Unlocking plant defense: Bacterial hijacking exposed
Bacterial wilt caused by Ralstonia solanacearum poses a severe threat to agriculture worldwide, affecting numerous crops. The pathogen's arsenal of type III effectors (T3Es) enables it to manipulate host defense mechanisms, aiding infection. One majo.....»»
Chloroplast manipulation: A new strategy in pathogen warfare uncovered
A recent study has unveiled the sophisticated methods pathogens use to weaken plant defenses. It shows how a pathogen's effector protein targets the chloroplast protein StFC-II, increasing its levels in chloroplasts and reducing the plant's ability t.....»»
From rhino horn snuff to pangolin livestock feed: A half-century of patents reveals the wildlife trade"s evolution
The bright blue blood of the horseshoe crab is used around the world to detect bacterial contamination in vaccines. Synonymous with luxury, sturgeon caviar has been patented as an antidote to impotency in China. Rhino horn is used in traditional Asia.....»»
Plant signaling pathways decoded using "optogenetic" tobacco plants
Using newly generated "optogenetic" tobacco plants, research teams from the University of Würzburg's Departments of Plant Physiology and Neurophysiology have investigated how plants process external signals......»»
Researchers investigate cell-free DNA as early sepsis marker in foals
It's hard to be a horse. It's especially hard to be a newborn foal, dropped into a world of microbes and bacteria with your sole initial defense against devastating infections being the antibodies you get from your mother's milk, or colostrum. Resear.....»»
From leaf to cup: The essential role of magnesium in tea plant metabolism
Magnesium plays a vital role in the growth and quality of tea plants, influencing key processes such as photosynthesis and the synthesis of important metabolites. However, tea plants often suffer from magnesium deficiency due to factors like poor soi.....»»
Unlocking crop yield potential: New modeling approach for sustainable agriculture
Predicting crop yields is a significant challenge in modern agriculture, especially under fluctuating environmental conditions. With the escalating demand for sustainable food production, understanding the complex interplay between environmental fact.....»»
Satellites reveal ecosystems most vulnerable to drought
More severe droughts that will also last longer: this will primarily be a problem for irrigated croplands, as discovered by environmental scientist Qi Chen. Mixed forests with a variety of plant species will be the least vulnerable. Chen compared the.....»»
Hybrid imaging approach reveals microbes in 3D
Caltech researchers have developed a new method to create three-dimensional images of complex communities of bacteria and plant roots. The technology synthesizes two traditional methods of imaging: visualizing microbes with fluorescence and a noninva.....»»
Fire outside Rivian"s Illinois plant damages multiple EVs; no injuries reported
The fire was reported in the parking lot on the north side of the 4-million-square-foot factory, located 130 miles south of Chicago, and the assembly plant was unaffected, the Normal Fire Department said in a statement to Reuters......»»
UAW workers rally outside Stellantis truck plant, blast CEO
The union has threatened to strike the automaker for failing to meet its commitment to reopen the idled Belvidere plant by 2027. Stellantis said the union has agreed to language in the contract that allows it to do so......»»
Volvo Trucks picks Monterrey for $700 million Mexico assembly plant
Volvo AB said in April that it aimed to build a plant in Mexico to supply the group's Volvo Trucks and Mack Trucks businesses in the U.S. and Canada as well as Mack Trucks in Mexico and Latin America. .....»»
From recycling to food: Can we eat plastic-munching microbes?
Researchers are trying to turn plastic-eating bacteria into food source for humans. Enlarge (credit: Olga Pankova/Moment via Getty Images) In 2019, an agency within the US Department of Defense released a call for resear.....»»
Innovative field experiments shed light on biological clocks in nature
Much of what we know about plant circadian rhythms is the result of laboratory experiments where inputs such as light and temperature can be tightly controlled......»»
How human urine can disrupt soil health and water quality
Festival season is in full flow, and like any self-respecting plant-soil biogeochemist attending a local music festival, I'm curious about how these outdoor events might modify important nutrient cycles......»»
Engineers design lookalike drug nanocarrier to evade lung"s lines of defense
A drug-carrying molecule designed to cure disease by slipping past the lung's natural defenses offers new hope for people with chronic or deadly respiratory diseases, say its creators, researchers in assistant professor Liheng Cai's Soft Biomatter La.....»»
From coal plant to data center: Old power stations are being repurposed
Industrial sites have the large tracts of land and resources needed. Enlarge (credit: Robert Nickelsberg/Getty Images) Booming demand for artificial intelligence is encouraging big tech companies and their suppliers to e.....»»
Physicists observe key minuscule molecular interactions in ultra-fast atomic processes
An international team of scientists is the first to report incredibly small time delays in a molecule's electron activity when the particles are exposed to X-rays......»»
Bulwark of blooms: The lily"s secret armor against plant pathogens
Fusarium wilt is a severe threat to the global cut-flower industry, particularly impacting lilies. Caused by Fusarium oxysporum, this disease results in significant economic losses due to plant decay and death. Traditional breeding methods have strug.....»»
Worker killed at Jeep plant in Ohio, reports say
Stellantis said it was aware of the incident but could not provide further details......»»
Vernicia montana"s genome unearths new breeding horizons
A study has unveiled the genetic blueprint of Vernicia montana, a plant renowned for its high-value tung oil and ornamental beauty. The research decodes its chromosome-level genome, providing unparalleled insights into its evolution and setting the s.....»»