Sleepy greens: Melatonin microinjectors extend veggie shelf life

MIT and SMART researchers use biodegradable microneedles to inject melatonin, extending pak choy’s shelf life significantly.
Can plants hear their pollinators?

University of Turin researchers discover plants increase nectar production in response to specific pollinator buzzing sounds.
Feat of ‘dung-gineering’ turns cow manure into one of world’s most used materials

Researchers at University College London develop eco-friendly cellulose production from cow dung, benefiting manufacturers and environment.
Tastier Apples: Genetic insights unlock nature’s flavour code

Penn State University researchers uncover 60 million years of evolutionary genetic history, aiding future apple breeding advancements.
New study challenges the story of humanity’s shift from prehistoric hunting to farming

A new investigation at the University of Bath suggests interactions between hunter-gathers and early farmers drove farming adoption rather than environmental factors.
Getting hit by lightning is good for some tropical trees

Cary Institute of Ecosystem Studies reveal lightning benefits some trees by killing off parasitic vines and opening up the canopy.
New device produces critical fertilizer ingredient from thin air, cutting carbon emissions

Stanford University researchers have developed a groundbreaking device using air to produce ammonia, potentially transforming agriculture’s energy consumption worldwide.
Human urine could be used as eco-friendly crop fertiliser

Scientists at the University of Birmingham, UK, have found that stored human urine can fertilise crops without harming soil bacterial communities.
Autonomous fresh grass harvesting and feeding system for cattle

Dutch agricultural machinery company Lely have developed Exos, an autonomous machine designed to harvest and feed fresh grass to dairy cattle multiple times a day.
Bioengineering plants that produce their own nitrogen fertilizer

Researchers at the University of Florida, USA, have discovered multiple genetic pathways in plants enabling them to produce their own nitrogen, potentially revolutionising crop improvement efforts.