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 transition from simple chemistry to the complex biology of molecules that gave rise to life is a puzzle that scientists have been trying to solve for ages. https://phys.org/news/2025-12-life-molecule-borate-boosts-formation.html Astrobiology Sun, 21 Dec 2025 10:00:02 EST news685359162 Researchers from CIIMAR and the University of Helsinki have discovered a new biochemical modification in natural cyanobacterial products, revealing an unprecedented tool with promising applications in biotechnology and drug development. https://phys.org/news/2025-11-enzyme-cyanobacteria-phosphate-groups-therapeutic.html Biochemistry Wed, 26 Nov 2025 12:01:43 EST news683380861 The enzyme RNA polymerase II transcribes genes into messenger RNA. This process is guided by modifications to the enzyme's "tail" called phosphorylation patterns. https://phys.org/news/2025-11-kinase-atlas-uncovers-hidden-layers.html Cell & Microbiology Thu, 06 Nov 2025 16:18:03 EST news681668281 Chemists at the National University of Singapore (NUS) have found a new use for deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA), not just as genetic material, but as a tool for more efficient production of medicinal compounds. Certain parts of DNA, called phosphates, can act like tiny "hands" that guide chemical reactions to selectively produce the desired mirror-image version of a compound. https://phys.org/news/2025-11-reimagining-biocatalysis-dna-phosphates-chiral.html Biochemistry Mon, 03 Nov 2025 12:20:03 EST news681394801 Leishmaniasis belongs to the class of neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) that particularly affect people in the poorest tropical regions of the world. NTDs are less studied and therapeutically addressed than other diseases. https://phys.org/news/2025-10-druggable-protein-leishmania-parasites.html Biotechnology Fri, 17 Oct 2025 11:25:04 EDT news679919102 Researchers at National Taiwan University have discovered a versatile enzyme from Bacillus subtilis that efficiently attaches phosphate groups to a wide variety of phenolic molecules, offering a sustainable and precise alternative to conventional chemical phosphorylation methods. This breakthrough offers a greener way to boost drug solubility and develop more effective nutraceuticals and prodrugs. https://phys.org/news/2025-09-versatile-enzyme-bacillus-greener-path.html Biochemistry Tue, 09 Sep 2025 11:30:05 EDT news676635613 The secret behind NeuO (neuronal selective fluorescent probe), which accurately identifies and fluorescently stains neurons only, has finally been unveiled. A research team led by Professor Young-Tae Chang from POSTECH's Department of Chemistry and Dr. Beomsue Kim from the Korea Brain Research Institute's Neural Circuit Research Group has elucidated the mechanism of NeuO's selective staining of neurons. This research has been published in the journal Angewandte Chemie International Edition. https://phys.org/news/2025-08-enzyme-driven-neuo-neurons-decade.html Biochemistry Wed, 27 Aug 2025 14:53:03 EDT news675525181 RNA-binding proteins use a dual binding mechanism involving zinc finger (ZnF) domains and intrinsically disordered regions (IDR), reports a new study from the Institute of Science, Tokyo, Japan. https://phys.org/news/2025-08-proteins-rna-dual-mechanism-zinc.html Biochemistry Tue, 26 Aug 2025 09:09:55 EDT news675418192 Respiratory disorders in dogs can quickly become critical and are reported to be the second leading cause of cardiac arrest in canines. Therefore, it is necessary to take appropriate measures according to each patient's condition. This, however, requires rapid and accurate disease severity assessments. https://phys.org/news/2025-08-phosphate-emerges-key-indicator-survival.html Veterinary medicine Wed, 06 Aug 2025 09:33:23 EDT news673691598 A team led by UT Southwestern Medical Center researchers has uncovered the atomic structure of a protein complex pivotal to the function of motile cilia, the hair-like structures extending from the surfaces of many cell types that generate their movement. https://phys.org/news/2025-07-cilia-function-cells-role-diseases.html Cell & Microbiology Wed, 23 Jul 2025 07:47:28 EDT news672475643 What can the pH level of the subsurface ocean on Enceladus tell us about finding life there? This is what a recent study accepted to Icarus hopes to address as a team of researchers investigated the potential pH level of Enceladus's subsurface ocean based on current estimates. https://phys.org/news/2025-06-enceladus-highly-alkaline-subsurface-ocean.html Astrobiology Mon, 30 Jun 2025 11:27:03 EDT news670501621 Excessive nutrients in wastewater can lead to detrimental discharges into natural water bodies, prompting harmful algal blooms with severe environmental and economic repercussions. To address this pressing issue, a team of engineers in the McKelvey School of Engineering at Washington University in St. Louis has developed an innovative solution. Their novel composite nanotechnology removes and recovers nutrients from wastewater, subsequently upcycling them as agricultural fertilizers or as biorefinery feedstocks while simultaneously mitigating the occurrence of harmful algal blooms. https://phys.org/news/2025-06-nanotechnology-fertilizer.html Bio & Medicine Wed, 11 Jun 2025 14:34:43 EDT news668871279 Fusobacteria, which are part of the oral microbiome, are suspected of playing a role in cancer progression. Scientists at the Helmholtz Institute for RNA-based Infection Research (HIRI) are working on innovative strategies to inhibit the spread of these bacteria. https://phys.org/news/2025-04-unexpected-bacterial-blocker-antisense-molecules.html Cell & Microbiology Tue, 29 Apr 2025 12:18:03 EDT news665147881 In a study published in the Journal of the American Chemical Society, scientists explore how a brain protein called tau changes its behavior when a small chemical group called a phosphate attaches to it—a process known as phosphorylation. https://phys.org/news/2025-04-phosphorylation-enables-tau-protein-reversible.html Biochemistry Thu, 17 Apr 2025 13:27:27 EDT news664115244 A recent study by Chinese scientists has revealed the intricate molecular machinery driving energy exchange within chloroplasts, shedding light on a key event in the evolution of plant life. Led by Fan Minrui from the Center for Excellence in Molecular Plant Sciences of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, the research elucidates the structure and function of the ATP/ADP translocator—a crucial member of the nucleotide transporter (NTT) family of proteins—which facilitates the transfer of energy across chloroplast membranes. https://phys.org/news/2025-03-scientists-energy-mechanism-chloroplasts-evolution.html Evolution Wed, 12 Mar 2025 15:34:04 EDT news661012441 Cyanobacteria began contributing oxygen to Earth's mostly noxious atmosphere more than 2 billion years ago. The photosystem II protein complex now shared by various lineages of cyanobacteria, algae and land plants has served as a major site of oxygen production throughout the history of life on Earth ever since. https://phys.org/news/2025-02-biochemists-function-key-photosynthetic-protein.html Biochemistry Mon, 10 Feb 2025 14:08:03 EST news658418881 A carnation-like nanostructure could someday be used in bandages to promote wound healing. Researchers report in ACS Applied Bio Materials that laboratory tests of their nanoflower-coated dressings demonstrate antibiotic, anti-inflammatory and biocompatible properties. https://phys.org/news/2025-01-delicate-nanoflower-downright-deadly-bacteria.html Bio & Medicine Fri, 31 Jan 2025 13:27:04 EST news657552422 Researchers at University of Tsukuba, Osaka University, and Kitasato University developed a novel amide cyclodextrin (cyclic oligosaccharide) that can selectively capture phosphate ions in water. In addition, the researchers revealed the mechanism by which this cyclic molecule captures phosphate in harmony with water molecules. https://phys.org/news/2024-12-cyclic-molecule-captures-phosphate-harmony.html Analytical Chemistry Thu, 05 Dec 2024 16:17:03 EST news652637821 Worldwide, many agricultural soils are deficient in the nutrient zinc—despite the fact that farmers use fertilizers enriched with the element. This limits crop yields and reduces food quality. It's estimated that roughly a third of the global population consume foods low in zinc, which can increase sickness and death in early childhood, as well as impaired growth and cognition. https://phys.org/news/2024-11-fine-tuning-fertilizers-boost-crop.html Biotechnology Thu, 14 Nov 2024 12:42:03 EST news650810521 In Nijmegen, Netherlands, researchers have installed the world's first microscope capable of live imaging of biological processes in such detail that moving protein complexes are visible. This new microscopic technique was developed by researchers led by Nico Sommerdijk from Radboud university medical center. As a demonstration of this innovative technique, Sommerdijk is now showcasing how arterial calcification begins. https://phys.org/news/2024-11-microscope-imaging-nanoscale-biological.html Bio & Medicine Mon, 11 Nov 2024 12:14:03 EST news650549641 Wastewater contains nutrients that can overfeed algae, leading to harmful algal blooms and pollution issues in the ocean and other waterways. A new study by researchers at Penn State tracked how these nutrients migrate from disposal sites in the Florida Keys, and the results have already informed wastewater practices in the region. https://phys.org/news/2024-10-scientists-wastewater-florida-keys-impact.html Earth Sciences Thu, 31 Oct 2024 15:35:04 EDT news649607701 Researchers at the University of Toronto have cracked the code of plant-to-fungi communication in a new study published in the journal Molecular Cell. https://phys.org/news/2024-10-soil-secret-language-decode-fungi.html Ecology Thu, 17 Oct 2024 10:31:54 EDT news648379910 Scientists have discovered a revolutionary way to put an end to jet lag by uncovering the secret at the tail end of Casein Kinase 1 delta (CK1δ), a protein that regulates our body clock. This breakthrough, achieved by researchers from Duke-NUS Medical School and the University of California, Santa Cruz, offers a new approach to adjusting our circadian rhythms, the natural 24-hour cycles that influence sleep-wake patterns and overall daily functions. https://phys.org/news/2024-10-jet-lag-scientists-secret-body.html Molecular & Computational biology Mon, 07 Oct 2024 07:02:44 EDT news647503302 Catechins, the key active components in tea, are known for their protective effects against conditions like diabetes, cancer, and cardiovascular diseases. However, their biosynthesis is highly sensitive to environmental factors, particularly phosphate (Pi) availability, which is often scarce in the soils where tea is grown. https://phys.org/news/2024-09-exploring-interplay-phosphate-jasmonate-pathways.html Molecular & Computational biology Thu, 19 Sep 2024 17:02:02 EDT news645984121 In the field of nonlinear optics (NLO), deep-ultraviolet (DUV) NLO crystals have garnered attention due to their crucial role in all-solid-state lasers. With ongoing research, the demand for these DUV NLO crystals continues to grow. https://phys.org/news/2024-09-highest-harmonic-generation-response-deep.html Analytical Chemistry Wed, 18 Sep 2024 12:33:25 EDT news645881600 Adenosine diphosphate (ADP) or adenosine triphosphate (ATP)-containing important biological molecules can modify macromolecules like proteins and nucleic acids to alter their function in the cell. Synthesizing ADP- and ATP-containing molecules using traditional methods is challenging, however. https://phys.org/news/2024-07-adp-atp-molecules-yield.html Biochemistry Mon, 29 Jul 2024 11:04:01 EDT news641469836 Every year, Missouri farmers lose millions of dollars in valuable nutrients that wash away into rivers and lakes. These nutrients—nitrates and phosphates found in fertilizers—are crucial for plant growth, but they wreak havoc on aquatic life when they end up in waterways. https://phys.org/news/2024-07-team-technique-nutrients-soil-faster.html Biotechnology Mon, 22 Jul 2024 13:25:25 EDT news640873523 Researchers at the University of Bayreuth have changed the sensitivity of bacterial systems for controlling gene activity to red light and reprogrammed their molecular response to the light stimulus. The results, published in Nature Communications, open up exciting possibilities in the biotechnological application of bacteria. https://phys.org/news/2024-06-reprogram-bacterial-gene-red.html Cell & Microbiology Tue, 11 Jun 2024 09:52:49 EDT news637318367 As the electric vehicle market booms, the demand for lithium—the mineral required for lithium-ion batteries—has also soared. Global lithium production has more than tripled in the last decade. But current methods of extracting lithium from rock ores or brines are slow and come with high energy demands and environmental costs. They also require sources of lithium which are incredibly concentrated to begin with and are only found in a few countries. https://phys.org/news/2024-06-method-optimizes-lithium-seawater-groundwater.html Materials Science Sat, 08 Jun 2024 06:17:11 EDT news637046223 An international team of scientists has uncovered toxic metals in mineral phosphate fertilizers worldwide by using a new tool to identify the spread and impact of such contaminants on soil, water resources, and food supply. https://phys.org/news/2024-05-scientists-geochemical-fingerprint-contaminants-fertilizer.html Molecular & Computational biology Fri, 17 May 2024 14:10:08 EDT news635173801