Leaves of three, let it be? Wide variability among poison ivy plants makes identification more challenging
We've all heard the classic saying "leaves of three, let it be," which means don't touch the poison ivy. But just how accurate is that timeless phrase? While this specific mnemonic device exists to deter people from touching poison ivy, it turns out.....»»
Maya used hallucinogenic plants in “ensouling” rituals for their ball courts
eDNA analysis found traces of xtabentum, as well as lancewood, chili peppers, and jool. Enlarge / A decorative ring made from carved stone is embedded in the wall of a ballcourt in the ancient Maya city of Chichen Itza. (credit:.....»»
Chemists use new approach in the synthesis of complex natural substances
They are found as fragrances in cosmetics or as flavorings in food, and form the basis of new medications: Terpenes are natural substances that occur in plants, insects and sea sponges. They are difficult to produce synthetically. However, chemists a.....»»
First report of wound treatment by a wild animal using a pain-relieving plant
Even though there is evidence of certain self-medication behaviors in animals, so far it has never been known that animals treat their wounds with healing plants......»»
Researchers detect toxic chemicals in aquatic organisms with new AI method
Swedish researchers at Chalmers University of Technology and the University of Gothenburg have developed an AI method that improves the identification of toxic chemicals—based solely on knowledge of the molecular structure......»»
Honda plants 85,000 trees outside factories in Ohio
The initiative will increase biodiversity in the region near three of Honda's operations and will help the automaker get closer to its carbon neutrality goal......»»
Snapchat adds editable chats, emoji reactions, new AI features
Today, Snap announced a host of feature updates coming to Snapchat that are sure to make its users happy. The two standout improvements center around messaging: editable messages and emoji reactions. These join a handful of service-wide enhancements.....»»
A new tool for plant long non-coding RNA identification
Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) are ubiquitous transcripts with crucial regulatory roles in various biological processes, including chromatin remodeling, post-transcriptional regulation, and epigenetic modifications. While accumulating evidence elucid.....»»
Satellite images of plants" fluorescence can predict crop yields
Cornell researchers and collaborators have developed a new framework that allows scientists to predict crop yield without the need for enormous amounts of high-quality data—which is often scarce in developing countries, especially those facing heig.....»»
Study: World War II plant construction expanded high-wage manufacturing jobs, benefiting residents and their children
In a new study, researchers have examined the long-term effects of government-led construction of manufacturing plants during World War II on the regions where they were built and on residents. The study found that wartime construction had large and.....»»
Researchers find that calcium can protect potato plants from bacterial wilt
Scientists have discovered that calcium plays a significant role in enhancing the resistance of potato plants to bacterial wilt. This disease causes worldwide losses of potatoes costing $19 billion per year. The findings open up new avenues for integ.....»»
G7 to phase out coal-fired power plants by mid-2030s
G7 ministers agreed a timeframe Tuesday for phasing out coal-fired power plants, setting as a goal the mid-2030s, in a move hailed as significant by some environmentalists but slammed as "too late" by others......»»
Low-intensity grazing is locally better for biodiversity but challenging for land users, study shows
A team of researchers led by the German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research (iDiv), Leipzig University (UL), and the Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research (UFZ) has investigated the motivation and potential incentives for and challenge.....»»
Here’s where you can use your iPhone as your digital driver’s license or ID so far
Apple announced plans to turn the iPhone into your driver’s license all the way back in 2021. Plane tickets, movie passes, and credit cards were already digital. Now it was time to digitize government-issued identification cards. So far, very fe.....»»
Discovery of mechanism plants use to change seed oil could impact industrial, food oils
Researchers have discovered a new mechanism of oil biosynthesis and found a way to genetically engineer a type of test plant to more efficiently produce different kinds of seed oil that it otherwise wouldn't make......»»
How the plant world shapes the climate cycle
In order to understand the Earth's resilience, researchers at ETH Zurich are modeling climate changes from times long past. And they show that plants are not simply victims of circumstances, but have helped to shape climate conditions on Earth......»»
Adaptation of photosynthetic mechanism in air plants occurs through gene duplication, study finds
Researchers at the University of Vienna, along with collaborators from France, Germany, Switzerland and the U.S., have achieved a breakthrough in understanding how genetic drivers influence the evolution of a specific photosynthesis mechanism in Till.....»»
Engineered increase in mesophyll conductance improves photosynthetic efficiency in field trial
It is possible to engineer increased mesophyll conductance in plants according to new research from the University of Illinois. Mesophyll conductance plays a key role in photosynthesis and refers to the ease with which CO2 can diffuse through a leaf'.....»»
Missing link in species conservation: Pharmacists, chemists could turn tide on plant, animal extinction
As the world faces the loss of a staggering number of species of animals and plants to endangerment and extinction, one University of Michigan scientist has an urgent message: Chemists and pharmacists should be key players in species conservation eff.....»»
Hong Kong team plants seeds to safeguard legacy grains
Far from the soaring skyscrapers synonymous with Hong Kong, scientists and farmers labor in a paddy field on the city's outskirts to revive dormant rice varieties that once sprung from local soil......»»
Genetic adaptations have impacted the blood compositions of two populations from Papua New Guinea, finds study
Papua New Guinea (PNG) has a wide range of environments, each presenting unique challenges to human survival. Highlanders and lowlanders of PNG are striking examples of populations facing distinct environmental stress. Whereas the highlanders encount.....»»