Fungus that eats fungus could help coffee farmers
Coffee rust is a parasitic fungus and a big problem for coffee growers around the world. A study in the birthplace of coffee—Ethiopia—shows that another fungus seems to have the capacity to supress the rust outbreaks in this landscape......»»
Paper Coffee Cups Are Just as Toxic for the Environment as Plastic Ones
Supposedly eco-friendly cups are still coated with a thin layer of plastic, which scientists have discovered can leach chemicals that harm living creatures......»»
Newly discovered fungus helps destroy a harmful food toxin
Patulin (C7H6O4), a mycotoxin produced by several types of fungi, is toxic to a variety of life forms, including humans, mammals, plants, and microorganisms. In particular, environments lacking proper hygienic measures during food production are susc.....»»
Titanium micro-spikes skewer resistant superbugs
A new study suggests rough surfaces inspired by the bacteria-killing spikes on insect wings may be more effective at combating drug-resistant superbugs, including fungus, than previously understood......»»
Sushi-loving Japan scrambles to save its fishing industry as oceans heat up
Every year, as July draws to a close, Norio Terada and his fellow oyster farmers submerge hundreds of scallop shells strung on wire rings into the waters of Lake Hamana......»»
How a lethal fungus is shrinking living space for Australia"s frogs
In 1993, frogs were found dying en masse in Far North Queensland. When scientists analyzed their bodies, they found something weird. Their small bodies were covered in spores......»»
Fungal–plant symbiosis offers a promising tool to boost crop resilience
Researchers inoculated oilseed rape plants with a species of fungus that is known for its ability to combat pest insects. Utilizing the relationship between beneficial fungi and crop plants may introduce a new era of agriculture where the plant resil.....»»
New genetic analysis of Ötzi the Iceman yields some surprising findings
Ötzi’s ancestors were early Anatolian farmers, not Steppe Herders as previously believed. Enlarge / Study reveals that compared to other contemporary Europeans, Ötzi’s genome had an unusually high proportion of genes in com.....»»
Surprise! Ötzi the Iceman was bald and had darker skin than presumed
Ötzi’s ancestors were early Anatolian farmers, not Steppe Herders as previously believed. Enlarge / Study reveals that compared to other contemporary Europeans, Ötzi’s genome had an unusually high proportion of genes in com.....»»
Precision agriculture technologies optimize returns on crops and livestock, use resources as efficiently as possible
Precision agriculture (PA) technologies help optimize returns on crops and livestock while using resources as efficiently as possible. However, many farmers—specifically those in the Upper Midwest—still see many barriers to adopting PA practices,.....»»
Study shows paper cups are just as toxic to aquatic midge larvae as plastic cups
Reports of plastics pollution contaminating all parts of the Earth and in all living things has accelerated a shift to alternative materials. The coffee latte you take with you from the kiosk on the corner now comes in paper cups, sometimes even with.....»»
Study identifies secret of stealthy invader essential to ruinous rice disease
The virulence of a rice-wrecking fungus—and deployment of ninja-like proteins that help it escape detection by muffling an immune system's alarm bells—relies on genetic decoding quirks that could prove central to stopping it, says research from t.....»»
Topology"s role in decoding energy of amorphous systems
How is a donut similar to a coffee cup? This question often serves as an illustrative example to explain the concept of topology. Topology is a field of mathematics that examines the properties of objects that remain consistent even when they are str.....»»
A low-tech sludge solution for reducing antimicrobial resistance
A low-tech solution to help farmers make more money from their muck could also help reduce the spread of antibiotic resistance from sewage and manure, according to scientists at The James Hutton Institute in Aberdeen and Center for Environmental Heal.....»»
Water managers warn that stretches of the Rio Grande will dry up without more rain
The ongoing lack of rain and hot conditions have left one of North America's longest rivers in dire shape again, prompting water managers on Thursday to warn farmers in central New Mexico who depend on the Rio Grande that supplies will be drying up i.....»»
Can coffee or a nap make up for sleep deprivation?
Lack of sleep harms memory and cognition, but our easy remedies can't fix everything. Enlarge / A cup of coffee might provide you some pep, but it won’t fully make up for lost sleep. (credit: iStock / Getty Images Plus).....»»
Cost to protect globally important forests falls disproportionately on those living closest
Local communities are not incentivized to protect tropical forests that are hugely valuable for global climate regulation, a new study has found. But international funding could help smallholder farmers to boost yields on their existing land to incen.....»»
Rapid growth in coffee shops and competition presents a challenge for small independent coffee shops in Indonesia
In the midst of Indonesia's burgeoning coffee shop scene, a formidable challenge has emerged for independent establishments, according to research in the International Journal of Productivity and Quality Management. Many of the problems and their sol.....»»
Italy"s clam farmers fear blue crab "invasion"
In the shallow waters of the Scardovari lagoon, fishermen catch clams for Italy's beloved spaghetti alle vongole, alongside mussels and oysters. But an invader risks putting them out of business......»»
Back to the future for India"s rice farmers
India, the world's biggest rice exporter, is turning to old varieties and new farming techniques......»»
"Planting" rocks in farms, along with emissions reductions, could help meet key IPCC carbon removal goal
Farmers around the world could help the planet reach a key carbon removal goal set by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) by mixing crushed volcanic rocks into their fields, a new study reports. The study also highlights wet, warm tr.....»»