World-first artificial synthesis of starch from CO2 outperforms nature

Starch is an essential material for everything from bread-baking to paper-making, and there is much to be gained from streamlining the way we produce it. Scientists in China have managed to take an important step forwards in this area, developing a nov… Continue reading World-first artificial synthesis of starch from CO2 outperforms nature

Green Roofs Could Help Improve Solar Panel Efficiency

There’s been a movement in architecture over the past couple of decades to help tie together large urban developments with plant life and greenery. We’ve seen a few buildings, and …read more Continue reading Green Roofs Could Help Improve Solar Panel Efficiency

Glow-in-the-dark plants could act as passive lighting for public spaces

A decent chunk of energy usage goes towards lighting, so scientists at MIT are developing a new kind of passive lighting – glow-in-the-dark plants. In the latest experiment, the team has made them glow much brighter than the first generation plants, wi… Continue reading Glow-in-the-dark plants could act as passive lighting for public spaces

“World Avoided” model charts climate cost if we’d ignored ozone hole

It’s easy to feel hopeless in the face of climate change, but it’s not too late to do something about it – after all, we’ve stepped up to similar challenges before. New modeling shows just how much worse the situation would be if CFCs hadn’t been banne… Continue reading “World Avoided” model charts climate cost if we’d ignored ozone hole

Engineered plants’ roots turn red when helpful fungi show up

While you might think that it’s best to keep crops fungus-free, there are some fungi that actually help plants grow. In order to better observe that relationship, scientists have created plants with roots that turn red when infiltrated by beneficial fu… Continue reading Engineered plants’ roots turn red when helpful fungi show up

Simple RNA tweak boosts potato and rice yields by 50 percent

Food security is a major potential problem, especially in the face of climate change. Now, researchers have shown that manipulating RNA in plants can drastically boost the amount of food they produce, and make them more resistant to drought conditions…. Continue reading Simple RNA tweak boosts potato and rice yields by 50 percent

World-first CRISPR-edited sugarcane helps reduce environmental impact

Sugarcane is an important food crop, but it’s large environmental impact means there’s plenty of room for improvement. Unfortunately it’s tricky and time-consuming to breed new varieties, but now researchers have used CRISPR gene-editing to do so quick… Continue reading World-first CRISPR-edited sugarcane helps reduce environmental impact

Study confirms that beef and its substitutes differ nutritionally

Given how meat-like some plant-based meat substitutes have become, it’s understandable that many people are considering simply switching over to them. According to new research, however, the two food types are far from being nutritionally identical.Con… Continue reading Study confirms that beef and its substitutes differ nutritionally

Grass could find use as a template for more appealing lab-grown meat

While lab-grown meat does show promise as a more ethical and sustainable alternative to its traditional counterpart, its texture currently isn’t very life-like and therefore not all that appetizing. There may be new hope on the horizon, though, in the … Continue reading Grass could find use as a template for more appealing lab-grown meat