New sensing techniques can detect drought tolerance in ancient crops, may inform new breeding programs
Drought is the most devastating environmental stress that farmers face worldwide. With the added pressures of climate change, drought years have become less predictable, more frequent and more severe......»»
Bats use four key tactics for accurate target tracking
The ability of "target tracking," i.e., keeping a target object in sight, is essential for various activities and has improved in animals and machines through the evolution of life and technology, respectively. Because most sensing systems are inevit.....»»
The dark side of loan guarantee programs for SMEs
There is always a downside. Even for loan guarantee programs for small businesses, launched during financial crises to stave off the drying up of credit, particularly likely in periods of recession. It turns out these programs also have negative effe.....»»
Farmland weeds can help combat pests
Leaving some weeds between crops can help to combat pests on agricultural land, according to a new study carried out by the University of Bonn. This step has particularly positive effects in combination with other measures: the cultivation of differe.....»»
Battling anthracnose: Unearthing the plant"s arsenal against pathogenic fungi
Plant diseases caused by pathogens like Colletotrichum fructicola lead to significant agricultural losses, particularly in fruit crops such as pear, apple, and peach. Traditional control methods often fail as pathogens adapt to plant defenses. Nonhos.....»»
Heat and disease: The genetic tug-of-war in pepper immunity
Plants face simultaneous challenges from pathogens and environmental stresses, especially in tropical and subtropical regions. Pathogens trigger immune responses through specific receptors, while high temperatures activate heat tolerance mechanisms......»»
Sediments reveal the ancient ocean during a mass extinction event
About 183 million years ago, volcanic activity in modern South Africa unleashed an estimated 20,500 gigatons of carbon dioxide (CO2) into the ocean–atmosphere system over a period of 300 to 500 thousand years. Known as the Toarcian Oceanic Anoxic E.....»»
Egypt tomb find may shed light on ancient diseases: Ministry
A new discovery of 33 ancient tombs in Egypt's southern city of Aswan could reveal "new information on diseases" prevalent at the time, the tourism and antiquities ministry said Monday......»»
1 out of 3 breaches go undetected
Organizations continue to struggle in detecting breaches as they become more targeted and sophisticated, with more than 1 out of 3 organizations citing their existing security tools were unable to detect breaches when they occur, according to Gigamon.....»»
Blooming through adversity: Roses" genetic defense against salinity stress
A cutting-edge study illuminates the intricate mechanisms of rose plants' resistance to salt stress, a critical issue for global agriculture. The research identifies the phenylpropane pathway, especially flavonoids, as key to this tolerance, offering.....»»
After ISIS bombs, an urgent call to preserve an ancient Syrian temple
The Temple of Bel stands in the ancient Syrian city of Palmyra, adjoining a desert oasis with palm trees and bountiful water. Constructed in the first two centuries of the Common Era, the temple served for nearly two thousand years as a sanctuary for.....»»
Human activity: A double-edged sword in the face of drought
Earth and environmental scientists have reported that, as human socio-economic activities increase, greenhouse gas emissions will rise, leading to more frequent extreme weather events such as droughts and floods. However, a research team from Pohang.....»»
Finding the ecological balance while countering invasive species
In 2003, Anne Nielsen became the first doctoral student in the U.S. to study the brown marmorated stink bug, which was beginning its ascendancy as an invasive species notoriously damaging to crops......»»
Welcome to the drought: Off-lease vehicle pool is about to dry up
Lease turn-ins are a valuable tool for dealers and automakers to control inventory levels. But the 2021 leasing collapse is about to shrink the pool sharply......»»
Scientists discover surprising link between ancient biology and restricted human hair growth
University of Manchester scientists have linked one of the ways that cells respond to stressful conditions with restricted healthy hair growth......»»
Study uncovers genetic key to overcoming water stress in cucumbers
Waterlogged conditions, a consequence of heavy rainfall or inadequate drainage, disproportionately affect crops with delicate root systems like cucumbers. These conditions not only impede root respiration and plant development but also threaten agric.....»»
Apple wants you to be able to just point at things to learn about them
Future Apple Watch or iPhone models could detect when you're pointing at a location, or want to buy something from a store window, and show you details about them.Any Apple device with an accelerometer could determine whether you were pointing at som.....»»
Gravesite in France offers evidence of steppe migrant integration with Late Neolithic Europeans
A team of geneticists and archaeologists affiliated with multiple institutions in France has uncovered skeletons in an ancient gravesite not far from Paris that show evidence of steppe migrant integration with Late Neolithic Europeans. The study is p.....»»
The ornate horns of ancient marvel Lokiceratops point to evolutionary insights
What do you get when you cross Norse mythology with a 78-million-year-old ancestor to the Triceratops? Answer: Lokiceratops rangiformis, a plant-eating dinosaur with a very fancy set of horns......»»
A ship found far off Israel"s coast could shed light on the navigation skills of ancient mariners
A company drilling for natural gas off the coast of northern Israel discovered a 3,300-year-old ship and its cargo, one of the oldest known examples of a ship sailing far from land, the Israel Antiquities Authority said Thursday......»»
Improving crops with laser beams and 3D printing
A demonstration of how new technologies can be used in 21st century crop breeding comes from just published research that combines laser scanning and 3D printing to create a detailed 3D model of a sugar beet plant......»»