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. Researchers have deciphered the diet of an important nomadic people in Eastern European history. By analyzing dental calculus, they have provided the first direct evidence that the diet of the Scythians included milk from various ruminants and horses. https://phys.org/news/2026-01-iron-age-dental-plaque-reveals.html Archaeology Wed, 21 Jan 2026 14:00:03 EST news688207381 In Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, and type 2 diabetes, harmful protein aggregates and deposits, known as amyloid plaques, develop. There is also much evidence that these three diseases are interconnected and mutually reinforcing. https://phys.org/news/2025-04-protein-aggregation-synthetic-peptides-basis.html Biochemistry Thu, 24 Apr 2025 08:16:03 EDT news664701362 In biology, seeing can lead to understanding, and researchers in Professor Edward Boyden's lab at the McGovern Institute for Brain Research are committed to bringing life into sharper focus. With a pair of new methods, they are expanding the capabilities of expansion microscopy—a high-resolution imaging technique the group introduced in 2015—so researchers everywhere can see more when they look at cells and tissues under a light microscope. https://phys.org/news/2025-03-expansion-microscopy-methods-lipid-membranes.html Cell & Microbiology Mon, 03 Mar 2025 17:20:05 EST news660244801 Covalent bonding is a widely understood phenomenon that joins the atoms of a molecule by a shared electron pair. But in nature, patterns of molecules can also be connected through weaker, more dynamic forces that give rise to supramolecular networks. These can self-assemble from an initial molecular cluster, or crystal, and grow into large, stable architectures. https://phys.org/news/2025-02-interface-flexibility-scientists-key-mechanism.html Bio & Medicine Thu, 13 Feb 2025 12:06:04 EST news658670761 A study published in the European Journal of Archaeology by Prof. Katina Lillios and her colleagues has provided a statistical evaluation that may suggest Late Neolithic and Copper Age Iberian (3200–2200 BC) engraved slate plaques may have been one of the earliest non-verbal forms of recording ancestry. https://phys.org/news/2024-12-ancient-iberian-slate-plaques-genealogical.html Archaeology Tue, 03 Dec 2024 07:20:02 EST news652356884 Inflammation of the arteries is a primary precursor and driver of cardiovascular disease—the No. 1 killer of people in the United States. This inflammation is associated with the buildup of dangerous plaque inside the arteries. Advanced treatments are needed to target this inflammation in patients. Michigan State University researchers have tested a new nanoparticle nanotherapy infusion that precisely targets inflammation and activates the immune system to help clear out arterial plaque. https://phys.org/news/2024-10-nanotherapy-artery-inflammation-cardiovascular-disease.html Bio & Medicine Thu, 10 Oct 2024 16:46:04 EDT news647797562 Atherosclerosis is the build-up of plaque in the arteries which causes their narrowing. It is a primary cause of ischemic heart disease (IHD) and ischemic stroke (IS), both of which are major contributors to the 17.9 million deaths caused by cardiovascular diseases each year globally. The incidence of atherosclerosis-related conditions has been rising steadily over the past three decades, and particularly in younger populations. The increase is driven by lifestyle factors such as unhealthy diets, lack of exercise, smoking, and alcohol consumption. https://phys.org/news/2024-09-nanoparticle-technology-diagnosis-treatment-atherosclerosis.html Bio & Medicine Wed, 18 Sep 2024 16:38:27 EDT news645896304 One of the most diverse ecosystems on the planet is closer than you think—right inside your mouth. Your mouth is a thriving ecosystem of more than 500 different species of bacteria living in distinct, structured communities called biofilms. Nearly all of these bacteria grow by splitting [or dividing] into two, with one mother cell giving rise to two daughter cells. https://phys.org/news/2024-09-human-mouth-bacteria-rare-cell.html Cell & Microbiology Mon, 02 Sep 2024 15:00:01 EDT news644484721 Dental plaque, gut bacteria and the slippery sheen on river rocks are all examples of biofilms, organized communities of microorganisms that colonize our bodies and the world around us. A recent study led by Penn State researchers reveals exactly how growing biofilms shape their environments and fine-tune their internal architecture to fit their surroundings. The findings may have implications for a wide variety of applications, from fighting disease to engineering new types of living active materials. https://phys.org/news/2023-12-biofilms-host-environment-reveals.html Cell & Microbiology Thu, 07 Dec 2023 10:37:39 EST news621167854 Seaweed isn't something that generally features today in European recipe books, even though it is widely eaten in Asia. But our team has discovered molecular evidence that shows this wasn't always the case. People in Europe ate seaweed and freshwater aquatic plants from the Stone Age right up until the Middle Ages before it disappeared from our plates. https://phys.org/news/2023-10-people-europe-ate-seaweed-thousands.html Archaeology Wed, 25 Oct 2023 12:44:04 EDT news617456641 Periodontal disease is one of the most common canine diseases, affecting at least 80% of dogs aged three and over. Periodontal disease begins as gingivitis, where gums become red and inflamed, and may bleed. Untreated, the disease can progress to periodontitis, where the alveolar bone is progressively damaged so that teeth may loosen or fall out. In turn, periodontitis is a risk factor for other diseases like cardiovascular and lung disease. https://phys.org/news/2023-09-mouthwash-dogs-additive-pomegranate-canine.html Plants & Animals Fri, 29 Sep 2023 00:20:01 EDT news615136225 Atherosclerosis is characterized by the hardening of blood vessels, especially certain arteries, due to the local buildup of fibers and lipids (mainly cholesterol) in the inner wall of an artery, causing it to narrow. It is a complex disease that can trigger life-threatening events, such as myocardial infarction and ischemic stroke. https://phys.org/news/2023-09-atherosclerosis-diagnosis-ultrasmall-calcium-carbonate.html Bio & Medicine Thu, 14 Sep 2023 09:52:03 EDT news613903921 Viral infections have challenged humanity for centuries. Even with progressive scientific advancements, the struggle against viruses continues, as exemplified by the recent COVID-19 pandemic. In the fight against these viral infections, a variety of techniques have been established for detecting and quantifying viruses, contributing significantly to the development of critical vaccines and antiviral medications. https://phys.org/news/2023-06-deep-holographic-imaging-quantification-viral.html Cell & Microbiology Fri, 23 Jun 2023 09:34:01 EDT news606731638 Scientists from Rice University are using fluorescence lifetime to shed new light on a peptide associated with Alzheimer's disease, which the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates will affect nearly 14 million people in the U.S. by 2060. https://phys.org/news/2023-01-reveals-protein-plaques-alzheimer-stickier.html Biochemistry Wed, 25 Jan 2023 17:15:04 EST news593889301 How can you trace a single diseased cell in an intact brain or a human heart? The search resembles looking for a needle in a haystack. The teams of Ali Ertürk at Helmholtz Munich and LMU Munich and Matthias Mann at the Max Planck Institute of Biochemistry in Martinsried near Munich have now developed a new technology named DISCO-MS that solves the problem. DISCO-MS uses robotics technology to obtain proteomics data from 'sick' cells precisely identified early in the disease. https://phys.org/news/2022-12-spatial-omics-technology-enables-diseases-early.html Cell & Microbiology Thu, 22 Dec 2022 11:52:03 EST news590932321 Ancient owl-shaped slate engraved plaques, dating from about 5,000 years ago in the Iberian Peninsula, may have been created by children as toys, suggests a paper published in Scientific Reports. These findings may provide insights into how children used artifacts in ancient European societies. https://phys.org/news/2022-12-owl-shaped-plaques-copper-age-children.html Archaeology Thu, 01 Dec 2022 11:00:10 EST news589107319 Cave paintings from the Lascaux complex in France to Ubirr in Australia have one characteristic in common—they depict hunters and their prey. Very few of our Paleolithic ancestors seemed interested in doing still-life paintings of fruit and veg. Which is a shame, given that they would almost certainly have eaten a more balanced diet than we often give them credit for, says Cristiani. https://phys.org/news/2022-10-ancient-humans-paleo-diet.html Archaeology Thu, 27 Oct 2022 11:47:03 EDT news586090021 Inside a living cell, proteins and other molecules are often tightly packed together. These dense clusters can be difficult to image because the fluorescent labels used to make them visible can't wedge themselves in between the molecules. https://phys.org/news/2022-08-microscopy-technique-reveals-hidden-nanostructures.html Bio & Medicine Mon, 29 Aug 2022 11:00:04 EDT news580986524 Researchers at University of California San Diego School of Medicine previously found a set of human gene mutations that protect older adults against cognitive decline and dementia. In a new study, published July 9, 2022 in Molecular Biology and Evolution, they focus on one of these mutated genes and attempt to trace its evolution—when and why it appeared in the human genome. The findings suggest selective pressure from infectious pathogens like gonorrhea may have promoted the emergence of this gene variant in Homo sapiens, and inadvertently supported the existence of grandparents in human society. https://phys.org/news/2022-07-gonorrhea-grandparents.html Evolution Mon, 18 Jul 2022 16:26:04 EDT news577380362 Baker Heart and Diabetes Institute researchers have designed and developed a novel drug delivery method that can vastly improve the efficacy of a drug used to treat atherosclerosis and has the potential to identify and treat other diseases. https://phys.org/news/2022-06-nanoparticle-drug-delivery-treatment-atherosclerosis.html Bio & Medicine Thu, 23 Jun 2022 15:33:32 EDT news575217210 Plaque formation in the arteries carrying blood to the head and neck is a serious medical problem, potentially leading to strokes and heart attacks. In Physics of Fluids, engineers from China use fluid dynamics simulations to study the effect of exercise at various ages on plaque formation. https://phys.org/news/2022-01-simulation-age-effects-plaque-formation.html Soft Matter Tue, 25 Jan 2022 11:00:05 EST news562314358 Skoltech researchers and their colleagues have come one step closer to a working optoacoustic endoscopic probe—a device that could slip inside a blood vessel and analyze atherosclerotic plaques by shining laser light on them to make them wobble like a loudspeaker membrane and betray their chemical composition with an ultrasound signature. This could prove useful in robotized microsurgery and medical diagnostics. The study recently came out in ACS Photonics. https://phys.org/news/2021-12-closer-optoacoustic-endoscopic-probe-microsurgery.html Optics & Photonics Fri, 03 Dec 2021 09:10:39 EST news557745034 In the 1970s four spacecraft began their one-way trips out of our Solar System. As the first human-built objects to ever venture into interstellar space, NASA chose to place plaques on Pioneer 10 and 11 and golden records on Voyager 1 and 2 spacecraft to serve as messages to any alien spacefarers that may someday encounter these spacecraft. Continuing this legacy, NASA's Lucy spacecraft will carry a similar plaque. However, because Lucy will not be venturing outside of our Solar System, Lucy's plaque is a time-capsule featuring messages to our descendants. https://phys.org/news/2021-07-nasa-lucy-mission-message-future.html Space Exploration Tue, 13 Jul 2021 02:06:39 EDT news545360788 When a baby puts something from the floor in their mouth, we panic, but the mouth already contains thousands of bacteria. Now a team of researchers is looking at archaeological remains for an example of how Japanese oral biomes have changed and what they say about the people who owned those mouths and teeth. https://phys.org/news/2021-03-ancient-oral-biome-health.html Archaeology Fri, 26 Mar 2021 09:42:06 EDT news535970522 Researchers have developed a new intravascular imaging technique that could one day be used to detect coronary plaques that are likely to lead to a heart attack. Heart attacks are often triggered when an unstable plaque ruptures and then blocks a major artery that carries blood and oxygen to the heart. https://phys.org/news/2021-03-imaging-technology-heart.html Optics & Photonics Tue, 16 Mar 2021 13:42:03 EDT news535120917 There's a surprising amount of information stored in the hardened plaque, or calculus, between teeth. And if that calculus belongs to the remains of a person who lived in ancient times, the information could reveal new insights about the past. But the tiny samples can be difficult to work with. Now, in ACS' Journal of Proteome Research, scientists apply a new method to this analysis, finding more proteins than traditional approaches. https://phys.org/news/2021-03-ancient-teeth.html Analytical Chemistry Wed, 10 Mar 2021 12:44:00 EST news534602637 Alzheimer's disease and Parkinson's disease are both examples of amyloid diseases, where malfunctioning proteins accumulate to form fibrils and larger aggregates called amyloid plaques. In the journal Biophysical Chemistry researchers at the University of Leeds, UK, review progress in methods for studying crucial but fleeting intermediates in the formation of these fibrils. https://phys.org/news/2020-12-proteins.html Biochemistry Thu, 10 Dec 2020 13:30:01 EST news526827998 Mussels secrete sticky plaques that help them attach to wet surfaces, such as rocks on the beach. These adhesive structures are rich in iron, which is thought to help make the attachments strong yet flexible. Now, researchers reporting in Environmental Science & Technology have shown that mussels form weaker attachments in iron-deficient seawater, revealing a possible consequence of altered iron bioavailability in oceans. https://phys.org/news/2020-07-decreased-iron-seawater-mussels-loosen.html Environment Wed, 29 Jul 2020 08:00:02 EDT news515218593 Physicochemical cargo-switching nanoparticles (CSNP) designed by KAIST can help significantly reduce cholesterol and macrophage foam cells in arteries, which are the two main triggers for atherosclerotic plaque and inflammation. https://phys.org/news/2020-06-nanoparticle-drug-combination-atherosclerosis.html Bio & Medicine Wed, 17 Jun 2020 09:32:19 EDT news511605134 Cardiovascular disease, which kills one Australian every 12 minutes, is caused by a hardening of the arteries due to abnormal deposits of fat and cholesterol (known as plaque) in the inner lining of the artery; a process known as atherosclerosis. When plaque deposits rupture, this can cause heart attacks and stroke. But what if the plaque could be prevented from rupturing using microscopic nanoparticles? https://phys.org/news/2020-06-thwarting-deadly-heart-blockages-nanoparticles.html Bio & Medicine Fri, 05 Jun 2020 07:46:22 EDT news510561979