Plants are amazing. They can survive in tough conditions and some can even bounce back from freezing temperatures. One such plant is Pogostemon yatabeanus, a rare species found only in Korea. Scientists have found a way to preserve this plant using a method called cryopreservation. This method is like putting the plant on pause, so it can be stored for a long time wi...
Black phosphorus nanosheets (BPNS) are a hot topic in the world of science and technology. These tiny, two-dimensional sheets are amazing for many reasons. They have unique properties that make them useful in medicine and tech. But there is a downside. As they become more popular, there are worries about what they might do to the environment. This is especially true ...
Mountains are key players in keeping Earth's life-support systems running. They are home to a wide range of plants and animals. But they are also in big trouble. The planet is heating up, and these ecosystems are feeling the heat. The big question is: how will they react to these temperature changes? Will it be a slow process or a sudden shift? To find out, a massive...
There is a surprising fact about the air in big cities. People often think that the chemicals that create smog come mostly from nature. But recent studies show that a lot of these chemicals are actually made by humans. These chemicals are called monoterpenes. They are found in high amounts in cities, even more than in forests. This is a big deal because it means...
Iowa is a major player in the agriculture industry. More than 85% of the state is dedicated to farming. This makes it a prime spot to study how farming affects local waterways. A recent study looked at small, shallow streams across the state. It focused on pollutants that are becoming a global issue. These include microplastics, PFAS, antibiotic resistance genes, and...
The Serra do Aracá region, located in the northwestern part of the Brazilian Amazon, is a hotspot for bird diversity. This area is home to a wide variety of vegetation types, including white sand forests, campinas, terra firme forests, flooded forests, montane forests, and tepuis. These different habitats support a rich array of bird species. To get a better underst...
Climate change is a complex issue. It's not just about rising temperatures. It's about how these changes play out over time and space. This is where things get tricky. Most models used to figure out the economic impact of climate change don't account for these details. They assume climate change happens evenly and steadily. But that's not how it works in the real wor...
Plants need nutrients to grow, but what happens when these nutrients come from sewage sludge? Spring barley, a common cereal crop, was studied to see how it absorbs copper and zinc from soil mixed with digested sewage sludge. The focus was on the zone near the plant's roots and how these metals behave there. Copper and zinc are essential for plants, but too much c...
The mushroom industry is booming, and with it, a growing problem: what to do with all the leftover mushroom substrate? This stuff, known as spent mushroom substrate or SMS, is full of useful enzymes. These enzymes can help tackle another waste issue: old jute fabric. Usually, treating jute fabric involves harsh chemicals and lots of time. But what if SMS could change...
The global wildlife trade is a massive industry. It moves billions of animals yearly. These animals end up in various places. Some become food. Others turn into fashion items. Many are used for entertainment or traditional medicine. A few even become pets. The lives of these animals can be quite different. Many face serious problems. They often experience stress, dep...