Root-farming gophers might be our closest agricultural relatives
Although you'll probably never see them, you can spot them by the tell-tale mounds of sandy soil dotting a field: pocket gophers. Beneath your feet, the gophers continuously create and remold a labyrinth of winding tunnels hundreds of feet long......»»
Improving cat food flavors with the help of feline taste-testers
Cats are notoriously picky eaters. But what if we could design their foods around flavors that they're scientifically proven to enjoy? Researchers publishing in ACS' Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry used a panel of feline taste-testers to i.....»»
White ants: The Earth"s backboneless backbone
The first thoughts that probably come to mind when you read the words "white ant" are images of house destruction, wood damage, pest control, and spending money! While white ants are in fact a major structural and agricultural pest, they are among th.....»»
Breakthrough in plant disease: New enzyme could lead to anti-bacterial pesticides
Plant diseases pose significant challenges to agricultural productivity, presenting formidable hurdles that require urgent attention. Left unchecked, these diseases can spread rapidly, inflicting widespread damage on crops and leading to reduced yiel.....»»
Getting to the root of a plant"s success
Plants are powerful factories—they can turn basic ingredients like carbon dioxide, water, and sunlight into oxygen, sugars, and plant mass. But plants don't do all of this work on their own......»»
Green synthesis of copper oxide nanoparticles from mangifera indica: A solution for agricultural disease management
A research team has successfully synthesized green copper oxide nanoparticles (CuO.NPs) from Mangifera indica (M. indica) leaf extract. The CuO.NPs showed potent activity against gram-positive and negative bacteria, as well as fungicidal effects on p.....»»
Agricultural soils are efficient ice nucleating particles in the southern great plains
INPs are a rare subset of atmospheric aerosol that can initiate ice formation in clouds. There is a significant gap between scientists' ability to measure INPs and to predict their concentrations and variability in large-scale weather and climate mod.....»»
Avocado genome assembled: Uncovering disease resistance and fatty acid secrets
The avocado, celebrated for its nutritious unsaturated fats and distinctive flavor, encounters notable agricultural challenges, particularly its vulnerability to diseases that can drastically reduce fruit quality and yield......»»
Plants" hidden allies: Root microbiota fight back against leaf-mining flies
Plants encounter various biotic stresses, with insect herbivory being particularly destructive. Traditional chemical insecticides used to combat these pests pose environmental and health risks......»»
What shapes a virus"s pandemic potential? SARS-CoV-2 relatives yield clues
Two of the closest known relatives to SARS-CoV-2—a pair of bat coronaviruses discovered by researchers in Laos—may transmit poorly in people despite being genetically similar to the COVID-19-causing virus, a new Yale study reveals......»»
New process uses light and enzymes to create greener chemicals
Researchers at the Center for Advanced Bioenergy and Bioproducts Innovation (CABBI) have achieved a significant breakthrough that could lead to better—and greener—agricultural chemicals and everyday products......»»
Rocket Report: ABL loses its second booster; Falcon 9 cleared for return to flight
"The team is investigating root cause." Enlarge / NASA's SLS rocket core stage for Artemis II is moved to the VAB. (credit: NASA/Ben Smegelsky) Welcome to Edition 7.04 of the Rocket Report! Probably the most striking new.....»»
Parched Central Valley farms depend on Sierras for groundwater
New research shows that California's Central Valley, known as America's breadbasket, gets as much as half of its groundwater from the Sierra Nevadas. This is significant for a farming region that in some parts relies almost entirely on groundwater fo.....»»
From trash to treasure: Machine learning enhances organic waste recycling
Biological treatment methods such as anaerobic digestion, composting, and insect farming are essential for managing organic waste, converting it into valuable resources like biogas and organic fertilizers. However, these processes often face challeng.....»»
Are chemicals still spreading near Placer County missile site in Northern California? New probe data show the latest
The most recent data collected by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers at the Titan-1 missile silo site in Placer County found that despite longstanding concerns, new soil vapor monitoring probes closest to homes in the Sun City Lincoln Hills development.....»»
AI could add a new stage to the 5 stages of grief – resurrection
Some Chinese tech companies will bring back dead relatives if you have enough data.....»»
Next generation biosensor reveals gibberellin"s critical role in legume nitrogen-fixation
Researchers at the University of Cambridge have demonstrated that the plant hormone gibberellin (GA) is essential for the formation and maturation of nitrogen-fixing root nodules in legumes and can also increase nodule size. They identified the speci.....»»
Environmental pollution and human health—how worried should we be?
If not the root of all evil, chemical pollution is surely responsible for a good chunk of it. At least, that's how it feels sometimes when reading the news and the latest research......»»
Smallholder farmers, efficient ranching practices critical to meet restoration targets in Brazil"s Atlantic Forest
A new study led by King's College London simulated the effects of various restoration policies to assess their impact on biodiversity and agricultural production......»»
Rhythmic gene expression in plants is crucial for symbiosis with nutrient-providing bacteria, study finds
Legumes thrive in low-nitrogen environments by partnering with rhizobia, soil bacteria that convert atmospheric nitrogen into ammonium, a usable form for the plants. These beneficial bacteria are housed in root nodules formed on legume roots......»»
Groundcherry gets genetic upgrades: Turning a garden curiosity into an agricultural powerhouse
Imagine a small fruit that tastes like a cross between a tomato and a pineapple, wrapped in its own natural paper lantern. That's the groundcherry (Physalis grisea)—a little-known relative of tomatoes that's been quietly growing in gardens and smal.....»»