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Categories: Biology: Botany, Energy: Batteries

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Biology: Biochemistry Biology: Botany Biology: General Biology: Genetics Ecology: Endangered Species Environmental: Ecosystems Environmental: Water Geoscience: Geochemistry
Published

Gene required for root hair growth, nitrate foraging found in grasses      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

Scientists have found a plant gene that drives the growth of root hairs, the tiny structures that help plants find water and nutrients in the soil. The gene, dubbed 'BUZZ,' causes faster-growing, denser webs of roots and may also determine how plants find and use nitrates, a prime source of nitrogen essential to plant growth. Nitrates are also used in fertilizers that can pollute the environment as runoff, and this genetic discovery could ultimately help plant scientists find ways to grow crops more sustainably.

Energy: Batteries
Published

Researchers offer insights into solid-electrolyte interphases in next-gen aqueous potassium-ion batteries      (via sciencedaily.com) 

Aqueous potassium-ion batteries are a promising alternative to lithium-ion batteries owing to their safety and low cost. However, not much is known about the properties of the solid-electrolyte interphases (SEI) that form between the electrode and the aqueous electrolyte. To address this knowledge gap, researchers from Japan have now conducted a study using advanced scanning electrochemical microscopy and operando electrochemical mass spectrometry. Their findings provide a deeper understanding of SEI in next-generation batteries.

Biology: Botany Biology: General Ecology: Invasive Species Ecology: Nature Ecology: Trees Environmental: Ecosystems
Published

Canopy gaps help eastern hemlock outlast invasive insect      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

Creating physical gaps in the forest canopy give eastern hemlocks more access to resources and help those trees withstand infestation by an invasive insect.

Biology: Biochemistry Biology: Biotechnology Biology: Botany Biology: Cell Biology Biology: General Biology: Genetics Biology: Molecular Ecology: Endangered Species
Published

Tracking down the formation of cardenolides in plants      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

Scientists are investigating the previously largely unknown biosynthetic pathway that leads to the formation of cardenolides in plants. In a new study, they present two enzymes from the CYP87A family as key enzymes that catalyze the formation of pregnenolone, the precursor for the biosynthesis of plant steroids, in two different plant families. The discovery of such enzymes should help to develop platforms for the cheap and sustainable production of high quality steroid compounds for medical use.

Biology: Biochemistry Biology: Botany Biology: Cell Biology Biology: General Biology: Genetics Ecology: Endangered Species
Published

Mitochondrial genome editing technique yields useful traits      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

Tweaks to the mitochondrial genome hold the potential for better hybrid seed production or to introduce seedless fruits.

Biology: Biochemistry Biology: Botany Biology: General Ecology: Endangered Species Ecology: Extinction Ecology: General Ecology: Invasive Species Ecology: Nature Ecology: Research Ecology: Trees Environmental: Biodiversity Environmental: Ecosystems Environmental: General
Published

Study shows replanting logged forests with diverse mixtures of seedlings accelerates restoration      (via sciencedaily.com) 

• Twenty-year experiment finds that active replanting beats natural recovery for restoring logged tropical forests. • The higher the diversity of replanted tree species, the more quickly canopy area and biomass recovered. • Results emphasize the importance of preserving biodiversity in pristine forests and restoring it in recovering logged forest.

Biology: Botany Ecology: Animals Ecology: Invasive Species Ecology: Trees Environmental: Biodiversity
Published

Pollination by more than one bee species improves cherry harvest      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

To obtain the biggest cherry harvest, trees should be pollinated by both honey bees and mason bees. This new study shows yet another benefit of biodiversity.

Biology: Biotechnology Biology: Botany Biology: Cell Biology Biology: Genetics Biology: Microbiology Biology: Molecular
Published

Mysterious family of microbial proteins hijack crops' cellular plumbing      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

Some crop pathogens use a clever trick to multiply and spread infection: they hijack the plant's cellular plumbing. In a new study, researchers unveil a class of bacterial proteins that fold into a straw-like shape and insert themselves into the plant cell membrane, allowing the inside of the leaf to become waterlogged. The researchers also figured out a possible way to block the water channel proteins and prevent infection.

Chemistry: General Chemistry: Inorganic Chemistry Energy: Batteries Engineering: Nanotechnology Environmental: General Geoscience: Geochemistry
Published

Pixel-by-pixel analysis yields insights into lithium-ion batteries      (via sciencedaily.com) 

By mining X-ray images, researchers have made significant new discoveries about the reactivity of lithium iron phosphate, a material used in batteries for electric cars and in other rechargeable batteries.

Biology: Botany Biology: Evolutionary Ecology: Endangered Species Ecology: Extinction Ecology: Nature Paleontology: Dinosaurs Paleontology: Fossils Paleontology: General
Published

Nature's great survivors: Flowering plants survived the mass extinction that killed the dinosaurs      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

A new study by researchers from the University of Bath (UK) and Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (Mexico) shows that flowering plants escaped relatively unscathed from the mass extinction that killed the dinosaurs 66 million years ago. Whilst they suffered some species loss, the devastating event helped flowering plants become the dominant type of plant today.

Biology: Botany Ecology: Endangered Species
Published

Disease-resistant rice and wheat plants may modulate disease susceptibility in their neighbors      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

Growing several plant varieties in the same field for disease resistance is a longstanding agricultural practice, but can have unpredictable results. A study suggests that plant-to-plant interactions may confer disease immunity in both wheat and rice.

Energy: Batteries
Published

Charging ahead: New electrolyte goes extra mile for faster EV charging      (via sciencedaily.com) 

Researchers are taking fast charging for electric vehicles, or EVs, to new extremes.

Biology: Botany Biology: Cell Biology Biology: Developmental Biology: Genetics Biology: Molecular Ecology: Endangered Species
Published

Auxin signaling pathway controls root hair formation for nitrogen uptake      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

Root hairs represent a low-cost strategy to enhance nutrient uptake because they can significantly increase the nutrient-acquiring surface of plant roots. While primary and lateral roots are stimulated to elongate when plants grow under mild nitrogen deficiency, the existence of such a foraging response for root hairs and its underlying regulatory mechanism remain elusive. Now, researchers have revealed a framework composed of specific molecular players meditating auxin synthesis, transport and signaling that triggers root hair elongation for nitrogen acquisition.

Biology: Botany Biology: Zoology Ecology: Animals Ecology: Endangered Species
Published

Contours that kill: Geometry influences prey capture in carnivorous pitcher plants      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

Researchers have shown that the shape, size, and geometry of carnivorous pitcher plants determines the type of prey they trap.

Biology: Botany Biology: Microbiology Ecology: Nature Environmental: Biodiversity Geoscience: Environmental Issues
Published

Artificial intelligence could help build pollen jigsaw of present and ancient flora      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

An emerging system which combines rapid imaging with artificial intelligence could help scientists build a comprehensive picture of present and historic environmental change -- by swiftly and accurately analyzing pollen.

Energy: Alternative Fuels Energy: Batteries Energy: Technology Geoscience: Environmental Issues
Published

Scientists develop new method to recover high-purity silicon from expired solar panels for upcycling into lithium-ion batteries      (via sciencedaily.com) 

Scientists have devised an efficient method of recovering high-purity silicon from expired solar panels to produce lithium-ion batteries that could help meet the increasing global demand to power electric vehicles.

Energy: Alternative Fuels Energy: Batteries Environmental: Water
Published

New battery holds promise for green energy      (via sciencedaily.com) 

A chemist envisions a future where every house is powered by renewable energy stored in batteries. He has created a new battery that could have profound implications for the large-scale energy storage needed by wind and solar farms.

Biology: Botany Biology: Evolutionary Biology: Genetics Ecology: Endangered Species Ecology: Nature
Published

How does the social behavior of wheat plants influence grain production?      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

Researchers have investigated how the behavior of an individual wheat plant under limiting light conditions influences the performance of the whole community. They assessed morphological and biomass phenotypes of single plants grown in mixtures under sunlight and a simulated canopy shade, and the relevance of these phenotypes for the monoculture community in the field.