Harnessing functions of microbiota to combat fungal pathogens
Fusarium graminearum is a widespread pathogenic fungus that causes Fusarium head blight (FHB) in cereal crops worldwide, especially in wheat. Between 2000 and 2018, more than 4.5 million hectares were annually affected by FHB in China, or around 20%.....»»
Up in smoke: DIY tech to combat wildfires
As wildfires become a more frequent and dangerous part of life, especially in the Pacific Northwest, finding solutions that everyone can use is more important than ever. By June 2024, the Pacific Northwest had already seen more trees burn than in all.....»»
Targeting "selfish" bacteria could optimize inhibitors that fight antibiotic resistance
As strains of pathogens resistant to frontline antibiotics become more common worldwide, clinicians are more often turning to combination treatments that degrade this resistance as a first treatment option......»»
Genetic mechanism unlocks a key secret behind disease infection in crops
Researchers have unraveled a key genetic mechanism behind the way pathogens infect crops, leading to new strategies for breeding resistant crop varieties against other pathogens carrying the same genetic mechanism......»»
Cosmic-ray neutron rover assists in estimating mesoscale soil moisture on eastern Qinghai-Tibetan plateau
Soil water resources are crucial for hydrological processes and ecosystem functions on the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau. However, accurately measuring soil moisture distribution in this region is challenging due to diverse ecosystems, complex terrain, and.....»»
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.....»»
How Chlamydia pneumoniae bacteria use molecular mimicry to manipulate the host cell
Bacteria that cause diseases, so-called pathogens, develop various strategies to exploit human cells as hosts to their own advantage. A team of biologists from Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf (HHU), together with medical professionals and exper.....»»
Auto industry appears divided on lidar"s value in automated driving systems
Lidar sensors were once considered essential equipment for self-driving vehicles and, to a lesser extent, driver-assistance functions. Their value today depends on whom you ask......»»
Africa"s Great Green Wall will only combat desertification and poverty by harnessing local solutions, say researchers
In the rural village of Téssékéré, the increasing number and intensity of droughts linked to climate change is making the lives and livelihoods of the local Fulani communities increasingly vulnerable. Here, in the northern Sahel desert region of.....»»
Experimental archaeology sheds light on skill and technique in Bronze Age spear combat
How can we tell whether and how a prehistoric weapon was used? How can we better understand the dexterity and combat skills involved in Bronze Age spear fighting?.....»»
Researchers field-test harmful algal bloom mitigation system
A team of researchers at Clarkson University has conducted a successful field test of its innovative process to combat harmful algal blooms (HABs)......»»
Nanopore technique shows transport mechanism of chaperone proteins at the single-molecule level
Proteins control most of the body's functions, and their malfunction can have severe consequences, such as neurodegenerative diseases or cancer. Therefore, cells have mechanisms in place to control protein quality......»»
Research team develops metallodrug-antibiotic combination strategy to combat superbugs
Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) bacterial infections have become a serious problem threatening human health worldwide. The overuse of antibiotics has promoted drug-resistant mutations in bacteria, causing almost all clinically used antibiotics to deve.....»»
Documenting the impact of a fungal outbreak on a forest over half a century
An entomologist and his ecologist daughter have outlined the dramatic changes that have occurred over the past half-century in the forests of White Oak Canyon in the Shenandoah National Park due to a canker fungus......»»
The true global impact of species-loss caused by humans is far greater than expected, study reveals
The extinction of hundreds of bird species caused by humans over the last 130,000 years has led to substantial reductions in avian functional diversity—a measure of the range of different roles and functions that birds undertake within the environm.....»»
Genetic database shows some fungal crops became completely reliant on ants 27 million years ago
When humans began farming crops thousands of years ago, agriculture had already been around for millions of years. In fact, several animal lineages have been growing their own food since long before humans evolved as a species......»»
Scientists design silver nanoparticle–based self-hygienic resin for use in dental applications
The oral cavity is home to a rich ecosystem of microorganisms that are found in both healthy and diseased states. In the area of dental restoration, highly specialized materials are used to fulfill specific functions so that the patient recovers thei.....»»
Skiing calls on UN climate science to combat melting future
World skiing's governing body joined forces with the UN's weather agency on Thursday in a bid to feed its meteorological expertise into managing the "existential threat" to winter sports posed by climate change......»»
Filament structure found to activate and regulate CRISPR-Cas "protein scissors"
CRISPR-Cas systems help to protect bacteria from viruses. Several different types of CRISPR-Cas defense systems are found in bacteria, which differ in their composition and functions. Among them, the most studied proteins today are Cas9 and Cas12, al.....»»
The Vagus Nerve’s Crucial Role in Creating the Human Sense of Mind
Like a highway system, the vagus nerve branches profusely from your brain through your organs to marshal bodily functions, including aspects of mind such as mood, pleasure, and fear......»»
Unraveling the mystery of dormancy in food pathogens for more effective elimination
Listeria monocytogenes, a bacterium that causes listeriosis, a serious disease, can go into dormancy when confronted with environmental stress, for example in the presence of detergents or in water devoid of nutrients. It then becomes undetectable by.....»»