Let's talk about the Tang Dynasty in China. It was a big deal, but things got rough. The weather was a major player in their downfall. Imagine floods and droughts happening over and over again. Not good for farming, right? People back then relied on crops like millet, wheat, and rice. But when the w
Weather patterns are shifting in ways that are making it tough for farmers to grow crops. This is not just about heatwaves or droughts. It is about how these changes are making it hard to predict when to plant or harvest. Farmers are facing a new set of challenges that they have never had to deal wi
The effects of climate change are complex and far-reaching. One of the lesser-known impacts is on the tiny world of microbes that live on the leaves of plants, known as the phyllosphere. This is especially true for highland barley, a crucial crop in Tibet. Recent experiments in Lhasa have shown t
Ever thought about the hidden threats to our favorite citrus fruits? Meet citrus melanose, a sneaky fungal disease caused by members of the Diaporthe genus. The main culprit here is Diaporthe citri, a fungus that makes citrus fruits and leaves look ugly with black spots and rough skin. Scientists ha
An unusual fungus that's been devastating bats across North America has now been discovered in the Sacramento region. This fungus, known for causing white-nose syndrome, can lead to the death of millions of bats. Recently, a western red bat in Sutter County tested positive for the fungus. This is su
