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. Using the skin of an Amazonian fish known as tambatinga as the raw material, researchers at the University of São Paulo (USP) and EMBRAPA Pecuária Sudeste—a decentralized unit of the Brazilian Agricultural Research Corporation (EMBRAPA) located in São Carlos, São Paulo state—have developed a biofilm that can be used in food packaging. https://phys.org/news/2026-02-biofilm-fish-skin-sustainable-alternative.html Biochemistry Mon, 09 Feb 2026 18:20:03 EST news689870206 A research team at The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST) has developed an innovative urban food waste management framework by analyzing food waste data from 29 large cities worldwide, including Hong Kong, Beijing, and New York. The study shows that in cities with higher food waste moisture loads, such as Hong Kong, grinding food waste and diverting it into the sewage system is more effective than relying solely on landfilling. This approach can reduce overall greenhouse gas emissions by about 47% and lower total waste-management costs by about 11%. The research provides a new, quantitative basis for shaping food waste management strategies in cities around the globe. https://phys.org/news/2026-02-reveals-effective-food-treatment-sewage.html Environment Sun, 08 Feb 2026 10:00:08 EST news689442359 Fresh, affordable and nutritious food is an essential human need. But for many city-dwellers, accessing it can be difficult and time-consuming, especially for those who are elderly or have mobility challenges. This is true even in Montreal, a city that prides itself on its active transportation network and compact population distribution. https://phys.org/news/2026-02-fresh-healthy-food-difficult-montrealers.html Environment Sat, 07 Feb 2026 08:30:02 EST news689342016 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 Bacteria in food can make you seriously ill, which is why it is so important for the facilities that produce your food to ensure proper hygiene in their production lines. A new doctoral thesis from NTNU has investigated how bacterial communities in the chicken and salmon industries change when disinfectants are used. https://phys.org/news/2026-02-bacteria-survive-disinfection-food-production.html Cell & Microbiology Thu, 05 Feb 2026 12:21:50 EST news689516461 Ammonia, a key part of nitrogen fertilizers, is central to sustaining global food production. However, its manufacture is also energy intensive: Ammonia production requires 2% of global energy to meet global demand. Approximately 170 million metric tons (50%) of the global supply of ammonia is produced by the Haber-Bosch process, a common industrial process. Biological nitrogen fixation produces the other 50% of the global ammonia supply. https://phys.org/news/2026-02-nanocrystal-biohybrids-harvest-gas-ammonia.html Bio & Medicine Wed, 04 Feb 2026 15:14:22 EST news689440441 A single queen in the tropics; large colonies in deserts; workers with uniform morphology in temperate regions; ant social structures vary according to environmental conditions. This is shown, for the first time at a global scale, by research carried out at the Department of Ecology and Evolution of the University of Lausanne and published in PNAS. https://phys.org/news/2026-02-queens-mega-colonies-ant-societies.html Plants & Animals Wed, 04 Feb 2026 14:20:01 EST news689431000 A study by researchers from the CUNY Urban Food Policy Institute gauges how an initiative in New York's Hudson Valley is helping farmers and community organizations build more equitable regional food systems and advance food sovereignty, a movement focused on local control over food systems and fair conditions for both producers and consumers. https://phys.org/news/2026-02-hudson-valley-food-sovereignty.html Agriculture Wed, 04 Feb 2026 13:01:35 EST news689432461 A new report has set out how the U.K. might respond to major disruptions to food supplies triggered by events such as war, extreme weather, or cyberattacks, and what can be done now to prevent such disruptions from escalating into a crisis. A group of 39 food system experts from the University of York, Anglia Ruskin University and other institutions have mapped how shocks to the food system, such as sudden price hikes or food shortages, could intensify pressure on already vulnerable parts of the system, ultimately increasing strain, instability, and the risk of social unrest. https://phys.org/news/2026-02-experts-reveal-major-food-crisis.html Economics & Business Wed, 04 Feb 2026 09:51:00 EST news689421002 In South and West Dallas, initiatives like Restorative Farms have turned vacant lots into hubs for fresh produce, job training, and sustainable practices such as hydroponics—helping combat food deserts and build local food networks. More complex than small community gardens, urban farms can help tackle food insecurity and create jobs, especially in underserved areas. But systemic challenges, such as funding gaps and overcoming environmental and soil contamination, can make sustainability challenging. https://phys.org/news/2026-02-term-partnerships-sustainable-urban-farming.html Environment Tue, 03 Feb 2026 18:10:01 EST news689338656 Imagine enjoying a tasty dinner alone at home—you may freely indulge without worrying about others. Now imagine sharing the same meal with friends or colleagues: depending on the social context, you may find yourself eating more carefully, adapting your food choices, restraining yourself or competing for portions, and following social norms in conversation and table manners. Social environments influence even the simplest decisions—not only in humans, but also elsewhere in the animal kingdom. https://phys.org/news/2026-02-larvae-mind-social-adjust-behavior.html Plants & Animals Tue, 03 Feb 2026 15:50:01 EST news689348809 Fish across Britain's seas face ever-smaller meals as warmer seas and commercial fishing squeeze ocean food webs, new research suggests. Research by the University of Essex and the UK Government's Centre for Environment, Fisheries, and Aquaculture Science (Cefas) found strains across warm and highly fished areas of the Northeast Atlantic, leaving predators such as cod, haddock and thorny skate with less energy from every meal. https://phys.org/news/2026-02-warmer-northeast-atlantic-heavy-fishing.html Plants & Animals Tue, 03 Feb 2026 15:40:01 EST news689348302 Last autumn, a UK government report warned that climate-driven ecosystem collapse could lead to food shortages, mass migration, political extremism and even nuclear conflict. The report was never officially launched. https://phys.org/news/2026-02-uk-climate-intelligence-quietly.html Environment Tue, 03 Feb 2026 15:22:37 EST news689354522 Imagine a world where fresh vegetables and herbs sprout in the heart of our cities without the need for sprawling farms. Hydroponics—a method of growing plants without soil—uses a nutrient-rich water solution instead of earth and is useful in areas where soil quality is poor, land is frequently flooded, water supply is unreliable, or there simply isn't enough space. https://phys.org/news/2026-02-cape-town-hydroponic-farming-urban.html Agriculture Tue, 03 Feb 2026 11:51:37 EST news689341861 Cats—unlike humans—are true carnivores: they must eat meat to survive because their bodies can't draw some essential nutrients from plants. By looking at tissues, researchers can get a good understanding of what foods animals ate. https://phys.org/news/2026-02-cats-vegan-meat-eaters-isotopic.html Molecular & Computational biology Tue, 03 Feb 2026 00:00:01 EST news689244061 Desertification is accelerating under climate change, threatening biodiversity, food security, and human well-being across the Mediterranean Basin, southern Europe, and the Middle East. Water scarcity and land degradation reduce carbon sequestration, increase soil erosion, and undermine rural livelihoods, pushing many dryland ecosystems into long-term decline. https://phys.org/news/2026-01-ecosystem-function-reverse-desertification-europe.html Ecology Sat, 31 Jan 2026 12:40:03 EST news688815629 With insect farming projected to produce millions of tons of insects in the coming years, Arkansas Agricultural Experiment Station researchers offer evidence that the insect farming byproduct called "frass" can improve soil health and reduce insect damage in soybean crops. https://phys.org/news/2026-01-insect-farming-byproduct-boosts-soil.html Ecology Fri, 30 Jan 2026 04:45:40 EST news688970701 Scientists on a research vessel off the central California coast spotted a waved albatross, marking just the second recorded sighting of the bird north of Central America. https://phys.org/news/2026-01-scientists-marvel-galapagos-seabird-miles.html Plants & Animals Fri, 30 Jan 2026 02:46:00 EST news688963535 Every day, thousands of images and signals are collected at sea. Sonar, buoys, satellites, and cameras installed on ships generate enormous amounts of data. Artificial intelligence (AI) is already being used to interpret this information. For example, to detect the presence of dolphins in real time to prevent bycatch, to estimate biodiversity indicators, or to automatically identify species caught onboard fishing vessels and improve fisheries management models. But behind this technological transformation emerges a key question: can we fully trust what AI says when the health of the ocean is at stake? https://phys.org/news/2026-01-ai-application-marine-fisheries.html Ecology Thu, 29 Jan 2026 21:30:06 EST news688912606 As kids head back to school and attention returns to the daily grind of lunch boxes, new research reveals Australian parents are overwhelmingly supportive of school-provided lunch programs, with nutrition and variety their biggest priorities. Led by Flinders University's Caring Futures Institute, the research team surveyed almost 400 parents of primary school children across Australia, finding 93% of parents were interested in school-provided lunches and willing to pay for them. https://phys.org/news/2026-01-nutritious-school-lunches-menu-australian.html Economics & Business Thu, 29 Jan 2026 20:40:01 EST news688901471 Environmental groups Thursday raised the alarm after finding toxic "pesticide cocktails" in apples sold across Europe, in a new study highlighting widespread contamination. https://phys.org/news/2026-01-pesticide-cocktails-pollute-apples-europe.html Agriculture Thu, 29 Jan 2026 10:00:04 EST news688902814 Who grows our food? This seemingly simple question is getting harder to answer in a world where our food crosses borders to get to our plate. https://phys.org/news/2026-01-small-scale-farmers-rich-world.html Agriculture Wed, 28 Jan 2026 15:22:30 EST news688836121 A recent review of over 312 studies has identified dozens of unique uses of roadkill in scientific research. The review, published in Biology Letters, discusses the advantages of using roadkill instead of live wildlife and encourages researchers to consider this option more frequently. https://phys.org/news/2026-01-roadkill-ethical-alternative-wildlife-scientific.html Plants & Animals Wed, 28 Jan 2026 11:30:01 EST news688822068 Much of the public conversation about generative AI and work focuses narrowly on job loss or productivity gains. But research by Professor of Sociology Chris Benner draws on lessons from past technological transitions and current work on AI to inform how innovation can improve our work now and in the future. https://phys.org/news/2026-01-equitable-technological-transitions-ai-workforce.html Economics & Business Tue, 27 Jan 2026 12:03:51 EST news688737781 Microbes across Earth's coldest regions are becoming more active as glaciers, permafrost and sea ice thaw, accelerating carbon release and potentially amplifying climate change, according to a new international review from McGill University. https://phys.org/news/2026-01-polar-regions-microbes-climate-frozen.html Ecology Mon, 26 Jan 2026 16:22:40 EST news688666922 Crystallization is a well-explored natural phenomenon where atoms or molecules arrange themselves into highly organized solid forms called crystals. This phenomenon has been widely utilized across pharmaceutical and agrochemicals industries, as well as in the food industries, to form, separate, and purify pure crystalline materials. The process is usually considered a solid-liquid phase transition, but it can also involve liquid-liquid phase separation (LLPS). https://phys.org/news/2026-01-elucidating-liquid-phase-equilibrium-conditions.html Analytical Chemistry Mon, 26 Jan 2026 11:52:17 EST news688650721 Global food trade is essential for food security, but its ecological consequences often remain unseen. A new data paper published in One Ecosystem introduces a global long-term dataset, quantifying biodiversity loss embodied in the international trade of staple food crops. As such, this dataset offers a novel perspective on how food trade redistributes environmental pressures worldwide. https://phys.org/news/2026-01-dataset-exposes-biodiversity-loss-hidden.html Ecology Sun, 25 Jan 2026 11:50:01 EST news688304592 Life in the ocean runs on light. It fuels photosynthesis, shapes food webs and determines where many marine species can live. https://phys.org/news/2026-01-threat-marine-darkwaves-ocean-life.html Ecology Sat, 24 Jan 2026 13:10:05 EST news688222876 In the same week that New South Wales experienced four shark attacks, Victorian beachgoers were warned about stinging jellyfish. https://phys.org/news/2026-01-dangerous-ocean-creatures-australia-summer.html Plants & Animals Sat, 24 Jan 2026 00:10:01 EST news688384892 Africa confronts escalating internal migration and displacement crises fueled by intensifying climate hazards—particularly prolonged droughts—and persistent armed conflicts, which compound vulnerabilities across the continent. https://phys.org/news/2026-01-climate-ease-migration-pressures-africa.html Economics & Business Thu, 22 Jan 2026 17:02:24 EST news688323721