Drought and frost batter vital potato crops in Bolivia
Dozens of furrows lie barren in a dusty field on the Bolivian highlands. It should be replete with potato plants ready for harvest, but a deadly combination of drought and frost proved too much for the crop......»»
A trip to the coast, a dip in the pool, and a snow-chilled drink: How ancient Romans kept cool in summer
The dog days of summer are upon us. Or so the ancient Romans named the dies caniculares that followed the rise of the "dog star" Sirius which the ancients believed to signal the oncoming sweltering heat and drought of summer......»»
Advanced AI, analytics, and automation are vital to tackle tech stack complexity
97% of technology leaders find traditional AIOps models are unable to tackle the data overload, according to Dynatrace. Organizations are drowning in data The research reveals that organizations are continuing to embrace multi-cloud environments and.....»»
Aroma compound found to reduce the effects of drought, improve productivity of tomato plants
Tomato plants emit a scent to resist bacterial attacks. This aroma—or volatile compound—is hexenyl butanoate (HB). A team from the Research Institute for Plant Molecular and Cellular Biology (IBMCP), a joint center of the Universitat Politècnica.....»»
Washington"s lackluster snowpack draws concerns, especially on the Olympic Peninsula
Not since 2015 has Washington's snowpack fallen so far below normal. Some regions of the state are preparing for another drought this summer. Others are still enmeshed in the drought that began last summer......»»
Today’s biggest AI security challenges
98% of companies surveyed view some of their AI models as vital for business success, and 77% have experienced breaches in their AI systems over the past year, according to HiddenLayer. The report surveyed 150 IT security and data science leaders to.....»»
Global warming may be behind an increase in the frequency and intensity of cold spells
Global warming caused by increased concentrations of greenhouse gases is already affecting our lives. Scorching summers, more intense heat waves, longer drought periods, more extended floods, and wilder wildfires are consequences linked to this warmi.....»»
These tiny worm-like creatures in the soil can destroy pests but they can also kill crops—an expert"s guide to nematodes
Whether you're a gardener growing food for your household, a small-scale farmer or a commercial producer, soil matters. You cannot really tell the difference between healthy and unhealthy soil just by looking at it. But there are organisms in the soi.....»»
Deciphering the fragrance code: High-quality sequencing and analysis of the "XiangQingCai" (XQC) genome
'Vanilla' (XQC, brassica variety chinensis), a Brassica rapa subspecies chinensis, is a vital vegetable crop in the Brassicaceae family, renowned for its intense volatile fragrance. Despite the significant progress that has been made in understanding.....»»
A crown rust fungus could help manage two highly invasive plants in Minnesota
Though some crown rust fungi are known to cause widespread damage to oat and barley crops, new research from the University of Minnesota suggests a close relative of these major pathogens could actually be a valuable asset in managing two highly inva.....»»
How melting Arctic ice leads to European drought and heatwaves
Fresh, cold water from Greenland ice melting upsets North Atlantic currents. Enlarge / The Wamme river is seen at a low level during the European heatwave on Aug 10, 2022 in Rochefort, Belgium. (credit: Thierry Monasse/Getty Imag.....»»
Targeting seed microbes to improve seed resilience
Fonio (Digitaria exilis), a type of millet, is the oldest indigenous crop in West Africa and one of the fastest-maturing cereals. Despite its low yield, the combination of quick maturation and drought tolerance and its ability to thrive in poor soils.....»»
Fabricated ecosystems could lead to better bioenergy crops
A greater understanding of how plants and microbes work together to store vast amounts of atmospheric carbon in the soil will help in the design of better bioenergy crops for the fight against climate change......»»
Radio waves can tune up bacteria to become life-saving medicines
Scientists from Australia and the United States have found a new way to alter the DNA of bacterial cells—a process used to make many vital medicines including insulin—much more efficiently than standard industry techniques......»»
Oranges wither, cows go hungry in drought-hit Sicily
Marilina Barreca has two grim options: feed her cows tainted fodder or set them to graze on barren hillsides as Sicily battles a crop-devastating drought which is sucking reservoirs dry......»»
How air pollution can harm team performance
High levels of air pollution can harm the performance of teams, which are vital for solving complex problems such as developing clean energy technologies and vaccines, and this could harm economic development in highly polluted emerging economies, sa.....»»
Study finds drought fuels invasive species after wildfires
In a study recently published in the journal Ecology, University of California, Irvine scientists uncover the intricate dance between drought, wildfires and invasive species in Southern California's coastal sage scrub ecosystems......»»
Where does lightning strike? New maps pinpoint 36.8 million yearly ground strike points in unprecedented detail
It's been a warm day, maybe even a little humid, and the tall clouds in the distance remind you of cauliflower. You hear a sharp crack, like the sound of a batter hitting a home run, or a low rumble reminiscent of a truck driving down the highway. A.....»»
Projected climate change scenarios portend the disappearance of the Balearic boxwood
The Balearic boxwood (Buxus balearica), a species common in eastern Andalusia, is able to trap moisture from the fog and convey it to the ground, making it a valuable tool in times of drought......»»
Increasing soil salinity: New discovery may help make crops more resilient
Salination causes harvests to fail across the globe. Plants die, or their growth is stunted. Researchers of Wageningen University & Research (WUR) have discovered that a local regulator protein encourages root growth in saline soil, which allows the.....»»
Advancing climate change research and policy demands knowledge from Indigenous Peoples, study says
As you read this, many regions of the world are implementing crisis plans against drought while, simultaneously, torrential rains wreak havoc in other corners of the planet, submerging cities and crops under the forces of wild waters......»»