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......»»
Rye the right crop for "nabbing" nitrates, capturing carbon and generating bioenergy
Winter rye is prized for its versatility. It is a source of grain and also a forage and ground cover that protects the soil from erosion by wind and rain. But the benefits of winter rye don't stop there......»»
Let there be matter: Simulating the creation of matter from photon–photon collisions
A team led by researchers at Osaka University and University of California, San Diego has conducted simulations of creating matter solely from collisions of light particles. Their method circumvents what would otherwise be the intensity limitations o.....»»
A single gene and a unique layer of regulation opens the door for novel plant-fungi interactions
Soil fungi known as ectomycorrhizae (ECM) can penetrate plant roots and provide water and nutrients to host plants in exchange for sugar. This symbiotic relationship benefits the plant, increasing its growth. To benefit from these fungi while protect.....»»
Microbe-stuffed soil crusts menaced by climate change
Using a novel method to detect microbial activity in biological soil crusts, or biocrusts, after they are wetted, a Penn State–led research team in a new study uncovered clues that will lead to a better understanding of the role microbes play in fo.....»»
Florida man gets unexplained leprosy case; doctors suspect local soil
Leprosy is not very contagious, and the CDC has not issued a travel advisory. Enlarge / An armadillo prepares to cross a gravel road as the space shuttle Endeavour rests on the launch pad at Kennedy Space Center before the schedu.....»»
"Forever chemicals" could be phased out in Australia under new restrictions. Here"s what you need to know
There's growing global concern about potential risks to human health and the environment from a group of industrial chemicals commonly known as PFAS, or "forever chemicals.".....»»
Two-thirds of the world"s biodiversity lives in the soil
Coral reefs, the deep sea or the treetops of the rainforests are considered the main hotspots of biodiversity. However, they all trail behind the soils. According to a new study, soils are the most species-rich ecosystems worldwide. Their importance.....»»
In the treetops: Ecologist studies canopy soil abundance, chemistry
When we think of soil, most of us think of dirt on the ground. But a surprising amount of the planet's soil thrives in the treetops of old-growth forests, high above terra firma......»»
New research shows the complexity of bacterial circadian clocks
Bacteria make up more than 10% of all living things but until recently we had little realization that, as in humans, soil bacteria have internal clocks that synchronize their activities with the 24-hour cycles of day and night on Earth......»»
Biosphere 2 experiment reveals that soils in drought stress leak more volatile organic compounds into the atmosphere
Microbes are doing a lot under the soil surface that can't be seen with the naked eye—from sequestering carbon to building the foundation of Earth's crust. But even tiny microbes are feeling the stress of a hotter, drier future......»»
Team identifies gas streamers feeding triple baby stars
New observations and simulations of three spiral arms of gas feeding material to three protostars forming in a trinary system have clarified the formation of multi-star systems......»»
Meet the Woman Who Supervised the Computations That Proved an Atomic Bomb Would Work
Naomi Livesay worked on computations that formed the mathematical basis for implosion simulations. Despite her crucial role on the project, she is rarely mentioned as more than a footnote. Until now.....»»
Spain worries over "lifeless land" amid creeping desertification
Ongoing droughts and an over-exploitation of land for both agriculture and industry have stoked fears in Spain over the creeping spread of "sterile soil" which could devastate Europe's kitchen garden......»»
Improving wildfire predictions with Earth-scale climate models
Wildfires have shaped the environment for millennia, but they are increasing in frequency, range and intensity in response to a hotter climate. The phenomenon is being incorporated into high-resolution simulations of the Earth's climate by scientists.....»»
Researchers study zoonotic enteric parasites among pastoralists, cattle and soil in northeastern Nigeria
The occupation, lifestyle and lack of formal education among pastoralists place them at higher risk of zoonoses. Moreover, zoonoses among pastoralists and their livestock in the Upper Benue Trough in northeastern Nigeria has not been studied holistic.....»»
Get the "forever chemicals" out of our drinking water
A recent study by the U.S. Geological Survey found that nearly half of the drinking water in the United States is contaminated with "forever chemicals," the per- and polyfluoroakyl substances known as PFAS that can cause cancer and other health compl.....»»
Investigating the Ising model with magnetization
Researchers have explored the evolution of systems of interacting spins, as they transition from random to orderly alignments. Through new simulations, they show that this evolution can be investigated by measuring the changing strength of the system.....»»
A cost-effective, efficient way to assess soil health at scale
Saying soil is important is an understatement. From serving as the medium where most of our food is grown, to sequestering carbon and reducing atmospheric CO2 concentrations, to being the home for enormous quantities of biodiversity—including antib.....»»
Twinkling of giant stars reveals how their innards churn in first-ever simulations
Secrets hide in the twinkling of stars. A research team led by scientists at the Flatiron Institute and Northwestern University has created first-of-their-kind computer simulations showing how churning deep in a star's depths can cause the star's lig.....»»
Soil microbes help plants cope with drought, but not how scientists thought
There's a complex world beneath our feet, teeming with diverse and interdependent life. Plants call out with chemical signals in times of stress, summoning microbes that can unlock bound nutrients and find water in soil pores too small for the finest.....»»