Inexpensive banana-waste paper used to protect potatoes from pests

In East Africa and other regions, potato crops are currently threatened by a worm known as the potato cyst nematode. There could be new hope for protecting the plants, however, in the form of biodegradable paper made from banana waste.Continue ReadingC… Continue reading Inexpensive banana-waste paper used to protect potatoes from pests

Soil Moisture Sensor Coating Lessons Learned The Hard Way

A soil moisture sensor with silkscreen chipped and copper corroded

Ever wanted to measure soil moisture? Common “soil moisture meter module arduino raspberry compatible free shipping” PCBs might deceive you with their ascetic looks. Today, [Raphael (@rbaron_)] is here to …read more Continue reading Soil Moisture Sensor Coating Lessons Learned The Hard Way

Artificial neurons connect to biological ones to control living plants

Nature is a never-ending source of inspiration for scientists, but our artificial devices usually don’t communicate well with the real thing. Now, researchers at Linköping University have created artificial organic neurons and synapses that can integra… Continue reading Artificial neurons connect to biological ones to control living plants

Bioactive spray could be an alternative to genetically modified crops

Although genetically modified crops have some big advantages over their regular counterparts, initially creating the modified plants can be quite challenging. Scientists have now developed a simpler approach, in which normal plants are altered with a s… Continue reading Bioactive spray could be an alternative to genetically modified crops

Can birch trees be used to soak up microplastics from polluted soil?

The omnipresent nature of plastic waste threatens the environment in all sorts of ways, particularly as it is broken down into tiny fragments known as microplastics. This includes contaminating soil through sources such as wastewater irrigation and sew… Continue reading Can birch trees be used to soak up microplastics from polluted soil?

Engineered ammonia-producing bacteria could replace crop fertilizers

Ammonia is commonly used in commercial crop fertilizers, which in turn can pollute waterways when they run off of fields. New research, however, suggests that engineered bacteria could one day take the place of such fertilizers.Continue ReadingCategory… Continue reading Engineered ammonia-producing bacteria could replace crop fertilizers

Greenery-covered towers are a breath of fresh air for China

Stefano Boeri Architetti continues its incredibly successful line of greenery-filled towers – or Vertical Forests – with the completion of its Easyhome Huanggang Vertical Forest City Complex in central China. The project includes two residential towers… Continue reading Greenery-covered towers are a breath of fresh air for China

Aeroponic Cell Grows Garlic, Forwards CellSol Packets

A tupperware-sized 3D-printed aeroponics cell, a grid-like contraption, with about 30 cloves of garlic in it, about five of them starting to grow. The cell is printed with white plastic, and there's a semi-transparent acrylic roof with LED strips attached to its underside, lifted about 3-4 inches above the garlic.

Certain pictures draw attention like no other, and that’s what happened when we stumbled upon a Twitter post about “resuscitating supermarket garlic” by [Robots Everywhere]. The more we looked at …read more Continue reading Aeroponic Cell Grows Garlic, Forwards CellSol Packets

Evolution study suggests DNA mutations are less random than we thought

The DNA mutations that drive evolution are generally thought to be fairly random, but a new study suggests there’s some order to the chaos. Comparing the genomes of hundreds of plants grown in a lab, a team of scientists has found that mutations are fa… Continue reading Evolution study suggests DNA mutations are less random than we thought

Plant extract could treat malaria when conventional drugs fail

For many years now, people in parts of Africa have used a tea made from the crushed leaves of a certain plant to treat malaria. Scientists recently identified the active ingredient, and believe that it could be used in alternative pharmaceutical treatm… Continue reading Plant extract could treat malaria when conventional drugs fail