Collaborate Disseminate
Feverfew is a common flower easily recognizable either from a home garden or the shelf of the local health store. For hundreds of years it’s been used as a traditional medicine for migraines and other pains, though its actual usefulness in th… Continue reading Scientists pluck an anti-cancer compound from a common flower
As crop plants “breathe” through the pores in their leaves, they release an assortment of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) into the air. A new smartphone-connected device analyzes those chemicals within a matter of minutes, detecting and ide… Continue reading Smartphone device identifies plant diseases on the spot
Living in the soil, roundworms can infect plants via their roots, which is why many plants have evolved to produce an immune response when the worms are detected. Now, scientists have harnessed that response to create an eco-friendly form of … Continue reading Wormy chemicals used to trick crops into protecting themselves
Although many smokers apparently don’t realize it (or just don’t care), cigarette butts are very much a form of litter – in fact, they’re the world’s most common type of litter. And they’re not just an eyesore, as new research now indicates t… Continue reading Study shows that dropped cigarette butts harm plants
House plants can be a great way to add splashes of color to an otherwise drab interior, but they can also help to purify the air and may even fill a room with pleasant odors. But looking after them can be a guessing game. Lua is designed to h… Continue reading Animated expressions help plant lovers keep potted greenery healthy
There are quite a few ways we could benefit from tweaking the genetic makeup of plants. Scientists making breakthroughs in this area hail exciting new possibilities around improved crop security, new kinds of naturally sourced medicines, and … Continue reading Deep roots, edited genes and a plan to fight climate change with supercharged plants
A Stanford University team led by associate professor of chemical engineering Elizabeth Sattely is developing genetically engineered plants that can better absorb iron from the soil. By making it easier to ingest the trace mineral, it may be … Continue reading Engineering plants for better root microbiomes would unlock land for staple crops
Think of DNA and chances are the double helix structure comes to mind, but that’s only one piece of the puzzle. Another major part is mitochondrial DNA, and in plants that’s even more important – and so complex that scientists haven’t yet bee… Continue reading Scientists successfully edit a long-locked part of plant DNA, improving crop security
When farmers find sickly plants in their crops, it’s important that they find out which malady is responsible, as quickly as possible. New microneedle technology could help, paving the way for a handheld device that would provide the answer w… Continue reading Microneedle patch makes for speedy identification of plant diseases
One of the hardest aspects of choosing a career isn’t getting started, it’s keeping up. Whether you’re an engineer, doctor, or even landscaper, there are always new developments to keep up with if you want to stay competitive. This is especially true of farming, where farmers have to keep up …read more