Mushroom-derived membranes may make for greener oil-spill cleanups

When it comes to cleaning up marine oil spills, it’s best if you can use a material that separates the oil from the seawater. Scientists have created a new organic membrane which does exactly that, and it’s derived from oyster mushrooms.Continue Readin… Continue reading Mushroom-derived membranes may make for greener oil-spill cleanups

Sound makes soil fungi bloom & could restore damaged ecosystems

A study has found that playing a soundscape to a common, plant-promoting fungus found in soil caused it to grow more rapidly than fungi that weren’t exposed to sound. The novel ‘eco-acoustic’ approach has the potential to restore damaged ecosystems.Con… Continue reading Sound makes soil fungi bloom & could restore damaged ecosystems

World’s oldest disease-causing fungus found, named after Beatrix Potter

A fungus that attacked other organisms 407 million years ago has been unearthed among a collection of fossils, making it the oldest of its kind to have ever been found. The new plant pathogen has also been named Potteromyces asteroxylicola, in honor of… Continue reading World’s oldest disease-causing fungus found, named after Beatrix Potter

Natural superhero fungi boosts crop yields by 40%

In what is a hugely promising sign for securing and boosting food production, a large-scale field study has demonstrated how treating farmland soil with mycorrhizal fungi can improve crop yields of maize by 40%, without the use of any additional fertil… Continue reading Natural superhero fungi boosts crop yields by 40%

Sunflower waste extract shown to keep fruit from molding

Blueberries and other fruits are quite prone to fungi such as gray mold, whereas sunflowers are resistant to them. With that fact in mind, scientists have now used an extract from waste sunflower stems to keep such fruits from molding.Continue ReadingC… Continue reading Sunflower waste extract shown to keep fruit from molding

Nature calls: The 2023 Wildlife Photographer of the Year winners

The annual Wildlife Photographer of the Year awards, hosted by the Natural History Museum of London, is a hotly contested event. And 2023 was no different, with the judges having 49,957 images to narrow down to a handful of adult and junior winners.Con… Continue reading Nature calls: The 2023 Wildlife Photographer of the Year winners

Experimental type of vaccine could prevent hospital-acquired infections

Hospitals are meant to be places of healing, but patients often pick up new infections there that are potentially dangerous and hard to treat. A new, experimental vaccine given on arrival to hospital could help prevent infections from a range of drug-r… Continue reading Experimental type of vaccine could prevent hospital-acquired infections

Sweet smell of fungus could keep insects from decimating berry crops

The spotted-wing drosophila is a type of fruit fly that can destroy berry crops if not killed by the liberal use of insecticides. According to a new study, the smell of a crop-damaging fungus could provide an eco-friendly alternative to such toxic chem… Continue reading Sweet smell of fungus could keep insects from decimating berry crops