Getting to the core of underwater soil

Taking a soil core from underwater

Soils all over the Earth's surface are rigorously tested and managed. But what about soils that are down in the murky depths? Although not traditional soils, underwater soils have value and function. Some scientists are working to get them the recognition and research they deserve.

Legumes such as peas and beans form intimate and mutually beneficial partnerships

Legumes

Legumes such as peas and beans form intimate and mutually beneficial partnerships (symbioses) with nitrogen-fixing bacteria, rhizobia.

Crop residue burning is a major contributor to air pollution in South Asia

 air pollution

While fossil fuel emissions in New Delhi account for 80 percent of the air pollution plume during the summer, emissions from biomass burning (such as crop residue burning) in neighboring regions rival those from fossil fuels during the fall and winter.

How the humble marigold outsmarts a devastating tomato pest

 tomato

Scientists have revealed for the first time the natural weapon used by marigolds to protect tomato plants against destructive whiteflies.

New study uses big data to analyze the international food trade

international food 

As the world population swells, the inequitable distribution of food around the globe is prompting profound moral questions.

Human settlements and rainfall affect giraffe home ranges

Bat

Giraffes that live close to densely populated towns have larger home ranges than giraffes that live far from towns, according to a new study by an international team of wildlife researchers from the University of Zürich, Penn State, and the Wild Nature Institute.

Plants short-cut evolution by taking genes from neighbors

Plant

Scientists have discovered that grasses are able to short cut evolution by taking genes from their neighbours.

Climate-friendly labriculture depends on an energy revolution

Climate-friendly labriculture depends on an energy revolution

Currently proposed types of lab-grown meat cannot provide a cure-all for the detrimental climate impacts of meat production without a large-scale transition to a decarbonised energy system, a new study has found.

Triple burden of malnutrition persists in Europe and Central Asia

Triple burden of malnutrition persists in Europe and Central Asia

In Europa and Central Asia, significant progress has been made in reducing undernourishment over the past two decades. However, new evidence shows a stagnation of this trend, particularly in Central Asia.

Plants can skip the middlemen to directly recognize disease-causing fungi

Plants can skip the middlemen to directly recognize disease-causing fungi

Fungal diseases collectively termed powdery mildew afflict a broad range of plant species, including agriculturally relevant cereals such as barley, and result in significant reductions in crop yield.