How simulations could help get PFAS out of soil
Michigan State University chemists are discovering new information to help remediate "forever chemicals" by showing for the first time how they interact with soil at the molecular level......»»
From moon "dust" to moon "soil": Graduate student grows chickpeas in amended moondust
A love for space exploration led Jessica Atkin, a Texas A&M College of Agriculture and Life Sciences graduate student in the Department of Soil and Crop Sciences, to produce the first-ever moondust-grown chickpeas......»»
Positive associations revealed as key driver in maintaining soil biodiversity and ecological networks
In a study published in PNAS, researchers analyzed 151 ecosystems across six continents, delved into the intricate coexistence network among diverse species including bacteria, fungi, protists, and invertebrates, and for the first time, linked biotic.....»»
Could our Universe be a simulation? How would we even tell?
Simulations all the way down—the philosophical debate on the nature of our Universe. Enlarge / Is this a simulation? (credit: Aurich Lawson | Getty Images) Ever since Oxford philosopher Nick Bostrom proposed his simula.....»»
Nitrogen-based fertilizers differentially affect protist community composition in paddy field soils, finds study
The soil microbiome has far-reaching significance, particularly for rice production, which can be better explained with a Japanese proverb: "Rice grows with soil fertility, while upland crops depend on fertilization." Therefore, understanding the pad.....»»
Confirmation of ancient lake on Mars offers hope that Perseverance rover"s soil and rock samples hold traces of life
If life ever existed on Mars, the Perseverance rover's verification of lake sediments at the base of the Jezero crater reinforces the hope that traces might be found in the crater......»»
PFAS "forever chemicals" being spread on world"s ski slopes, study reveals
Skiers keen for slick runs are leaving toxic PFAS "forever chemicals" behind on ski slopes, research by The James Hutton Institute in Aberdeen and the University of Graz in Austria has revealed......»»
Alarming levels of PFAS contamination found in small coastal ecosystems
Micro-estuaries, often overlooked but vital ecosystems supporting biodiversity and enhancing human life quality in densely populated areas, play a crucial role in controlling the transfer of pollutants from land to sea. A new study investigating the.....»»
Sika deer overpopulation endangers beech forests in Southern Kyushu, Japan
Kyushu University researchers have found that Japanese beech (Fagus crenata) in the forests of southern Kyushu have seen reduced growth, due to soil erosion caused by the overpopulation of sika deer (Cervus nippon). Their findings, which were publish.....»»
The role of seasonal compensation effects on mediating the land carbon sink in response to an extreme El Niño event
Based on multiple evidence from remote sensing observations, global ecosystem model simulations and atmospheric CO2 inversions, a study led by Dr. Fangzhong Shi and Dr. Xiuchen Wu (Faculty of Geographical Science, Beijing Normal University) has found.....»»
Analyzing historical crop yields can reveal key soil health insights
New research from Michigan State University shows how evaluating historical crop yields across distinct areas of agricultural fields can provide farmers with essential information on soil health characteristics and carbon sequestration. The paper was.....»»
"Forever chemicals" in German drinking water: A hidden threat unveiled
In a study published in Eco-Environment & Health, researchers screened German drinking water for 26 per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). This effort, notably supported by residents, marks a significant step in understanding the presence of PFA.....»»
Simulations show that exoplanets heated at deeper depths by their host stars display markedly different weather patterns
For many years, most astrophysical models assumed that planets beyond our solar system, known as exoplanets, are heated at similar depths by their host stars (i.e., stars like the sun around which planetary systems are formed). Analyses of recent obs.....»»
Modeling framework finds fungal "bouncers" patrol plant-microbe relationship
A new computational framework created by Oak Ridge National Laboratory researchers is accelerating their understanding of who's in, who's out, who's hot and who's not in the soil microbiome, where fungi often act as bodyguards for plants, keeping fri.....»»
Wear and tear may cause firefighter gear to release more "forever chemicals"
Last year, a study by the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) showed that the textiles used in protective clothing worn by firefighters often contain per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, or PFAS, a class of chemicals that has been l.....»»
Agriculture: Changing animal feed reduces consumption of natural resources such as soil and water
A study published in Nature Food, the result of a collaboration between Politecnico di Milano and the University of Milan, highlights how the increased use of by-products in the feed sector in a circular perspective can lead to significant savings in.....»»
Getting “forever chemicals” out of drinking water is expensive
Can water utilities meet the EPA's new standard for PFAS? Enlarge (credit: Wachirawit Jenlohakit via Getty) Situated in a former sand and gravel pit just a few hundred feet from the Kennebec River in central Maine, the.....»»
Study finds 10 Bacillus strains can regulate antioxidative system in response to acid stresses
Soil acidification is widely occurring in diverse terrestrial ecosystems and soil microbial communities have been reported to be highly sensitive to changes in soil pH. Soil microbes could regulate their physiological conditions to make them survive.....»»
How human activity facilitates invasive plants" colonization in Mediterranean ecosystems
Some invasive plants can form persistent banks of seeds that remain under the soil for years, and this makes their eradication practically impossible. Over time, this invisible population of large quantities of living, buried plants—in seed form—.....»»
A new type of plant metalloreductase maintains root growth under low phosphorus
The release of low-molecular weight carboxylates, such as malate, is used by many plant species to mine poorly available phosphorus (P) from the soil. Malate can increase the availability of phosphate, the P form taken up by plants, by chelating triv.....»»
Nafion byproduct 2 found in blood of well users near Fayetteville, N.C.
Researchers from the GenX Exposure Study detected PFAS originating from a fluorochemical manufacturing plant—including Nafion byproduct 2 and GenX—in nearby private wells in Bladen and Cumberland Counties, N.C. PFAS refers to a group of chemicals.....»»