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Robot identifies plants by 'touching' their leaves

Researchers in China have developed a robot that identifies different plant species at various stages of growth by "touching" their leaves with an electrode. The robot can measure properties such as surface texture and water ...

Sweet switch: Sorbitol's key role in apple plant growth strategy

Apple trees, like many perennial plants, endure a prolonged juvenile stage before reaching maturity, during which they experience complex developmental changes. These transitions impact photosynthetic traits, growth rates, ...

Natural tolerance to weed killer uncovered in bryophytes

Herbicide resistance poses a challenge to producing enough food for a growing population. Sam Caygill and colleagues at the Gregor Mendel Institute (GMI) of the Austrian Academy of Sciences discovered how a large group of ...

Birds, bees and bats working together means more macadamia nuts

An international research team led by the universities of Göttingen and Hohenheim in Germany has gained new insights into how the interaction of birds, bees and bats significantly increases the quantity and quality of macadamia ...

Genetic study solves the mystery of 'selfish' B chromosomes in rye

Some chromosomes, such as B chromosomes, can increase their inheritance rate to their own advantage. These extra chromosomes are found in many plants, animals, and fungi and rely upon various strategies to avoid being eliminated ...

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Biotechnology
New research could simplify genetic transfer of nitrogen fixation to food crops
Biotechnology
Biorefining process could make grass digestible for pigs, chickens, and fish
Molecular & Computational biology
Improving pulse flours for consumer use: Using synchrotron light to determine optimal particle size for milling
Plants & Animals
Research team investigates climate change impact on pecan orchards
Biotechnology
Plant engineering method promises to dramatically improve biofuel and bioproduct development
Plants & Animals
Invasive fruit fly species puts parts of Southern California's Orange County under quarantine
Molecular & Computational biology
Scientists reveal strigolactone perception mechanism and role in tillering responses to nitrogen
Ecology
Sprinkling plants with water found effective in keeping spider mites off raspberry leaves
Plants & Animals
Accumulation of polystyrene nanoplastics in leaves poses threats to plants, study shows
Evolution
Biologists discover how plants evolved multiple ways to override genetic instructions
Ecology
Grocery stores are more reliable than sushi restaurants in labeling salmon properly, Seattle study finds
Biotechnology
Lab-cultured plant yogurt rivals dairy creaminess
Molecular & Computational biology
New research may lead to potatoes that are less reliant on nitrogen fertilizers
Ecology
Making farming better for bees: Can we breed crops that produce more nectar and pollen?
Agriculture
Making 'stressed' potatoes more climate-resilient
Ecology
Food security in Africa: Managing water will be vital in a rapidly growing region
Biotechnology
Spraying rice with zinc oxide nanoparticles protects yields during heat waves, study finds
Molecular & Computational biology
Not the usual suspects: Research reveals novel genetic basis of pest resistance to biotech crops
Biotechnology
COP29: AI can help develop climate-resistant crops for Africa—but it shouldn't be left in the hands of corporates
Agriculture
Research highlights biofortification's role in tackling malnutrition

Other news

Planetary Sciences
Meteorite contains evidence of liquid water on Mars 742 million years ago
Quantum Physics
Researchers demonstrate universal control of a quantum dot-based system with four singlet-triplet qubits
Archaeology
12,000-year old stones may be very early evidence of wheel-like technology
Superconductivity
Experiment supports existence of a new type of superconductor
Earth Sciences
Climate scientists argue that 1000-year sequestration strategies must be used to meet climate goals
General Physics
Scientists identify flaw in astrophysics models of massive stars and supernovae
Ecology
Ocean warming and acidification threaten key ocean plankton groups, study warns
Earth Sciences
Colorado River basins could face tipping point, drought study warns
Astronomy
Discovery of three galactic 'red monsters' in early universe challenges current models of galaxy formation
Molecular & Computational biology
MassiveFold: Customizable version of AlphaFold reduces protein structure prediction time from months to hours
Astronomy
Observations explore icy protoplanetary disk of the star PDS 453
Biotechnology
Metagenomic profiling method with enhanced precision uses fewer computing resources
Evolution
Fossil teeth suggest a long childhood is the prelude to the evolution of a large brain
General Physics
CMS develops new AI algorithm to detect anomalies at the Large Hadron Collider
Astronomy
Swift Observatory studies a pair of gas-churning monster black holes
Environment
Can we live on our planet without destroying it? Researcher investigates planetary boundaries
Social Sciences
Only certain paranormal beliefs may be linked with more stress and distress, research reveals
Earth Sciences
Nitrate levels in soils suggest extreme weather from climate change speeds up groundwater pollution
Quantum Physics
How 'clean' does a quantum computing test facility need to be?
Environment
Data suggest when it comes to corporate climate action, a single policy isn't enough

Philippines to roll out unproven swine fever vaccine

The Philippines is under global scrutiny as it proceeds with the controlled rollout of an unproven African swine fever (ASF) vaccine from Vietnam amid doubts from experts about its safety and efficacy.

Bluetongue anguish for Dutch farmers

One sheep dribbles, another limps, a third can barely stand: the bluetongue virus is causing havoc for Dutch farmer Erik van Norel, who thought he had seen the back of it.

Drowning tomatoes for science

I can barely hear Esther Ngumbi over the roar of greenhouse fans as she shows me around her rooftop laboratory in Morrill Hall. The benches are full of tomato plants, and the tomatoes don't look good. Half of the plants are ...