Figs and fig trees are familiar to a wide cross-section of human society, both as a common food and for their spiritual importance. What is less well understood is the global nature of this association between figs and humans, ...

Biology - Ecology

May 02, 2013 3.2 / 5 (6) 0 |

Fire blight is a serious threat to fruit trees. Now a quick test has been developed at the Vienna University of Technology, which can indicate the danger early - with the help of bees.

Biology - Plants & Animals

Apr 22, 2013 5 / 5 (1) 0

It's been known for decades that animals such as chimpanzees seek out medicinal herbs to treat their diseases. But in recent years, the list of animal pharmacists has grown much longer, and it now appears that the practice ...

Biology - Plants & Animals

Apr 11, 2013 4.9 / 5 (10) 0 |

Rapidly growing trees like poplars and willows are candidate "biofuel crops" from which it is expected that cellulosic ethanol and higher energy content fuels can be efficiently extracted. Domesticating these ...

Biology - Biotechnology

Mar 24, 2013 5 / 5 (1) 2 |

(Phys.org) —In August 2011, researchers from the U.S. Department of Agriculture were presented with a serious, and potentially very costly, puzzle in Kennewick, Wash. Since Kennewick lies within a region ...

Biology - Ecology

Mar 22, 2013 5 / 5 (2) 0 |

Hunting for meat in the African rainforests has halved the number of primates. However, the hunting also has other negative consequences. The decline in the number of primates causes a reduction in the dispersal ...

Biology - Ecology

Mar 20, 2013 not rated yet 1

Monitoring communities of climate sensitive species, such as insects, could enable scientists to develop indicators for climate change effects on biodiversity and help devise policies to protect it.

Biology - Ecology

Mar 06, 2013 4 / 5 (4) 1

A succession of distinct but surprising microbial communities populate apple blossoms during the flowers' life cycle, suggesting that the bacteria have a carefully regulated relationship with the common fruit ...

Biology - Cell & Microbiology

Feb 27, 2013 4.5 / 5 (2) 0

Archaeologists studying a small site at Peru's main sports center have dug up eight skeletons dating from at least 700 years ago and three others twice that old.

Other Sciences - Archaeology & Fossils

Feb 27, 2013 5 / 5 (2) 0

Southerners who have been anxiously awaiting a peach tree that will produce in warmer climates – just chill.

Biology - Ecology

Feb 22, 2013 not rated yet 0

U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) scientists in Fort Pierce, Fla. are helping citrus growers and juice processors address the threat posed by Huanglongbing (HLB), a disease that is costing the citrus industry millions ...

Biology - Ecology

Jan 25, 2013 not rated yet 0

A Chinese research team, led by Beijing Forestry University, BGI, Beijing Lin Fu Ke Yuan Flowers Co., Ltd, and other institutes, has completed the first genomic sequence of Prunus mume, known as mei. This work is extremely import ...

Biology - Biotechnology

Dec 27, 2012 not rated yet 0 |

U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) scientists are helping peach growers make the most of dwindling water supplies in California's San Joaquin Valley.

Biology - Other

Nov 21, 2012 not rated yet 0

Researchers from the Research Group on Ruminants led by Elena Albanell, lecturer in Animal and Food Science at Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, have successfully achieved to prevent sheep and goats from ...

Biology - Ecology

Sep 19, 2012 4.5 / 5 (2) 0

A survey conducted by Michigan State University reveals strong public support for government programs to assist farmers to adapt to climate change.

Space & Earth - Environment

Jul 25, 2012 5 / 5 (1) 0