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Hard Yacca: Grass Skirts are a Life Saver for Many Animals, but Fire and Disease Threaten Their Survival

Australia’s iconic grass-trees – aka yaccas – are hardy, drought-tolerant, and strikingly beautiful. Now, new research has revealed another, far more important, feature: their ability to protect wildlife from deadly weather extremes.

22 Aug 2023

The Prevalence of Fibrinogen Aα-Chain Amyloidosis in Japanese Squirrels

Fibrinogen Aα-chain amyloidosis, a condition previously unknown in animals other than humans, has been shown to be extremely common in Japanese squirrels (Sciurus lis), according to a study conducted by Dr Tomoaki Murakami of the Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology.

21 Aug 2023

Insect Farming, the New Approach to Agritech Sustainability

We speak to Larry Kotch from Flybox about how their insect farming-fueled products hope to create a sustainable solution to agricultural waste.

17 Aug 2023

Bivalves' Adaptability Makes Them Less Prone to Extinction

In a new study, scientists Stewart Edie of the Smithsonian, Shan Huang of the University of Birmingham and colleagues drastically expanded the list of bivalve species, such as clams, oysters, mussels, scallops and their relatives, that humans are known to harvest and identified the traits that make these species prime targets for harvesting.

17 Aug 2023

Animal Protein More Metabolically Responsive Than Plant Protein in Young and Older Adults, Study Finds

Protein from two ounce-equivalents (oz-eq) of animal-based protein foods provides greater essential amino acids (EAA) bioavailability than an equal two oz-eq of plant-based protein foods, according to scientists at Purdue University.

16 Aug 2023

AI-Powered Speed Breeding Could Revolutionize Agriculture

Artificial intelligence could hold the key to feeding 10 billion people by 2050 in the face of climate change and rapidly evolving pests and pathogens according to researchers at The University of Queensland.

16 Aug 2023

Deciphering Buckwheat’s Genome to Improve Crop Yields

The high-precision chromosomal-level genome sequence of buckwheat has been decoded by a research group led by Kyoto University’s Graduate School of Agriculture, which is an important step toward unraveling the evolution of the buckwheat genome and the origins of the cultivated crop.

14 Aug 2023

Understanding Watermelon Genetics Could Lead to Development of More Resilient, Delicious Varieties

Watermelon is a globally significant agricultural product, both in terms of the total amount produced and the total economic value generated.

14 Aug 2023

Maize Root Chemicals Can Increase Wheat Yields by 4%

Maize roots secrete certain chemicals that affect the quality of soil. In some fields, this effect increases yields of wheat planted subsequent to maize in the same soil by more than 4%.

14 Aug 2023

Revealing the Complex Migration Patterns in Stone Age Europe

A recent DNA study has provided a more nuanced picture of how different groups coexisted during the European Stone Age, as well as how some of them were actually isolated.

10 Aug 2023

Genetic Analysis of Stone Age Europeans Reveals Complex Intermingling of Groups

A new DNA study has nuanced the picture of how different groups intermingled during the European Stone Age, but also how certain groups of people were actually isolated.

9 Aug 2023

Elephants may Hold Secrets to Long Life

Indiana University researcher Daniella Chusyd is studying human aging in an unlikely way: through elephants.

7 Aug 2023

Amazon Dark Earth for Accelerated Tree Growth

A study published in the journal Frontiers in Soil Science asserts that a type of soil known as terra preta da Amazônia, or Amazon dark earth (ADE), encourages quicker growth of trees and improves their development in terms of quality.

2 Aug 2023

Smart Agrochemical Delivery Platform Shows Promise for Precision Agriculture

Improvements in crop productivity and nutritional value are needed to meet increased global demand for food in terms of both quantity and quality.

1 Aug 2023

Bees Originated Earlier, Diversified Faster and Spread Wider Than Previously Thought

The origin of bees is tens of millions of years older than most previous estimates, a new study shows.

1 Aug 2023

Cornell Researchers Develop a Multimodal Platform to Image Biohybrids

When considering ways to sustainably generate environmentally friendly products, bacteria might not immediately spring to mind.

31 Jul 2023

New Gene Editing Technique Reduces Chalkiness in Rice

As global temperatures continue to rise, maintaining the quality and yield of crops adapted to lower temperatures will increasingly become a challenge.

31 Jul 2023

Innovative Climate Tool Expands to Support More Farmers

The Bureau of Meteorology and CSIRO have unveiled a new name for their digital information product 'My Climate View', along with updates to help more farmers make informed decisions now to build climate resilience for decades to come.

27 Jul 2023

Scientists Discover Secret of Virgin Birth, and Switch on the Ability in Female Flies

Scientists have pinpointed a genetic cause for virgin birth for the first time, and once switched on the ability is passed down through generations of females.

26 Jul 2023

Study Identifies a Gene That Largely Controls Weeping Growth in Apple

Plant geneticists have identified a mutation in a gene that causes the "weeping" architecture – branches growing downwards – in apple trees, a finding that could improve orchard fruit production.

21 Jul 2023