From recycling to food: Can we eat plastic-munching microbes?
Researchers are trying to turn plastic-eating bacteria into food source for humans. Enlarge (credit: Olga Pankova/Moment via Getty Images) In 2019, an agency within the US Department of Defense released a call for resear.....»»
Each glacier has a unique organic matter composition, study reveals
Melting glaciers release more than just water. Organic matter once trapped in ice can run into streams and rivers, where it becomes food for microbes. These organisms respire the organic matter back to the atmosphere in the form of carbon dioxide, wi.....»»
How "vaccinating" plants could reduce pesticide use and secure global food supplies
In a growing and changing world, we need to find ways of putting food on everyone's table. Pesticides have enabled mass cultivation on an incredible scale, but they can have harmful secondary effects on humans and wildlife, and pests are rapidly evol.....»»
Scientists explore seaweed as potential energy and food source
A trio of scientists from Rutgers University–New Brunswick is studying the potential of turning a species of seaweed into a source of energy and food......»»
Red clover seed oil rich in bioactive compounds, study finds
A research team has identified a wealth of bioactive compounds in red clover (Trifolium pratense) seeds and their oil, positioning them as a promising source for functional ingredients in food and health care products. Researchers reveal that red clo.....»»
Calcium transport protein in bacteria offers insights for drug development and food safety
Researchers at Umeå University have revealed details on how bacteria use calcium to regulate vital processes in a way that differs from human cells. This breakthrough is significant in the fight against antibiotic resistance and for increasing safet.....»»
A Giant Lyte Bryte Makes Its Way Up The California Coast!
I bet you didn’t know that you could build a GIANT Lyte Bryte (yes, that kind of Lyte Bryte) with some pretty LEDs, some cleverly designed 3D printed holders, food coloring, and a whole bunch of plastic PET water bottles. That is exactly what.....»»
Humanity"s future depends on our ability to live in harmony with nature
The world is facing multiple—potentially catastrophic—crises, including inequality, poverty, food insecurity, climate change and biodiversity loss. These issues are interconnected and require systemic solutions, as changes in one system affects o.....»»
Saturday Citations: All that sparkles is plastic; woke tree diversity; the gravitational basin in which we reside
This week, astronomers considered whether dark energy varies over cosmic timescales. Via neutron analysis, physicists revealed that some Early Iron Age swords were altered recently by swindlers in order to be more historically exciting. And a profess.....»»
Rare bear meat at gathering gives 10 people a scare—and parasitic worms
These roundworms have the potential to invade your brain. If you're going to eat a bear, make sure it's not rare. You'd be forgiven for thinking that once the beast has been subd.....»»
Oxidative stress: How protein recycling protects against cell death
Researchers at LMU University Hospital have discovered a new molecular switch that protects against cell death......»»
New plant-based glitter shows no harm to soil organisms
Plastic pollution is everywhere. Each year, over 368 million metric tons of plastics are produced with over 13 million metric tons of it ending up in the soil where it can be toxic to wildlife......»»
AI decodes microbes" message in milk safety testing approach
By combining the genetic sequencing and analysis of the microbes in a milk sample with artificial intelligence (AI), researchers were able to detect anomalies in milk production, such as contamination or unauthorized additives. The new approach could.....»»
Yes, nature is complex—but saving our precious environment means finding ways to measure it
Nature loss directly threatens half the global economy. The rapid destruction of biodiversity should alarm the many Australian businesses dependent on nature, such as those in agriculture, tourism, construction and food manufacturing. Yet nature cons.....»»
Nobel chemistry winner sees engineered proteins solving tough problems
Whether it's battling tumors or breaking down plastic, American scientist David Baker, co-recipient of this year's Nobel Prize in Chemistry, has an answer: engineering proteins that don't naturally exist—a concept once dismissed as "crazy.".....»»
Drug makers can’t make knockoff weight-loss drugs anymore—and they’re mad
Compounding pharmacies could make knockoffs during shortage. But FDA says it's over. Compounding pharmacies are suing the Food and Drug Administration so they can keep making imit.....»»
Using a unique combination of DNA techniques to authenticate ginseng supplements and combat adulteration
Rosalee Hellberg, an associate professor in Chapman University's Food Science Program, and her research team have made a significant breakthrough in the fight against adulteration in dietary supplements. Effective methods for identifying adulteration.....»»
Study shows early human species benefited from food diversity in steep mountainous terrain
A study published in the journal Science Advances by researchers at the IBS Center for Climate Physics (ICCP) at Pusan National University in South Korea shows that the patchwork of different ecosystems found in mountainous regions played a key role.....»»
Researchers discover how plants produce a novel anti-stress molecule
New research identifies for the first time the genes that help plants grow under stressful conditions—with implications for producing more sustainable food crops in the face of global climate change......»»
The transition to a circular bioeconomy requires getting prices right, study says
Conventional food and agricultural production systems employ a linear "take, make, waste" approach: taking natural resources from the Earth to make food and fuel, generating waste that contaminates the soil and water, and emitting harmful pollutants......»»
Turkey"s plan to recycle more has made life hard for its informal waste pickers
Turkey's 500,000 or so informal waste pickers carry out around 80% of the recycling in the country. These workers, who are also known as çekçekçi, are essential for separating out waste in a country where this is rarely done at source......»»