Three consecutive years of drought contributed to the 'Barbarian Conspiracy', a pivotal moment in the history of Roman Britain, a new study reveals. Researchers argue that Picts, Scotti and Saxons took advantage of famine and societal breakdown caused by an extreme period of drought to inflict crushing blows on weakened...
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European potato genome decoded: Small gene pool with large differences
A research team has decoded the genome of historic potato cultivars and used this resource to develop an efficient method for analysis of hundreds of additional potato genomes.
UAF Research Provides a Roadmap for Soaring Global Lithium Demand
New work by a University of Alaska Fairbanks professor fills some gaps in knowledge about Earth’s resources of lithium, a critical element powering electronics and electric vehicles.
Fighting Honey Fraud with AI Technology
McGill University researchers have developed an AI-powered method to verify the origin of honey, ensuring that what’s on the label matches what’s in the jar.
Nutrients Strengthen Link Between Precipitation and Plant Growth, Study Finds
A new study published in PNAS, led by the United States Department of Agriculture and involving several researchers from the German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research (iDiv), the Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research (UFZ), Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg (MLU) and Leipzig University, investigated how the relationship between mean annual precipitation...
Electric Trains Are Quieter, More Reliable Than Diesel. New Study Finds They’re Healthier, Too.
A new study found that electrifying the San Francisco Bay Area’s Caltrain commuter rail line reduced riders’ exposure to carcinogenic black carbon by an average of 89%.
A Step Toward Harnessing Clean Energy From Falling Rainwater
When two materials come into contact, charged entities on their surfaces get a little nudge.
Farm Robot Autonomously Navigates, Harvests Among Raised Beds
Autonomous driving algorithm for robot using lidar shows promise with high-bed cultivation methods.
Strongest hints yet of biological activity outside the solar system
Astronomers have detected the most promising signs yet of a possible biosignature outside the solar system, although they remain cautious.
Microbes in Brooklyn Superfund site teach lessons on fighting industrial pollution
Using advanced DNA sequence analysis, a research team has discovered that tiny organisms in Brooklyn's highly contaminated Gowanus Canal have developed a comprehensive collection of pollution-fighting genes. This finding suggests the potential of a cheaper, more sustainable, and less disruptive method for cleaning contaminated waterways than the current oft-used dredging...