How microbial communities adapt to soil acidification
Temperate grasslands in northern China have experienced soil acidification in the last 30 years due to increasing acid deposition and unsustainable management. Long-term soil acidification may lead to leaching of base cations, nutrient imbalances and.....»»
How bacteria actively use passive physics to make biofilms
When we think about bacteria, we may imagine single cells swimming in solution. However, similarly to humans, bacterial cells often socialize, using surfaces to coalesce into complex heterogeneous communities called biofilms. Within a group, bacteria.....»»
Study highlights role of computational biology in microbial community design
How can computer models help design microbial communities? A research team comprising members from Aachen, Düsseldorf and East Lansing/U.S. examined the development perspectives of so-called synthetic biology. In an article published in the journal.....»»
Soil nutrient levels associated with suppression of banana Fusarium wilt disease
Fusarium wilt poses a significant threat to global agriculture, particularly affecting the banana industry, where it is commonly known as banana Panama disease. As a result, enhancing soil-related resistance has emerged as a crucial, environmentally.....»»
The legacy of corn nitrogen fertilizer: Study shows lengthy impact in tile drained systems
Midwestern soils are among the most productive in the world, thanks in part to extensive tile drainage systems that remove excess water from crop fields. But water isn't the only thing flowing through tile drains. Nitrogen moves along with soil water.....»»
Q&A: Experts discuss ongoing atmospheric effects of San Bernardino fires on Southern California communities
Several Southern California communities, including Riverside, are being hit with smoke from the huge Line Fire in the San Bernardino Mountains, creating what the Environmental Protection Agency classifies as "very unhealthy" air quality......»»
Biogeochemistry scientists from around the world publish position paper on tackling "hidden" phosphorus
As the world tries to mitigate agriculture's effect on the environment, much of the story can be found in soil, which stores and cycles nutrient elements of carbon, nitrogen, and phosphorus......»»
Four plants eaten by gorillas, also used in traditional medicine, provide clues for new drug discovery
Four plants consumed by wild gorillas in Gabon and used by local communities in traditional medicine show antibacterial and antioxidant properties, find Leresche Even Doneilly Oyaba Yinda from the Interdisciplinary Medical Research Center of Francevi.....»»
U.S. lakes in communities of color are monitored less for water quality
Lakes provide drinking water, food, recreation and mental health benefits to people who use them or live nearby. Regular monitoring of water quality is essential to collect information to track lake health. Without this information, people who use th.....»»
With AI, extreme microbe reveals how life"s building blocks adapt to high pressure
An assist from a Google Artificial Intelligence tool has helped scientists discover how the proteins of a heat-loving microbe respond to the crushing conditions of the planet's deepest ocean trenches, offering new insights into how these building blo.....»»
Researchers propose mechanistic framework to explain complex microbe-host symbioses
Virtually all multicellular organisms on Earth live in symbiotic associations with very large and complex microbial communities known as microbiomes. New research has just been published aimed at offering a complete understanding how those relationsh.....»»
Challenging internal displacement policy within the broader security environment
The time frame defining "protracted displacement" by the United Nations may need to be significantly shortened, according to a new study on internally displaced persons (IDPs) which suggests earlier support is needed for affected communities......»»
Scientists create guidance to help emergency managers prepare for weather hazards of the future
Climate change is fueling more severe storms and floods, droughts and fires, and communities around the world are grappling with how to prepare. Emergency managers regularly meet to examine possible disasters and discuss preparations and responses fo.....»»
Phage editing technology could lead to alternative treatments for antibiotic-resistant bacteria
As antibiotic resistance becomes an increasingly serious threat to our health, the scientific and medical communities are searching for new medicines to fight infections. Researchers at Gladstone Institutes have just moved closer to that goal with a.....»»
The promise and pitfalls of "climatopias" for building resilience in coastal communities
Idowu (Jola) Ajibade grew up in Lagos, Nigeria, a low-lying city built around a lagoon bordered by the Atlantic Ocean. Flooding is a routine occurrence during the rainy season......»»
Oil and gas communities are a blind spot in America"s climate and economic policies
On a recent visit to Rangely, a small town in northwest Colorado, my colleagues and I met with the administrators of a highly regarded community college to discuss the town's economy. Leaving the scenic campus, we saw families driving into the mounta.....»»
What is societal collapse? Lessons from the past can help us understand our future, but only to a point
As the climate crisis accelerates, it's hard not to wonder if today's societies can adapt. Growing worries over climate change have sparked interest in the collapse of ancient civilizations and the rise of the (often apocalypse-themed) "cli-fi" genre.....»»
The ecological impact of herbivore dung on plant communities
Xingzhao Sun of the research group Wildness, biodiversity and ecosystems under change of the Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB) explored the complex ecological interactions between herbivore dung and plant communities, providing new insights into the r.....»»
Soil pollution surpasses climate change as top threat to underground biodiversity, study finds
Earthworms, insects and mites are all at risk from soil pollution, and scientists are worried that we know very little about the damage it's causing......»»
Soil treated with organic fertilizers stores more carbon, study finds
With carbon dioxide levels in the atmosphere increasing in recent decades, there is a growing urgency to find strategies for capturing and holding carbon......»»
Tropical forests face increased soil carbon loss due to climate change
Tropical forests account for more than 50% of the global terrestrial carbon sink, but climate change threatens to alter the carbon balance of these ecosystems......»»