Insect Farming Is Booming. But Is It Cruel?
More than a trillion insects are raised each year as high-protein, low-carbon animal feed, but the practice might have an ethical blind spot......»»
Nearly half of the world is suitable for diversified farming for sustainable intensification, finds study
Agriculture, like other sectors of the economy, is a profit-driven business. Simple cultivation systems such as monocultures have therefore become firmly established, because they promise higher returns. However, they are more susceptible to diseases.....»»
"Naked Clams": Aquaculture system hopes to turn marine pest into nutritious seafood
Researchers hoping to rebrand a marine pest as a nutritious food have developed the world's first system of farming shipworms, which they have renamed "Naked Clams." These long, white saltwater clams are the world's fastest-growing bivalve and can re.....»»
Hemp cannabinoids may have evolved to deter insect pests
Cannabinoids, naturally occurring compounds found in hemp plants, may have evolved to deter pests from chewing on them, according to experiments that showed higher cannabinoid concentrations in hemp leaves led to proportionately less damage from inse.....»»
Insect trapped in amber reveals the evolutionary battles of ancient Europe
An extraordinary insect preserved in amber is opening our ears to a world of communication beyond our hearing. New research on an extinct katydid in the Natural History Museum's collection reveals that katydids have been using ultrasounds for million.....»»
Designing biosecurity plans for hobby farms
More and more people are practicing farming because they enjoy the outdoors, animals, and the fruits of their labor as opposed to seeing farming as a primary source of income......»»
For beginning nontraditional farmers, stress is a constant: Study
Farming is already a stressful occupation, but the stress is compounded for nontraditional beginning farmers, a small study in the Midwest suggests......»»
Warmer, wetter winters bring risks to river insects
Research by Cardiff University has shown that the warmer, wetter winters in the U.K. caused by climate change are likely to impact the stability of insect populations in streams......»»
AMD is slowing down at the worst possible time
AMD has been dominating the booming handheld gaming market, but it looks like it might give Intel a lot of room to take over......»»
Okinawa"s ants show reduced seasonal behavior in areas with more human development
Insects have an important role in maintaining the health of ecosystems, but our understanding of how human activities affect their populations is limited. This gap in knowledge is worrying because of the decline of insect populations and the severe c.....»»
Effects of integrated rice-crayfish farming on soil biodiversity and functions
Global food security is currently challenged by global changes, population expansion, and resource constrains. Integrated farming has been proposed as a sustainable approach to boost food production by taking advantage of the synergies between contra.....»»
Farmed wolffish could be on your plate in the future
In the future, farmed wolffish could start appearing on fish counters. However, a new thesis from the University of Gothenburg shows that this fish, with its delicate, firm flesh, needs somewhat different farming conditions compared to salmon......»»
The true costs of corn
A model examines farmers' profits and the health and environmental costs of growing corn in the US Midwest, where about 20% of the world's corn is grown. Corn farming involves applying fertilizer or manure to provide the crop with nitrogen, a vital n.....»»
How mosquito-controlling bacteria might also enhance insect fertility
A new study reveals biological mechanisms by which a specific strain of bacteria in the Wolbachia genus might enhance the fertility of the insects it infects—with potentially important implications for mosquito-control strategies. Shelbi Russell of.....»»
A new versatile tool for studying fish hormones may transform fish farming
Dr. Itamar Harel, along with Ph.D. student Eitan Moses and postdoctoral researcher Dr. Roman Franek, all from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, has introduced an innovative platform for controlling peptide hormones in fish, providing a fast and eff.....»»
Best Flower Coin farming levels in Super Mario Bros. Wonder
If you're planning to buy all of the standees from Poplin Shops in Super Mario Bros. Wonder, you're going to need to farm up a whole lot of flower coins......»»
To find out how wildlife is doing, scientists try listening
A reedy pipe and a high-pitched trill duet against the backdrop of a low-pitched insect drone. Their symphony is the sound of a forest, and is monitored by scientists to gauge biodiversity......»»
Insect researcher: Non-destructive methods are needed
New research has shed light on the importance of revolutionizing methods in entomology. A publication titled "The need for a (non-destructive) method revolution in entomology" has highlighted how to improve our understanding of insects without harmin.....»»
Researchers: Traditional farming knowledge should be stored for future use. The technology to do this is available
Indigenous knowledge and traditional practices have played a critical role in development all over the world. For centuries, various disciplines ranging from medicine to biodiversity conservation have drawn on these resources......»»
Real-time visualization of plant-plant communications through airborne volatiles
Plants emit volatile organic compounds (VOCs) into the atmosphere upon mechanical damages or insect attacks. Undamaged neighboring plants sense the released VOCs as danger cues to activate defense responses against upcoming threats. This phenomenon o.....»»
Scientists combine evolution, physics, and robotics to decode insect flight
Some insects' wings flap without brain input. Robots help us understand how. Enlarge / A hawk moth in flight. (credit: Gregory Dubus) Different insects flap their wings in different manners. Understanding the variations.....»»