Tiger breeding, exports flourish in S.Africa: charity
South Africa's legal lion breeding has spawned a tiger farming industry for commercial exports, potentially posing a threat to the species already in decline, an animal welfare group warned Tuesday......»»
Study finds plant populations in Cologne are adapted to their urban environments
A research team from the Universities of Cologne and Potsdam and the Max Planck Institute for Plant Breeding Research has found that the regional lines of the thale cress (Arabidopsis thaliana), a small ruderal plant which populates the streets of Co.....»»
Warming world, widening gap: Climate change"s toll on poverty and inequality in South Africa
Scientific evidence shows that climate change is already negatively affecting inequality and poverty, but the extent to which this happens at the micro-level remains relatively unexplored. Investigating the distributional effects of climate change at.....»»
Getting prescription drugs online is so easy. Are regulators paying attention?
Telehealth prescribers flourish in the wake of the pandemic, regulatory gaps and all. Enlarge (credit: the_burtons vis Getty Imagtes) It started with a Google search for prescription medications I might get online. Almos.....»»
Bringing a shark to a knife fight: 7,000-year-old shark-tooth knives discovered in Indonesia
Excavations on the Indonesian island of Sulawesi have uncovered two unique and deadly artifacts dating back some 7,000 years—tiger shark teeth that were used as blades......»»
A mystery disease hit South Africa"s pine trees 40 years ago: New DNA technology has found the killer
In the 1970s and 1980s, pine trees growing in various forestry plantations in South Africa's Western Cape province began to die in patches. These trees succumbed to a mysterious root disease and the patches expanded gradually. Spontaneous regrowth of.....»»
Global EV battery supply chain puzzles over China graphite curbs
Beijing's move to restrict graphite exports will have a disproportionate impact on foreign makers of electric vehicle battery components who have not yet shifted to using as much synthetic material as Chinese counterparts......»»
Insights for plant breeding: Arming wheat plants against climate stress with microorganisms
Agriculture in Europe is increasingly affected by extreme weather conditions that lead to crop losses. In 2018, the damage in Germany alone amounted to around 770 million euros. Making wheat plants more resilient to these stresses could make a signif.....»»
Pair-bonded Java sparrows show enlarged eye rings to signal breeding readiness
Birds are known for their elaborate courtship rituals and romantic gestures that are replete with beautiful songs, complex dances, gift-giving practices, preening, and flamboyant plumage. While changes in colorful external attributes during this peri.....»»
Concerns over pet food and vet costs affordability are as old as pet keeping itself
Ever since domestic companion animals first became popular in the west, people's ability to provide for their health care needs has been closely linked to their own economic situation. In October 2022, the British animal charity, the RSPCA, reported.....»»
Tiny and mysterious: Research sheds light on sub-Saharan Africa"s seahorses, pipefish and pipehorses
Seahorses are considered fabled creatures by many; something that only exists in old mythical tales of the ocean. But these curious animals really exist—and they're not the only members of the Syngnathidae family of fishes. Other syngnathids are pi.....»»
Researchers find promising locus for molecular design breeding in legumes
In cereal and legume crops, the size of the plant organs, particularly seeds, is closely related to final yield. However, the molecular mechanisms underlying organ size control in legumes are still poorly understood......»»
US orders immediate halt to some AI chip exports to China, Nvidia says
The new export rules were due to start in November, but Nvidia says the US sped up their introduction......»»
Paedophiles using AI to turn singers and film stars into kids
Charity finds dark web forums sharing thousands of new abuse images made with bespoke AI software......»»
Kola nut: From nanofertilizer to protecting metals from corrosion—research finds new uses for the valuable plant
The kola nut tree is grown for its seed. The tree is indigenous to west Africa, where it is widely cultivated. It's now also found in Asia, South America and the Caribbean......»»
GM workers in Brazil go on strike in protest against layoffs
The strike for an "indefinite period of time" happens as GM announced it was reducing workforce at its three factories in Sao Paulo state after a drop in sales and exports, a move it dubbed "necessary" for its sustainability......»»
Ancient pots hold clues about how diverse diets helped herders thrive in southern Africa
The introduction of herding—a way of life which centers on keeping herds of mobile domesticated animals—significantly changed Africa's genetic, economic, social and cultural landscapes during the last 10,000 years. Unlike other parts of the world.....»»
Who were the first modern humans to settle in Europe?
Before modern humans settled definitively in Europe, other human populations left Africa for Europe beginning approximately 60,000 years ago, albeit without settling for the long term. This was due to a major climatic crisis 40,000 years ago, combine.....»»
New study with video shows how female frogs defend themselves against unwanted mating
Among many species, breeding preferences and tactics can differ among males and females. When aggressive behavior by males toward unreceptive females goes awry, it may result in failure to reproduce, and in some cases, fatality for the females involv.....»»
Namibia and Angola"s remote Ovahimba mountains reveal a haven for unique plants—new survey
The Kaokoveld region, covering north-western Namibia and south-western Angola, is one of the remotest areas in southern Africa. Although it's extremely dry, it is a center of species endemism: many species occur only there and nowhere else on earth......»»
Insights for crop breeding in the face of climate change
With the aid of innovative statistical methods, researchers explore the complex interplay between life cycle, environmental factors and genetic information using wheat as an example......»»