physorg.com:Spotlight stories

Eco-friendly plastic offers flexible electronic properties without 'forever chemicals' Researchers at Case Western Reserve University have developed an environmentally safer type of plastic that can be used for wearable electronics, sensors and other electrical applications. The material, a so-called ferroelectric polymer, is made without fluorine, considered a "forever" chemical that hurts the environment because compounds made with it don't break down quickly or at all.
Reanalysis of Kepler data uncovers two planets in KOI-134 system with unusual orbital dynamics A new investigation into old Kepler data has revealed that a planetary system once thought to house zero planets actually has two planets that orbit their star in a unique style, like an old-fashioned merry-go-round.
A new quantum dot photoreductant uses 99% less light energy for organic reactions Chemists at the School of Science of the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST) have recently made significant progress in photocatalysis by unveiling a "super" photoreductant, marking a major advancement in organic synthesis.
Physicists create tunable system for enhanced quantum sensing Researchers at the Niels Bohr Institute, University of Copenhagen, have developed a tunable system that paves the way for more accurate sensing in a variety of technologies, including biomedical diagnostics. The result is published in Nature.
Hydrothermal systems may have supplied essential phosphorus for early life Understanding where and in what quantities essential elements for life have existed on Earth's surface helps explain the origin and evolution of life. Phosphorus is one such element, forming the backbone of DNA, RNA, and cellular membranes.
AI helps discover optimal new material for removing radioactive iodine contamination Managing radioactive waste is one of the core challenges in the use of nuclear energy. In particular, radioactive iodine poses serious environmental and health risks due to its long half-life (15.7 million years in the case of I-129), high mobility, and toxicity to living organisms.
Magnetism recharged: A new method for restoring magnetism in thin films Modern low-power solutions to computer memory rely heavily on the manipulation of the magnetic properties of materials. Understanding the influence of the chemical properties of these materials on their magnetization ability is of key importance in developing the field.
Scientists tackle single-cell data's reliability crisis with new tool 'scICE' The ability to analyze gene expression at the single-cell level—known as single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq)—has transformed life sciences, driving discoveries across immunology, oncology, and developmental biology. Over 40,000 studies have leveraged this technique to map the complex diversity of cells within tissues and organisms.
Supershear 'boomerang' rupture found in Myanmar earthquake defies typical seismic patterns On March 28, 2025, a major earthquake with a moment magnitude (Mw) of 7.7 struck Mandalay, central Myanmar (referred to as the 2025 Myanmar earthquake). This event caused severe shaking and substantial damage in Myanmar and neighboring countries. Aftershock distribution extended southward from the epicenter, indicating predominant southward rupture propagation.
Elucidating the source process of the 2021 South Sandwich Islands tsunami earthquake Tsunami earthquakes are characterized by the generation of disproportionately large tsunamis relative to the observed ground shaking, complicating timely evacuation efforts. Understanding their generation mechanisms and associated risks is therefore critical.
Loofah-like polymer can filter viruses while adapting flexibility with pH changes Porous materials have a wide range of applications due to their capacity to act as filters, or lightweight structural materials that use less material than a solid substance. Researchers, including those from the University of Tokyo, created a new material fine enough to filter things like viruses but is strong enough to be a rigid construction material for devices. The study is published in the journal Science.
Climate change outpaces trees: Forests face centuries-long lag in adaptation Ecologists are concerned that forest ecosystems will not keep pace with a rapidly changing climate, failing to remain healthy and productive. Before the rapid climate change of the past century, tree populations in the Northern Hemisphere adapted to colder and warmer periods over thousands of years.
Research teases apart competing transcription organization models Scientists at St. Jude Children's Research Hospital have reconciled two closely related but contentious mechanisms underlying transcription, the process of converting genetic information in DNA into messenger RNA. Phase separation has been proposed as a driving force in transcription due to its ability to selectively concentrate proteins and DNA in discrete droplets.
Food competition among gut microbes offers new strategy to remove drug-resistant E. coli If an intestinal inhabitant such as the bacterium Escherichia coli (E. coli) becomes resistant to many antibiotics, it can cause serious health problems if it enters the bloodstream. How can such potentially dangerous multi-resistant bacteria be effectively removed from the gut?
Arctic region was permafrost-free when global temperatures were 4.5˚C higher than today, study reveals Scientists have found evidence that the Asian continent was free of permafrost all the way to its northerly coast with the Arctic Ocean when Earth's average temperature was 4.5˚C warmer than today, suggesting that the whole Northern Hemisphere would have also been free of permafrost at the time.