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Microbes

05/06/2018 / By Edsel Cook

Unique study concludes that migratory birds move away from diseases to raise their young

Swedish researchers have found that European migratory songbirds leave their warm but disease-laden homes in the tropics to raise their vulnerable young in the healthier environs of Europe. This way, according to an article on ScienceDaily, their species could make do with less robust but also less costly immune systems. The University of Lund researchers came across this discovery […]

05/03/2018 / By David Williams

New soil science study shows how plants release specific metabolites that enrich productivity

It’s well-understood that most plants rely heavily on the condition of the soil on which they are planted, and that the microbes that are present in the soil itself affect the overall health of the plant as it grows. Now a new study performed by scientists from the Department of Energy‘s Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory […]

04/18/2018 / By David Williams

High-tech farm is using machines to re-establish old school microbiology for sustainable farming

What do you think farms of the future will look like? Will they use soil in the same way that it’s used now? Could they be operated completely by robots, with no humans ever stepping foot on them at all? Whatever they end up looking, they had better be capable of meeting the demands of […]

04/03/2018 / By Ralph Flores

What is the right amount of nitrogen in agriculture? Not enough contributes to hunger, too much damages the environment

Nitrogen is essential in crop production, but it comes with a caveat: Use too much of it, and you risk polluting the environment; use too little, and you risk limiting your crop yield. This was also the focus of an article that appeared in the journal Nutrient Cycling in Agrosystems. The paper, led by researchers from […]

03/20/2018 / By Ethan Huff

Study of microbes found in cow stomachs could lead to energy extraction breakthrough, aiding in production of biofuels

To develop new techniques in maximizing food and fuel production in the modern age, researchers from The University in Edinburgh in the United Kingdom are turning to an unlikely source for answers: The living bacteria inside the guts of bovine animals. A new study claims that microbes may be the solution to figuring out how […]

02/08/2018 / By Isabelle Z.

Glyphosate from Monsanto’s Roundup decimates microbes in soils and the human gut – new science

Gut bacteria is gaining increasing attention for the role it plays in our overall health. Given its influence on everything from immune function to digestion to brain function, research has been consistently showing the power of healthy gut bacteria – and the dangers of getting it wrong. Unfortunately, one very common chemical that has made […]

12/20/2017 / By Vicki Batts

Agricultural fungicides found to kill the organisms responsible for leaf litter decomposition in streams and rivers

While it’s no secret that agrochemicals are harmful to the environment, scientists are truly just beginning to ascertain the full scope of Big Ag’s detrimental effects. But as a researcher from the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (SLU) has shown in his doctoral thesis, agrochemicals like fungicides can have disastrous effects on the environment — including […]

12/06/2017 / By Isabelle Z.

Why farm life is good for kids: Chores, fresh air, sunshine, and a wide range of microbes for a healthy immune system

Growing up on a farm can be a wonderful experience for children. All the hard work that can be involved in maintaining a farm is balanced by the opportunity to marvel at nature in action on a daily basis and spend time outdoors. However, the benefits don’t stop at fresh air and sunshine; a new […]

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