked.html Biochemistry Tue, 27 Jan 2026 19:30:04 EST news688728069 An international team of researchers including scientists from The Australian National University (ANU) have developed a way to reveal the smallest of malfunctions in the biochemical machinery that makes proteins in our bodies. According to the researchers, these malfunctions, however small, can trigger neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's disease and Parkinson's disease, as well as cancer and developmental disorders. https://phys.org/news/2026-01-scientists-technique-malfunctions-genetic-code.html Biotechnology Tue, 27 Jan 2026 17:40:01 EST news688734510 Astronomers use the term dark energy to refer to energy in the universe that is unaccounted for by ordinary matter but necessary to explain cosmology. Astronomy, however, isn't the only field with missing energy. Rice University professor Peter Wolynes and postdoctoral researcher Carlos Bueno, along with Universidad de Buenos Aires collaborators Ezequiel Gaplern, Ignacio Sánchez and Diego Ferreiro, recently published a paper describing the "dark energy" found in the structural protein universe. This missing energy comes from the tension between the form of a protein and its function. https://phys.org/news/2026-01-protein-dark-energy-insight-function.html Evolution Tue, 27 Jan 2026 16:46:22 EST news688754761 Unraveling the mysteries of how biological organisms function begins with understanding the molecular interactions within and across large cell populations. A revolutionary new tool, developed at the University of Michigan, acts as a sort of tape recorder produced and maintained by the cell itself, enabling scientists to rewind back in time and view interactions on a large scale and over long periods of time. https://phys.org/news/2026-01-protein-tape-enables-scientists-decode.html Cell & Microbiology Mon, 26 Jan 2026 16:27:22 EST news688667221 Researchers built a living biosensor made of bacteria that lights up when it detects acetic acid, the main chemical signal that wine is starting to spoil. It works in real time, even in high-alcohol conditions, so wineries can catch problems early, before flavor and quality are damaged. The approach could offer a simpler, lower-cost alternative to lab testing and strengthen quality control across fermentation-based industries. https://phys.org/news/2026-01-early-wine-spoilage-dark.html Biotechnology Mon, 26 Jan 2026 12:54:02 EST news688654396 Graphene has drawn attention as a scientific curiosity owing to its record conductivities, strength and thermal properties. But now, it's starting to make its way into a number of real-world applications, from batteries to concrete, sensors and material composites. Its market is already worth billions and is set to boom in the next few years. https://phys.org/news/2026-01-amino-acids-fuels-graphene.html Nanomaterials Sat, 24 Jan 2026 09:30:01 EST news688382897 Research on using Marchantia polymorpha, commonly known as liverwort, a plant closely related to moss, for food and as an ingredient in medicine and supplements is being conducted at Kobe University. https://phys.org/news/2026-01-qa-liverwort-humanity-savior-possibilities.html Plants & Animals Thu, 22 Jan 2026 21:50:04 EST news688311907 A single enzyme that can generate all four nucleoside triphosphates, the building blocks of ribonucleic acid (RNA), has been identified by researchers at the Institute of Science Tokyo. The study was published online in the journal Nature Communications. https://phys.org/news/2026-01-enzyme-production-rna-blocks.html Biotechnology Thu, 22 Jan 2026 15:02:16 EST news688316521 Challenging long-held assumptions, Aarhus University researchers have demonstrated that the protein building blocks essential for life as we know it can form readily in space. This discovery, appearing in Nature Astronomy, significantly raises the statistical probability of finding extraterrestrial life. https://phys.org/news/2026-01-complex-blocks-life-spontaneously-space.html Astrobiology Tue, 20 Jan 2026 15:30:27 EST news688145401 An atmospheric scientist at The University of Alabama in Huntsville (UAH), a part of The University of Alabama System, has helped uncover a previously unknown chemical pathway that plays a major role in the formation of air pollution particles in environments influenced by both natural and human-made emissions—an advance that could reshape how scientists understand air quality and climate impacts. https://phys.org/news/2026-01-previously-unknown-chemical-pathway-air.html Earth Sciences Tue, 20 Jan 2026 15:00:06 EST news688143004 One of Scotland's smallest distilleries is working with Heriot-Watt scientists to find out whether aluminum could replace glass bottles for its Scotch whiskey. https://phys.org/news/2026-01-greener-whisky-bottles-aluminum-glass.html Materials Science Mon, 19 Jan 2026 19:50:04 EST news688040240 Through new experiments, researchers in Japan and Germany have recreated the chemical conditions found in the subsurface ocean of Saturn's moon, Enceladus. Published in Icarus, the results show that these conditions can readily produce many of the organic compounds observed by the Cassini mission, strengthening evidence that the distant world could harbor the molecular building blocks of life. https://phys.org/news/2026-01-enceladus-subsurface-ocean-lab.html Astrobiology Sun, 18 Jan 2026 13:30:01 EST news687691857 Scientists at the Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology (IMBB-FORTH) and the University of Crete, together with collaborators from Greece, Europe, the U.S., and India, have discovered a novel role of albumin, the most abundant protein in human blood, in protecting against a rare and often deadly fungal infection called mucormycosis. The study is published in Nature. https://phys.org/news/2026-01-albumin-abundant-blood-protein-shield.html Cell & Microbiology Sat, 17 Jan 2026 13:10:02 EST news687704502 A research project conducted by the Max-Planck-Institut für Kohlenforschung shows how biomass can be used as a raw material for chemical products instead of petroleum. The scientists have published their findings in the journal Science. https://phys.org/news/2026-01-biomass-derived-furans-sustainable-alternative.html Biochemistry Fri, 16 Jan 2026 07:59:27 EST news687772742 Breweries typically monitor fermentation by analyzing broth composition. Alcohols, esters, acids and residual sugars are quantified via chromatography-based assays. While reliable, these tests are time-consuming and only yield batch-average results. https://phys.org/news/2026-01-beer-fermentation-cell-raman-method.html Cell & Microbiology Thu, 15 Jan 2026 10:00:07 EST news687693001