Imagine a low-profile, yet crucial, crop called Dioscorea alata. This plant is under attack by a nasty disease called anthracnose, caused by a tiny critter named Colletotrichum gloeosporioides. The problem? D. alata is having trouble fighting back, and identifying the right genes to help it do so is
Palm kernel meal (PKM) is tough for non-ruminant animals to digest due to its high fibre content, mostly mannan. A new way to tackle this problem is by using bacteria to break down these fibres. Scientists found a powerful bacteria called Bacillus subtilis F6 that can effectively degrade mannan. In
Mealworms, also known as Tenebrio molitor, are superstars in the insect farming world. But to thrive, they need just the right temperature. Farmers usually aim for around 29 to 31°C. A recent study wanted to find the perfect temperature for these little critters to grow, develop, and have lots of ba
Scientists are always on the hunt for better ways to split water into hydrogen and oxygen. This time, they've designed special Ru-B-Cr parts within RuO₂ nanofibers to make the Ru sites more active. This overcomes the hurdles of RuO₂ catalysts, which usually aren't very good at producing hydrogen and
A tiny fungus called Claroideoglomus etunicatum is creating quite a buzz in the world of plants and insects. This fungus lives symbiotically with wheat, which means it helps the plant grow and deal with stress, like lack of water. Researchers wanted to see what happens when this fungus teams up with
Imagine searching for something in a super crowded place. Over time, you get better at spotting it because you remember where it usually is. But what if the clues aren't always right? That's exactly what researchers looked into. They found that the more reliable the clues (like, how often they point
Imagine this: a Senate bill is on the table, directing NASA to shift its focus towards commercial space stations and to tackle cost overruns in science missions. This bill, introduced by Senators Maria Cantwell (D-Wash. ) and Ted Cruz (R-Texas), looks to speed up the development of commercial space
NASA has appointed Carlos Garcia-Galan, a seasoned space professional, as the deputy manager of its Gateway program. This initiative is crucial for the Artemis mission, aiming to return humans to the moon and eventually set a path for Mars exploration. Garcia-Galan, who hails from Spain, brings a wh
NASA's Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter (MRO) captured new images of the InSight lander in October 2024. Even though InSight is no longer active, it's still teaching scientists about Mars. The lander, which stopped working in late 2022 due to dust on its solar panels, is now a dusty spot on the Martian s
Astronaut Suni Williams, 59, has been in space since June, and her return home has been delayed twice. Recently, NASA shared a photo of Williams and her colleague, astronaut Don Pettit, wearing Santa hats during the holidays. Many people expressed concern about their well-being, as Williams and her
