Shampoo ingredient could wash diesel out of soil
A plant more commonly used for herbal shampoos could be used to clean oil-contaminated soil, according to a new report......»»
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.....»»
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.....»»
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.....»»
Diesel enginemaker agrees to nearly $2 billion in fines with feds and California
More than 600,000 Ram trucks have Cummins engines with software defeat devices. Enlarge (credit: Cummins) Cummins, which makes diesel engines for trucks, among other products, will pay a record Clean Air Act civil penalt.....»»
Study shows effects of vegetation composition, warming and nitrogen deposition on peatland carbon sink function
Peatlands, which contain about one-third of the global soil carbon stock, are important carbon sinks. Their net carbon uptake is equivalent to ~1% of human fossil fuel emissions or 3%–10% of the current net sink of natural terrestrial ecosystems. H.....»»
Bottled water can contain hundreds of thousands of previously uncounted tiny plastic bits, study finds
In recent years, there has been rising concern that tiny particles known as microplastics are showing up basically everywhere on Earth, from polar ice to soil, drinking water and food. Formed when plastics break down into progressively smaller bits,.....»»
Soil fungi may help explain the global gradient in forest diversity
A paper published in Nature Communications Biology contributes to the growing appreciation for the outsize role that microbes play in everything from human digestion to crop yields: Microbes in the soil—fungi in this case—appear to be influencing.....»»
Consumer group wants to end $255M “gift card loophole” for Starbucks and others
Changes to Washington's gift card laws could affect cardholders nationwide. Enlarge / Starbucks' Rewards programs are a key part of their revenue. How the company deals with unspent amounts in that app could change under new Wash.....»»
Research finds climate-dependent dispersal limitation plays an important role in mountain soil microbiome
Microbial communities are highly diverse, yet the mechanisms underlying microbial community assembly are not well understood. In 1967, Daniel Janzen hypothesized that low climatic variability along elevational gradients results in greater constraints.....»»
A commander’s lament on the loss of a historic SpaceX rocket
This rocket restored NASA crew launches to US soil, then launched 18 more times. Enlarge / One of the most historic rockets in SpaceX's fleet toppled over Christmas Day on the return tip to Cape Canaveral, Florida, following its.....»»
Uncovering how tiny plastics threaten our soil and health
In a study published online in Eco-Environment & Health, researchers from Zhejiang Shuren University and China Agricultural University have delved into the interaction of tiny plastics and soil, aiming to provide insights into the mechanisms and impl.....»»
AI predicts the influence of microplastics on soil properties
Plastic waste and its buildup in nature has become a major environmental concern in recent times. While plastic pollution in the oceans is undoubtedly a problem, the presence of plastics in soils around the world is also known to cause severe environ.....»»
California seal pups were turning up headless. Experts finally confirmed the culprit
Finding dead seals along California's coast is not novel in and of itself. The marine mammals get sick, are stillborn or even wash ashore after being fatally struck by a boat......»»
Researchers develop "electronic soil" that enhances crop growth
Barley seedlings grow on average 50% more when their root system is stimulated electrically through a new cultivation substrate. In a study published in the journal PNAS, researchers from Linköping University have developed an electrically conductiv.....»»
Fungi-cranberry pairings have unsuspected potential, finds new study
At many winter holiday tables, cranberries have pride of place as an accompaniment to roast turkey and an ingredient in sparkling cocktails......»»
Research offers a reason why diversity in plant species causes higher farming yield, solving "a bit of a mystery"
A study appearing in Nature Communications based on field and greenhouse experiments at the University of Kansas shows how a boost in agricultural yield comes from planting diverse crops rather than just one plant species: Soil pathogens harmful to p.....»»
Uncovering the 150-year history of Japanese beer barley breeding
Barley is a staple crop with several applications, acting as a source of food, livestock feed, and an ingredient for malt brewing. Originally disseminated from China and the Korean Peninsula about 2,000 years ago, all Japanese barley cultivars were s.....»»
Microwaves heat the soil to eliminate pests and help farmers manage soil diseases
A research team led by Dr. Sunshin Jung at the Korea Electrotechnology Research Institute (KERI) has developed a breakthrough technology that effectively eliminates pests without the use of pesticides and protects farms from soil diseases by using mi.....»»