Fairy circles: Plant water stress causes Namibia"s gaps in grass
Namibia's legendary fairy circles are mysterious, circular, bald patches in the dry grasslands on the edge of the Namib Desert. Their formation has been researched for decades and has recently been the subject of much debate. With extensive fieldwork.....»»
How bad are invasive plants for birds? Research suggests large-scale removal may not have intended benefits
A prevailing opinion in land management is that non-native invasive plants are of no ecological value and they significantly diminish habitat quality for wildlife. Conservation practitioners allocate significant resources to invasive plant removal, o.....»»
AI deciphers new gene regulatory code in plants and makes accurate predictions for newly sequenced genomes
Genome sequencing technology provides thousands of new plant genomes annually. In agriculture, researchers merge this genomic information with observational data (measuring various plant traits) to identify correlations between genetic variants and c.....»»
Philippine settlement submerged by dam reappears due to drought
A centuries-old settlement submerged by the construction of a dam in the northern Philippines in the 1970s has reappeared as water levels drop due to a drought affecting swathes of the country......»»
Researchers establish a high-throughput multiscale evaluation method for thermal stress in thermal barrier coatings
Thermal barrier coatings (TBCs) are widely used in gas turbine engines to obtain elevated working temperatures and improve engine efficiency. The phase transition of the ceramic layer is accompanied by a large volume difference, causing the concentra.....»»
A systematic review of three key sugar metabolism proteins: HXK, SnRK1 and TOR
Sugar signaling is one of the most important regulatory signals for plant growth and development, and its metabolic network contains many regulatory factors. Sugar signaling molecules regulate cellular activities and organismal development by interac.....»»
Drinking water in low-income communities is more likely to be contaminated by "forever chemicals," research finds
PFAS, or forever chemicals, are widespread and more likely to be found in public water systems serving low-income communities and communities of color in New Jersey, according to new research from Northeastern University......»»
Managing meandering waterways in a changing world
Just as water moves through a river, rivers themselves move across the landscape. They carve valleys and canyons, create floodplains and deltas, and transport sediment from the uplands to the ocean......»»
Scientists combine a spatially distributed sediment delivery model and biogeochemical model to estimate fluxes by water
Water erosion is the most active process controlling soil formation and evolution, which can affect the redistribution of carbon between terrestrial, aquatic, and atmospheric ecosystems. Erosion-induced organic carbon dynamic process should not be mi.....»»
Cocaine is an emerging contaminant of concern in the Bay of Santos (Brazil), says researcher
In addition to already known pollutants, the Bay of Santos—a city in the state of São Paulo (Brazil) that is home to the largest seaport in Latin America—has been affected by an emerging contaminant that is now present not only in the water but.....»»
The UK"s Climate Change Act, once the envy of the world, faces a stress test
The Scottish government's decision to row back on its 2030 climate pledge illustrates the crux of any target: it's easy to set one with a big political flourish, but harder to follow through with a careful plan to achieve it......»»
A better way to predict Arctic riverbank erosion
Arctic riverbanks are typically resilient, thanks to the power of permafrost. This permanently frozen soil locks in sediment, leading to low erosion rates. But as Arctic river water warms due to climate change, some researchers worry that riverbanks.....»»
Toyota invests $1.4 billion in Indiana plant for large EV
The investment will add 340 jobs and a new battery pack assembly line, but details signal that either the Toyota Sienna or Toyota Highlander will become a full EV in 2026......»»
The guardian angels of the source of the Seine
The river Seine, the centerpiece of the Paris Olympics opening ceremony in July, starts with a few drops of water in a mossy grotto deep in the woods of central France......»»
Researchers discover mechanism regulating bud dormancy release in tree peony
In perennial woody plants, bud endodormancy is crucial for survival under adverse environmental conditions in winter, such as low temperature (LT) and dehydration stress. To break bud dormancy is essential for the resumption of bud growth and floweri.....»»
SlTHM27-SlGAD2 model regulates the cold tolerance in tomato by regulating GABA and anthocyanin
The frequency and intensity of plant stresses have increased in recent years due to climate change. Among them, low temperature is an unavoidable environmental factor limiting agricultural productivity......»»
Team reports on relationship between contents of diosgenin and brassinosteroids in Dioscorea zingiberensis
Diosgenin, a secondary metabolite isolated from the Dioscorea spp. plant family, is an irreplaceable and ideal starting material for the synthesis of steroid hormone drugs. Dioscorea zingiberensis is the world's most desirable and important plant sou.....»»
Joy and angst: Reaction from the UAW"s historic win at VW"s Chattanooga plant
Reaction to the UAW's victory in Chattanooga quickly took shape on social media and in Tennessee, where the Republican governor said workers made a mistake......»»
Shoreline model predicts long-term future of storm protection and sea-level rise
Researchers in North Carolina have created a simulation model to analyze how coastal management activities meant to protect barrier islands from sea-level rise can disrupt the natural processes that are keeping barrier islands above water......»»
Startup financing gender gaps greater in societies where women are more empowered: Study
Commercial bankers provide capital to fund the operations and growth of businesses. However, as these lenders evaluate entrepreneurs who apply for loans, gender bias leads to women being denied more often than their male counterparts......»»
Africa"s megacities threatened by heat, floods, disease—action needed to start greening, adapt to climate change
Cities cover just 3% of the planet. But they emit 78% of all global greenhouse gas emissions, absorb 80% of final global energy (what consumers use) and consume 60% of clean drinking water......»»