Under shadow of drought, Santiago ditches exotic plants
With drought casting a constant shadow over Santiago's 7.1 million residents, there has been a recent rush to replace thirsty, exotic plants with hardier, native ones in the hopes of staving off water rationing......»»
Study confirms likely identity of the remains of Bishop Teodomiro
Until recently, little was known about Bishop Teodomiro, who, after St James the Apostle, is one of the most important figures associated with the pilgrimage to Santiago de Compostela......»»
Green warriors: Plants on the frontline against microplastics
With escalating concerns about the enduring impact of plastic waste, phytoremediation emerges as a promising solution. This method utilizes plants to capture and degrade pollutants, providing an environmentally friendly and cost-effective alternative.....»»
GM signs 15-year solar energy deal that will power 3 U.S. plants
GM's Lansing Delta Township Assembly and Lansing Grand River Assembly plants in Michigan and Wentzville Assembly in Missouri will benefit from the Aug. 15 solar power deal in Arkansas......»»
Tree mortality may lead to carbon tipping point in the Amazon by 2050s
The Amazon rainforest is home to a diverse cast of plants and animals. This vital, verdant landscape also plays a crucial role in managing the effects of climate change by storing significant amounts of carbon and helping regulate temperatures and ra.....»»
Islands in the sky: Could steep-sided hilltops offer safe haven to threatened species?
Species are disappearing at an alarming rate around the world. But Australia's extinction crisis is especially severe—since European colonization, we have lost about 100 species of animals and plants. The loss of 33 mammal species is largely due to.....»»
Why do plants wiggle? New study provides answers
In a new study, physicists from the United States and Israel may have gotten to the bottom of a quirky behavior of growing plants—and a mystery that intrigued Charles Darwin himself during the later decades of his life......»»
A new advanced framework to assess the impact of invasive plants on ecosystems
Researchers from the University of Freiburg and Justus Liebig University Giessen have developed a framework to better assess the impact of invasive plant species on ecosystems......»»
Exotic eye worm rapidly invades US by spreading from testes of fruit flies
The spread to bears shows the worm is gaining ground and new hosts in the US. Enlarge / An adult Thelazia callipaeda in the eye of a cat. In a battle of bear versus exotic eye worm, the eye worm wins—and that's bad ne.....»»
"Monster plants": An expert guide to alien invasive species and the epic battles they win
A lot of people think of plants as pretty to look at, but defenseless and passive as far as organisms go. However, the many alien species—or "monster plants"—around us show we should never underestimate plants and the fascinating battles that go.....»»
Study reveals urban trees suffer more from heat waves and drought than their rural counterparts
A recently published study in Ecological Applications details how trees in New York City and Boston are more negatively impacted by heat waves and drought than trees of the same species in nearby rural forests. The finding, made by researchers at the.....»»
The plight of the pig-nosed turtle, one of the unlucky 13 added to Australia"s threatened species list
Australia's unique biodiversity is under siege. The national list of species threatened with extinction is growing, with eight animals and five plants added just last month......»»
A new approach to fine-tuning quantum materials
Quantum materials—those with electronic properties that are governed by the principles of quantum mechanics, such as correlation and entanglement—can exhibit exotic behaviors under certain conditions, such as the ability to transmit electricity w.....»»
Browser backdoors: Securing the new frontline of shadow IT
Browser extensions are a prime target for cybercriminals. And this isn’t just a consumer problem – it’s a new frontier in enterprises’ battle against shadow IT. Ultimately, more extension permissions result in potentially bigger attack su.....»»
New forest condition monitor shows dynamic changes in forests resulting from extreme climate change events
According to the German Federal Ministry of Food and Agriculture (BMEL), large parts of the German forest show an increase in damage as a result of the extreme drought period in Germany during recent years. However, hardly any data is available captu.....»»
Chemists synthesize plant-derived molecules that hold potential as pharmaceuticals
MIT chemists have developed a new way to synthesize complex molecules that were originally isolated from plants and could hold potential as antibiotics, analgesics, or cancer drugs......»»
Urban growth leads to more intense droughts for many world cities—Sydney is a case study for areas at risk
The growth of cities worldwide is contributing to more intense drought conditions in many cities, including Sydney, a new Chinese study has found. This is adding to urban heat and water stress. These important findings point to the need to improve ho.....»»
In drought-hit Sicily, rainwater is dumped in the sea
Sicilian lemon producer Rosario Cognata is furious: his fruit is withering due to the drought, while just a few kilometers away rainwater is being dumped into the sea......»»
The molecular shield: How tea plants combat drought through protein phosphorylation
Drought stress poses a significant challenge to agriculture, causing substantial yield losses in many crops. Tea plants, known for their rich flavonoid content which enhances both quality and health benefits, are particularly affected. Under drought.....»»
Editing for resilience: CRISPR/Cas9 boosts potato stress resistance
Scientists have made a significant breakthrough in agricultural biotechnology by using CRISPR/Cas9 to edit the potato genome, resulting in plants with increased resistance to both biotic and abiotic stresses. This innovation could lead to a new era o.....»»
Volcanic eruptions that warmed the planet millions of years ago shed light on how plants evolve, regulate climate
Scientists often seek answers to humanity's most pressing challenges in nature. When it comes to global warming, geological history offers a unique, long-term perspective......»»