Automated drones could scare birds off agricultural fields
In the future, cameras could spot blackbirds feeding on grapes in a vineyard and launch drones to drive off the avian irritants, then return to watch for the next invading flock. All without a human nearby......»»
From fields to policy: Conserving China"s agricultural heritage systems
Agricultural heritage systems, the custodians of ancient farming practices, face unprecedented challenges from climate change and urbanization. A recent study presents a detailed geographical analysis coupled with strategic management approaches to c.....»»
How can we effectively improve and use saline-alkali soil to ensure food security?
Soil salinization poses a threat to global agricultural production, food security and sustainable development. Affected by China's population growth and social and economic development, China's arable land has been decreasing in recent decades and is.....»»
Genomic data integration improves prediction accuracy of apple fruit traits
Over the past few decades, the world has witnessed tremendous progress in the tools used for genomic analysis. While it's usually more common to associate these tools with the fields of biology and medicine, they have proven to be very valuable in ag.....»»
Starlings" migratory behavior found to be inherited, not learned
Young, naïve starlings are looking for their wintering grounds independently of experienced conspecifics. Starlings are highly social birds throughout the year, but this does not mean that they copy the migration route from each other......»»
To save bees, scientists say focus on habitat first, then pesticides
Worldwide, hedgerows and wild grass in field margins which previously served as semi-natural habitats are being swallowed up into agricultural production. While scientists have suggested both pesticide use and habitat loss are detrimental to pollinat.....»»
Offshore windfarms: A threat for electro-sensitive sharks?
An ongoing research project into the impact of offshore windfarm electromagnetic fields on shark development reveals that the alternating electric currents produced by underwater windfarm cables seems not to disrupt the growth or survival of sharks......»»
Scientists visualize magnetic fields at atomic scale with holography electron microscope
A research team from Japan, including scientists from Hitachi, Ltd. (TSE 6501, Hitachi), Kyushu University, RIKEN, and HREM Research Inc. (HREM), has achieved a major breakthrough in the observation of magnetic fields at unimaginably small scales......»»
Getting bacteria into line: Physicists use magnetic fields to manipulate bacterial behavior
Researchers at Finland's Aalto University have found a way to use magnets to line up bacteria as they swim. The approach offers more than just a way to nudge bacteria into order—it also provides a useful tool for a wide range of research, such as w.....»»
Engineers find a way to protect microbes from extreme conditions
Microbes that are used for health, agricultural, or other applications need to be able to withstand extreme conditions, and ideally the manufacturing processes used to make tablets for long-term storage. MIT researchers have now developed a new way t.....»»
Sparrows as sentinels: Health study illustrates the interconnectedness of humans and wildlife
Why should a medical student develop an interest in conservation? According to a growing body of evidence, including a recent study co-authored by William & Mary biologist John Swaddle, the seemingly separate fields of health sciences and conservatio.....»»
High-altitude cave used by Tibetan Buddhists yields a Denisovan fossil
Cave deposits yield bones of sheep, yaks, carnivores, and birds that were butchered. Enlarge / The Baishiya Karst Cave, where the recently analyzed samples were obtained. (credit: Dongju Zhang’s group (Lanzhou University)).....»»
More carbon in soil can control weeds, in some cases
Cornell researchers have tested an ecological tool in the fight to control weeds in silage soybean and corn fields: adding carbon to soil in the form of sawdust and rye hay......»»
Some birds win and some lose with sea level rise, expert says
Global sea level rise is accelerating every year due to climate change, and it could threaten the very existence of some coastal bird species......»»
Synthesis method for 1D segmented heteronanostructures uses stress-induced axial ordering
One-dimensional segmented heteronanostructures (1D-SHs) are promising candidates in fields such as photoelectrocatalysis (PEC) and thermoelectrics. Currently, the synthesis of 1D-SHs mainly focuses on sulfides and selenides, with relatively less rese.....»»
Saturday Citations: The sound of music, sneaky birds, better training for LLMs. Plus: Diversity improves research
In the small fishing village where I grew up, we didn't have much. But we helped our neighbors, raised our children to respect the sea, and embraced an inclusive scientific methodology with a cross section of sex, race and gender among study particip.....»»
Study shows slow-growth diet before breeding offers better long-range health in pigs
Borrowing a page from the dairy industry, researchers with the Arkansas Agricultural Experiment Station found that a slow-growth diet meant more piglets and healthier and longer-lived momma pigs......»»
Drones offer new perspective on vulnerable tide-exposed coral reefs
A new study has used drone technology and cutting-edge analytical methods for the first time to map the intertidal coral reefs of the Rowley Shoals off the Kimberley coast of Western Australia......»»
Fully automated detection robot promotes efficient soil testing
A research team developed new equipment that achieved fully automatic and unmanned detection of soil nutrients (such as organic matter, available potassium, available phosphorus) and heavy metals (including Pb, Cd, Hg, As, Cr). They named it High Thr.....»»
New method could significantly reduce agricultural greenhouse gas emissions
New research by the Norwegian University of Life Sciences (NMBU) and International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis (IIASA) proposes using soil bacteria to cut greenhouse gas emissions from food production. The research is published in the jour.....»»
As No Mow May ends, here"s why we should keep patches of lawn permanently wild
Over the last century, nearly all of the UK's wildflower meadows have been destroyed by expanding farms, towns and cities. This loss of habitat has driven nature's decline, according to research led by birds and nature conservation charity the RSPB......»»