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.
Extreme drought contributed to barbarian invasion of late Roman Britain, tree-ring study reveals
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...
Early detection of wood coating deterioration to better maintain wooden structures
From the Japanese cypress to the ponderosa pine, wood has been used in construction for millennia. Though materials like steel and concrete have largely taken over large building construction, wood is making a comeback, increasingly being used in public and multi-story buildings for its environmental benefits. Of course, wood has...
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.
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...
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.
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%.
Farm Robot Autonomously Navigates, Harvests Among Raised Beds
Autonomous driving algorithm for robot using lidar shows promise with high-bed cultivation methods.
A Step Toward Harnessing Clean Energy From Falling Rainwater
When two materials come into contact, charged entities on their surfaces get a little nudge.
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.