The origins of farming insects
A beetle bores a tree trunk to build a gallery in the wood in order to protect its lay. As it digs the tunnel, it spreads ambrosia fungal spores that will feed the larvae. When these bore another tree, the adult beetles will be the transmission vecto.....»»
Automated bioacoustics: Researchers are listening in on insects to better gauge environmental health
Recent research led by the University of Massachusetts Amherst evaluates how well machine learning can identify different insect species by their sound, from malaria-carrying mosquitoes and grain-hungry weevils to crop-pollinating bees and sap-suckin.....»»
New research reveals that chickens were widely raised across southern Central Asia from 400 BCE
Chickens are one of the most economically important animals in the world today. However, the story of their origins and dispersal across the ancient world is still poorly understood. In fact, new archaeological techniques have recently led to the rec.....»»
82% of EU farm subsidies bolster high emissions foods: Study
More than 80 percent of EU agriculture subsidies support polluting livestock and animal product farming, undermining the bloc's climate targets, a study published Monday found......»»
Researchers discover key gene for toxic alkaloid in barley
All plants mediate their environmental interactions via chemical signals. An example is the alkaloid gramine produced by barley, one of the world's most widely-grown cereals. Gramine provides protection against herbivorous insects and grazing animals.....»»
Cold stratification impacts germination rates in Vitis species
It is imperative for the success of the grape industry to develop new grape varieties capable of enduring shifting climates and heightened pressures from diseases and insects. The majority of grape cultivars rely on a specific amount of "chilling ho.....»»
Behavior of ant queens found to be shaped by their social environments
The queens in colonies of social insects, such as ants, bees, and wasps, are considered the veritable embodiment of specialization in the animal kingdom......»»
Moths big and small are vanishing from southern US cities
Insects of all stripes are in the midst of a vanishing act, a catastrophic sleight-of-hand occurring so rapidly that scientists can't keep up. Things get even trickier when you consider that insects have a complex life cycle with eggs, larvae, pupae.....»»
Food production using controlled environment agriculture and agrivoltaics systems could become the new normal
New research from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and Virginia Tech suggests that technologies such as controlled environment agriculture and agrivoltaics may become part of the future of farming......»»
Alternative proteins are here. The next 30 years could be crucial for NZ"s meat and dairy sectors
The history of farming is seeded with technological "big bang" moments that have changed the trajectory of whole industries and countries......»»
Uncovering the ripple effects of the climate crisis
No roads lead to Iquitos, a Peruvian port city surrounded by the Amazon rainforest and reachable only by river. The city's diverse communities and ways of living—including fishing and farming—were what drew Heidi Mendoza. She's a researcher who l.....»»
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......»»
Across oceans and millennia: Decoding the origin and history of the bottle gourd
In a fascinating dive into the past, a team of researchers from the Boyce Thompson Institute (BTI) and USDA has uncovered intriguing details about the origins and spread of the bottle gourd, one of the oldest domesticated crops......»»
Tastes like chicken? Think again—edible ants have distinctive flavor profiles.
Go ahead, eat some ants. We triple-dog dare you. Enlarge / Chicatana ants have a nutty, fatty flavor. They are consumed in parts of Mexico to add texture and flavor to dishes. (credit: Changqi Liu) Edible insects, like a.....»»
Livestock farming is responsible for up to a quarter of air pollution in Lombardy region: Study
Agricultural activities and livestock farming are key contributors to the concentrations of hazardous pollutants for health and the environment in the atmosphere, but the potential action in these sectors is often overlooked in public debate......»»
The mystery of consciousness shows there may be a limit to what science alone can achieve
The progress of science in the last 400 years is mind blowing. Who would have thought we'd be able to trace the history of our universe to its origins 14 billion years ago? Science has increased the length and the quality of our lives, and the techno.....»»
Pesticide-free as a new pathway for agriculture
A new approach is gaining momentum in European agriculture: a "third way" that lies between conventional production and organic farming systems. Here farmers must forego synthetic pesticides only—which is simpler to implement than a switch to organ.....»»
Investigating the many flavors of edible ants
Insects are typically unwelcome visitors to a picnic, but they could be a flavorful, nutritious and sustainable addition to the menu. Eating insects is common in some parts of the world, and some species are even considered delicacies......»»
What is the "great replacement theory"? A scholar of race relations explains
The "great replacement theory," whose origins date back to the late 19th century, argues that Jews and some Western elites are conspiring to replace white Americans and Europeans with people of non-European descent, particularly Asians and Africans......»»
Transgender scientists speak up about the challenges they face in academia and share how to support them
A group of 24 transgender (and/or family members of transgender) scientists describe what it's like to be a transgender person in STEMM. In a commentary published on March 14 in the journal Cell, they discuss the historical origins of trans marginali.....»»
Stardew Valley cheats: all glitches, codes, and secrets
The farming life isn't always as easy or relaxing as we hope it will be in Stardew Valley. If you just want to get ahead in life, here are some cheats to help......»»