Biology
Cover crops could ease the shift from perennial seed to annual crops
Transitioning an aging perennial forage seed stand into annual cropping can be difficult, particularly when the original crop persists or weeds establish after termination. Prelim…
Drones take farming to new heights
High above the fields of the Morven Sustainability Lab, drones equipped with heat and light sensors are changing what it means to farm smarter. This month, researchers and student…
Australia's reefs follow trend of global coral cover decline
Australia's coral reefs are in relatively good condition compared with coral reefs globally, although coral cover on Australian reefs has declined over the past 40 years—reflectin…
Important role of plastid ion channels in plant stress response identified
When plants are attacked by herbivores or pathogens, they must respond rapidly while also preparing for potential future attacks. Calcium, a cellular second messenger, and the pla…
Even small amounts of ocean plastic can affect petrel chicks
Ocean plastic pollution is accidentally on the menu for southern giant petrel chicks. Even small nibbles of it may affect their physiology during development, according to a study…
Sliding sugars offer simpler, smarter route to precision liver-targeted therapies
Targeted drug delivery directly to the liver has unlocked major breakthroughs across medicine, but constructing the chemical key to enter liver cells remains complex and costly. T…
Even ancient bacteria possessed intercellular communication structures like humans today, study finds
Communication between cells in plants, animals and humans takes place via specialized connecting structures. An international team led by biologists from Heinrich Heine University…
'One-pot' CRISPR platform delivers lab-like sensitivity in 30 minutes for at-home testing
A research team from The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST) has developed an innovative "one-pot" testing platform, known as TEMPO, that could transform highly…
Nature's color palette explains why everything we see is a mix of red, yellow, green and blue
Biologists and linguists alike have long puzzled over the universal human tendency to see and name colors as a combination of four "pure" hues—red, yellow, green and blue.
Q&A: What dinosaur teeth reveal about diet and evolution
What did dinosaurs eat? Teeth provide important clues to understanding the ecology of dinosaurs, which became extinct approximately 66 million years ago. Their shape, structure an…
Managing chronic conditions together may be key to longer lifespan, canine study finds
As dogs age, many develop more than one chronic health condition. New research from Texas A&M College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences (VMBS) shows those conditions …
Antarctica is home to microbes found nowhere else on Earth
Scientists have often wondered about species that are unique to Antarctica. But the focus has mainly been on animals, like feathery penguins. CIRES researchers wanted to dig deepe…
Industrial-scale microbial foods—growth strategies for the next-generation protein market
The question is no longer whether microbial foods can be made. The question now is who can be first to turn them into an industry. KAIST researchers have analyzed the conditions r…
A Permian fossil may reveal the oldest known flowering-plant structure
Despite the importance and dominance of angiosperms ("flowering plants") in the current ecosystem, it is rather surprising that we know so little about their origin and early evol…
Farm-based nanopore sequencing study reports reliable genetic testing results
Fast, on-farm genetic testing for cattle is practical and achievable for northern producers, according to University of Queensland research. In partnership with Meat & Livestock A…
No smartphone, no problem: Plants have their own built-in 'Season-Meter'
You may check your phone before deciding what to wear tomorrow. Plants do something similar: they carry an internal gadget called a "Season-Meter" that tracks temperatures over th…
Precise giants: New research reveals how blue whales find food in a vast ocean
Despite protections, blue whales remain endangered, primarily because of the risk of collisions with ships. MBARI's Blue Whale Observatory uses a suite of technologies to study th…
Loss of kelp forests reverberates down to the microbial level
As one moves north, Maine's kelp forests are being overtaken by dense mats of carpet-like turf algae. The steady decline of kelp and transition into this new state are altering th…
Scientists put algae to work making fuel. AI reveals which cells are pulling their weight
Algae have a habit of turning up where they're not wanted. They coat your swimming pool in green gunk, cling to rocks at the beach and even make headlines when they take over prom…
Protecting the peanut: Sensors help fend off fungus
Sweet, salty, crunchy or creamy—no matter how it's munched, the Virginia peanut has been a cash crop for the commonwealth for much of the past two centuries. But a fungal disease …
Deadly virus stalks South Africa's sardines
The tide came in last week carrying thousands of dead sardines onto South Africa's south coast, and by dawn, stretches of Gqeberha's shoreline were flecked with silver.
Using AI to track bird migration
On hearing the first cuckoo of spring, the poet's heart might sing, and while one swallow does not make a summer, the annual migrations of bird species across continents have fasc…
Smoky off-flavors in cocoa aren't caused solely by smoke
Fermented cocoa occasionally exhibits off-flavors that can compromise the quality of chocolate and other cocoa products. But what causes these undesirable flavors? Researchers at …
Plant hormones may offer a way to balance crop yield and disease resistance
Growth or immune response? Higher organisms must constantly balance these two priorities. As in humans, hormones regulate this balance in plants. Researchers at the Technical Univ…