Category: How do we feed people now and in the future?

Energetic winds from a distant X-ray source

A team of astronomers were studying GRS 1716-249, an object believed to host a black hole. A wind of gas flowing out of it can be seen in visible light, making it the sixth object of its class to have shown this feature till date.

Mysterious gas found near Milky Way’s center

A mysterious cold gas shooting out of the center of the Milky Way galaxy has left scientists puzzled.

A peek into stellar childhood: How do stars grow?

Maybe you didn't have a stellar childhood, but stars definitely did. (Get it?) Learn about a major research project that investigated one mechanism involved in how stars get bigger.

How stars can limit life in the universe

For the past few decades, scientists have been looking at planets outside of our solar system to see if they could host life. Now, scientists have discovered another factor for habitability: radiation from the planet’s central star.

Could Life Thrive on Radiation? Scientists Say It’s Possible

All life on Earth survives because of the sun. Plants use a process called photosynthesis to transfer energy from the Sun’s rays into the sugars that build their stems and leaves. Animals either eat the plants directly, or eat other animals that have eaten plants. Countless other organisms, like bacteria, algae, and…

How water shaped the Earth

Posted on November 21, 2020April 1, 2021 by Romulo Cruz 204 views

Water has molded our planet into what it is today, in ways you may not have imagined! #water #waterislife

Could “Fools’ Gold” have helped build the first proteins?

Posted on September 21, 2020January 15, 2021 by Marcos Jusino-Maldonado 95 views

How and why humans exist are questions that have challenged different cultures ever since the dawn of civilization. Many scientists have taken upon their…

What beached whales can teach us about antibiotic resistance

Posted on September 17, 2020January 15, 2021 by Ma. Francesca Santiago 145 views

Researchers found that more than half of the bacteria collected from stranded cetaceans in the Philippines showed antimicrobial resistance to commonly used…

Deep-sea mining impacts on diverse ocean ecosystems

Posted on September 1, 2020April 7, 2021 by ACorpolongo 109 views

Sunlight does not reach the deepest parts of the ocean, but life still thrives in the darkness. Below depths of 200 meters, where sunlight cannot reach, some…

What is a fish’s favorite color? Raising fish in certain colors of tanks can cause stress, aggression, or undesirable color patterns. The best color for raising fish varies by species and life stage, but some groups follow general patterns.

Posted on December 17, 2020April 1, 2021 by EricaCurles 95 views

Did you know fish prefer certain colors? When they don’t like the color of their tank, the fish may get stressed or aggressive! #aquaculture

Growing plants on the surface of the Moon and Mars Researchers tested the growth of 10 different common food crops in simulated regolith, a rocky substance lacking organic material found on the surface of Mars and the Moon.

Posted on October 5, 2020April 1, 2021 by Jéssica Carneiro Oliveira 246 views

The reality of being able to live and settle on Martian or lunar bases can seem like it is getting close. To do this, we need to be able to grow our own food there. This is a category of space agriculture called in-situ resource utilization, a fancy way of saying “using what is already there instead of bringing…

Symbiotic fungi can save farm crops during droughts As many farms worldwide get less and less rainfall per year due to climate change, it is getting harder to keep plants alive in dry seasons. Luckily, the use of mycorrhizal fungi in farming may allow our food crops to find more water during droughts.

Posted on September 11, 2020January 15, 2021 by Niko Carvajal Janke 52 views

What should farmers do to deal with disappearing water? Add fungi to the soil! This recent study sheds light on the use of mycorrhizae to mitigate drought in the farming industry, which is facing increasingly intense water shortages every year.

Breeding more nutritious Pacific oysters Researchers have pinpointed several genes that could help shellfish producers breed Pacific oysters with higher amounts of healthy omega-3 fats.

Posted on July 23, 2020April 7, 2021 by EricaCurles 25 views

Researchers have pinpointed several genes that could help shellfish producers breed Pacific oysters with higher amounts of healthy omega-3 fats.

Disease-causing bacteria can grow on hydroponic microgreen mats Salmonella enterica and Listeria monocytogenes are two bacteria that can make you sick when eating contaminated produce. It turns out, some microgreen grow mats might be a breeding ground for these bacteria.

Posted on July 2, 2020April 7, 2021 by Gina Misra 202 views

Salmonella enterica and Listeria monocytogenes are two diarrhea-causing bacteria that can make you sick when eating contaminated produce. It turns out, soil-free growing mats used to produce microgreens might be a breeding ground for these bacteria. Peat or coco coir might be a safer choice.

Using Essential Oils to Preserve Delicate Fish Fillets Coating sashimi in essential oils before freezing can preserve the quality of fish and prevent bacterial growth.

Posted on February 25, 2020April 6, 2021 by EricaCurles 24 views

Food scientists are always on the lookout for better ways to preserve fish. Could essential oils be the key? #sashimi #essentialoils

An electric tongue helps researchers study fish flavors Researchers have pinpointed several compounds that are strongly associated with positive and negative tastes in white fish fillets.

Posted on April 2, 2019April 6, 2021 by EricaCurles 10 views

Researchers have pinpointed several compounds that are strongly associated with positive and negative tastes in white fish fillets.

We must go deeper: Submerging net cages for healthier fish Submerging fish farms may be better for fish, but how can it be done for fish that also need air?

Posted on February 25, 2019April 6, 2021 by EricaCurles 21 views

Most fish farming in the ocean uses net cages that float because it is easier to feed and remove fish at the surface and because some fish species require access to air. However, the surface of the ocean experiences a wide variety of temperatures, salinity (how salty the water is), and wave action depending on the…

When it comes to buying seafood, there are five kinds of people. Which one are you? Consumers are becoming more conscious than ever about their food, and companies are following their lead by finding out what matters to them.

Posted on January 21, 2019April 7, 2021 by EricaCurles 30 views

What makes a person choose a certain kind of fish when shopping at the grocery store? A group of German researchers surveyed shoppers to better understand their buying decisions. This makes it easier for aquaculture farmers to be profitable and consumers to be satisfied.

Does the age of grapes impact the smell of your wine? Different stages of Cabernet Sauvignon and Riesling grape development are associated with quite a few changes in wine aroma.

Posted on January 10, 2019April 7, 2021 by Gina Misra 20 views

Different stages of Cabernet Sauvignon and Riesling grape development are associated with quite a few changes in wine aroma.