Studying Terfezia, the mysterious desert truffles, with an eye toward ecology and cultivation
In a caring, symbiotic relationship, mycorrhizal fungi live and feed in the roots of specific plants, while providing water and nutrients to their "companion." In arid and semi-arid environments, mycorrhization processes are essential to the survival.....»»
A method to compute the Rényi entanglement entropy in auxiliary-field quantum Monte Carlo simulations
Entanglement is a widely studied quantum physics phenomenon, in which two particles become linked in such a way that the state of one affects the state of another, irrespective of the distance between them. When studying systems comprised of several.....»»
Researchers reveal new method for calculating mechanical properties of solids using machine learning
A research team from Skoltech introduced a new method that takes advantage of machine learning for studying the properties of polycrystals, composites, and multiphase systems. It attained high accuracy, nearly as good as that of quantum-mechanical me.....»»
Caller ID of the sea: Novel method of simultaneous acoustic tagging provides insight into whale communication
For researchers studying the acoustic behavior of whales, distinguishing which animal is vocalizing is like a teacher trying to figure out which student responded first when the entire class is calling out the answer. This is because many of the tech.....»»
Water persisted in Mars" Gale crater for longer than previously thought, study finds
Billions of years ago, Mars was home to abundant water, and its Gale crater contained a lake. Gradually, the climate changed, drying the red planet and creating the dusty desert world we know today......»»
Improving root senescence recognition with a new semantic segmentation model
Roots play a vital role in plant health, adapting to environmental changes and indicating crop growth. However, studying root senescence is challenging due to difficulties in obtaining clear in situ root images. Traditional methods are limited, and w.....»»
New research shows unintended harms of organic farming
Organic farming is often touted as a more sustainable solution for food production, leveraging natural forms of pest control to promote eco-friendly cultivation......»»
In a first, team identifies mysterious exporter for brassinosteroid plant hormone
When you are reading this article, there are multiple hormones working diligently inside your body to stabilize your health status. Just as in human beings, it is impossible for plants to grow and reproduce without being regulated by phytohormones. O.....»»
How ants are breaking down biogeographic boundaries and homogenizing biodiversity
Ants transported by humans out of their native zones reshape ant communities worldwide. A recent study in Nature Communications by the Department of Ecology and Evolution at the University of Lausanne (UNIL) shows that our impact on biodiversity is o.....»»
Unknown Caller vs. No Caller ID: What’s the difference?
Getting mysterious calls on your phone from unknown places? Here's how to tell the difference between an unknown caller and one with blocked caller ID......»»
Fairy circles: Plant water stress causes Namibia"s gaps in grass
Namibia's legendary fairy circles are mysterious, circular, bald patches in the dry grasslands on the edge of the Namib Desert. Their formation has been researched for decades and has recently been the subject of much debate. With extensive fieldwork.....»»
Planetary geophysics: What is it? What can it teach us about finding life beyond Earth?
Universe Today has examined the importance of studying impact craters, planetary surfaces, exoplanets, astrobiology, solar physics, comets, and planetary atmospheres, and how these intriguing scientific disciplines can help scientists and the public.....»»
How "Dune" became a beacon for the fledgling environmental movement, and a rallying cry for the new science of ecology
"Dune," widely considered one of the best sci-fi novels of all time, continues to influence how writers, artists and inventors envision the future......»»
Dune: What the climate of Arrakis can tell us about the hunt for habitable exoplanets
Frank Herbert's Dune is epic sci-fi storytelling with an environmental message at its heart. The novels and movies are set on the desert planet of Arrakis, which various characters dream of transforming into a greener world—much like some envision.....»»
Multiple processes shape plant ecological uniqueness in Northeast China"s forests
In a study published in Journal of Biogeography, scientists from the Institute of Applied Ecology of the Chinese Academy of Sciences have shed light on understanding the driving mechanisms of the uniqueness of plant species composition in different l.....»»
VW to stay course on EVs in U.S.; studying hybrids
The head of VW Group of America echoed comments made by VW Group's CEO regarding EVs......»»
New research on their metabolism helps conserve endangered beluga whales in Alaska
New data provided by studying the beluga whales at Georgia Aquarium helps close a key information gap about how much food these whales need to thrive. The information will inform important management decisions for their counterparts in Alaska's Cook.....»»
Research examines the role of sex and violence in Peruvian military culture
An article and book by Professor Jelke Boesten and co-author Peruvian anthropologist Lurgio Gavilán have received awards from the Latin American Studies Association, the largest professional organization for those studying Latin America. Jelke Boest.....»»
Virtual tool for studying gene function aims to reduce number of animals used for genetic testing
Researchers at the Texas A&M University School of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences (VMBS) have developed a new virtual tool that will allow scientists to study the function of genes more efficiently and hopefully reduce the number of anima.....»»
Male roundworms are picky when choosing a mate, new research finds
A piece of rotting fruit is likely covered in hundreds if not thousands of microscopic roundworms, including C. elegans—a popular experimental model system for studying neurogenetics. With a lifespan of only a few weeks, C. elegans must reproduce q.....»»
Google says the AI-focused Pixel 8 can’t run its latest smartphone AI models
Gemini Nano can't run on the smaller Pixel 8 due to mysterious "hardware limitations." Enlarge / The bigger Pixel 8 Pro gets the latest AI features. The smaller model does not. (credit: Google) If you believe Google's m.....»»