Acipenser transmontanus NatureServe Explorer Species Reports -- NatureServe Explorer is a source for authoritative conservation information on more than 50,000 plants, animals and ecological communtities of the U.S and <a href="https://www.earth.com/image/the-fall-rhapsody-in-ottawa/">Canada</a>. NatureServe Explorer provides in-depth information on rare and endangered species, but includes common plants and animals too. NatureServe Explorer is a product of NatureServe in collaboration with the Natural Heritage Network.

ITIS Reports -- ITIS (the Integrated Taxonomic Information System) is a source for authoritative taxonomic information on plants, animals, fungi, and microbes of<a href="https://www.bing.com/search?q=north+america&amp;cvid=d55013d210f7439f8ca981b3b73576f2&amp;aqs=edge.0.69i59l2j69i60j69i57j69i60l2j69i59.492j0j4&amp;FORM=ANAB01&amp;PC=HCTS"> North America</a> and the world.

FWS Digital Media Library -- The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's National Digital Library is a searchable collection of selected images, historical artifacts, audio clips, publications, and video.White sturgeon (Acipenser transmontanus) is a species of sturgeon in the family Acipenseridae of the order Acipenseriformes. They are an anadromous fish species ranging in the Eastern Pacific; from the Gulf of Alaska to Monterey, California. However, some are landlocked in the Columbia River Drainage, Montana, and Lake Shasta in California, with reported sightings in northern Baja California, Mexico.Actinopterygii (ray-finned fishes) &gt; Acipenseriformes (Sturgeons and paddlefishes) &gt; Acipenseridae (Sturgeons) &gt; Acipenserinae Etymology: : Latin, = sturgeon, 1853 (Ref. 45335); transmontanus: The specific name is derived from the Latin acipenser (sturgeon), trans (beyond), and montanus (mountain) (Ref. 27436).More on author: Richardson.

Acipenser transmontanus

Acipenser transmontanus NatureServe Explorer Species Reports -- NatureServe Explorer is a source for authoritative conservation...

Recent archaeological discoveries challenge the idea that new technologies inevitably disrupt traditional ways of life. Japanese pots from the early rice farming period have preserved more than just traces of food. They hold memories of meals, choices, and cultural traditions.



Research from the University of York, the University of Cambridge, and Japan’s <a href="https://www.nabunken.go.jp" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Nara National Research Institute</a> reveals something striking. When rice farming spread from Korea to Japan 3,000 years ago, it did not immediately alter how people cooked or ate.



Cooking pot residue from early Japanese settlements tells a story of cultural resistance. Despite the introduction of rice and <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/bronze-age-people-abandoned-meat-for-millet-3500-years-ago/">millet</a>, fish-based meals stayed central to the Japanese diet. 



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-rice-farming-in-japan">Rice farming in Japan</h2>



Rice farming arrived in Japan through contact with the Korean Peninsula. Migrants from Korea brought rice and millet together. But while rice became widespread over time, millet faded from Japanese meals. This puzzled researchers.



“Organic residue analysis has been crucial to our investigation into the earliest <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/ideas-traveled-farther-than-people-in-the-early-days-of-farming/">impacts</a> of rice and millet agriculture. It allows us to capture how these crops were actually used, offering a direct window into the culinary practices and crop interactions of early Japanese society," noted Dr. Jasmine Lundy from the <a href="https://www.york.ac.uk" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">University of York</a>.



Seed impressions on pottery from the Final Jomon and Yayoi periods confirm both grains existed in Japan. Yet millet, a staple in Korean Bronze Age cuisine, rarely appeared in Japan’s food remains. Archaeologists wanted to understand why.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-japanese-people-chose-traditional-foods">Japanese people chose traditional foods</h2>



The absence of millet was not due to climate. Millet thrives in Japan’s environment, just as it does in Korea. 



“The absence of millet from Japanese food residues and human bones was a surprise to us, given that we knew both rice and millet had been introduced at this time,” said Professor Oliver Craig from the University of York.



“We know from isotope analysis of fats and oils in cooking pots that millet was a major part of the Korean diet, and continues to be eaten to this day, but it seemed that it made no impact on early Japanese cuisine."



“Environmental factors could be ruled out because we know that millet grows just as well in Japan as it does in Korea, so there was something else going on that provided a barrier to this <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/birth-of-farming-driven-by-humans/">crop</a> being adopted in Japanese cooking.”



This suggests social or culinary preferences shaped what foods were accepted. Even with Korean farming tools and pottery styles present in Japan, food habits stayed rooted in local customs.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-fish-stayed-the-main-food-in-japan">Fish stayed the main food in Japan</h2>



The team found that fish-based meals remained dominant, even as rice farming expanded. Cooking pots showed continued use for fish and wild foods. Few pots showed signs of cooking rice.



“There is evidence of Korean-style pottery and farming tools in Japan, but this didn’t line-up with changes to the way people cooked and ate. Yayoi pots were still used to cook fish and other wild foods, and few show signs of being dedicated to rice-cooking,” noted study co-author Dr. Shinya Shoda.



The findings reveal that technology alone does not reshape food habits. Even as tools and crops arrived, Japanese cooks kept preparing familiar dishes. Cultural memory and culinary <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/cave-discovery-of-ancient-avocados-could-rescue-a-global-crop/">tastes</a> held firm.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-lessons-from-japanese-rice-farming">Lessons from Japanese rice farming</h2>



This phenomenon is not unique to Japan. In Southern Scandinavia, people kept fishing and gathering wild food long after farming arrived. By contrast, foragers in Britain quickly embraced agriculture.



“Whilst we see changes in pottery styles and other forms of material culture in Japan with the arrival of rice and millet, food culture remains remarkably consistent," said Professor Craig.



"And whilst Japan’s culinary history eventually catches up with the ‘rice boom’ that we see in Korea, it may have taken some time to have impacted everyday practices, suggesting food culture is deeply embedded and can survive major technological shifts."



These insights urge us to think differently about change. New tools may reach communities, but that does not guarantee quick transformation. Food culture, in particular, often moves at its own pace.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-studying-the-spread-of-farming">Studying the spread of farming</h2>



The research supports the work of the ENCOUNTER project, led by Dr. Enrico Crema at the <a href="https://www.cam.ac.uk" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">University of Cambridge</a>, which studies how farming spread and influenced life across ancient Japan.



“These latest findings add to our body of work in the <a href="https://www.arch.cam.ac.uk/research/projects/current-projects/encounter" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">ENCOUNTER</a> project, which has so far shown the diffusion rates of farming within the Japanese archipelago, the demographic impact of farming, and how different cultural traits might have been conditioned by marriage practices,” said Dr. Crema.



The study is published in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.



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Japanese food traditions held strong despite the arrival of farming

Recent archaeological discoveries challenge the idea that new technologies inevitably...

Goldenrod plants swaying in the breeze may not strike us as champions of innovation. Yet, hidden in their stems lies an evolutionary story shaped by decades of human agricultural influence. What if simply adding fertilizer to soil could rewire the way plants defend themselves?



A study led by researchers at the <a href="https://umich.edu" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">University of Michigan</a> shows that nutrient-rich environments can push goldenrod to adopt a fascinating plant defense: stem nodding. Professor Mia Howard and her team explored how nitrogen fertilization influences goldenrod defense traits.



"One of the exciting things about this finding is that there are so many hypotheses and theories predicting that resources would affect the evolution of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/how-future-climate-conditions-will-transform-plant-growth/">plant</a> defenses, and here we have the first experimental evidence to show that it does," she said.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-what-is-stem-nodding">What is stem nodding?</h2>



Goldenrod plants face an annual threat from insects like gall midges. These insects inject eggs into the plant's tip, triggering growth of protective galls where larvae mature. Goldenrod counters with nodding: a bend in the stem that hides the vulnerable tip during peak insect <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/scientists-finally-learn-what-makes-plants-roots-grow-faster-and-stronger-autophagy/">activity</a>.



This trait is genetically encoded, not influenced by soil nutrients. Plants either nod or they don't. That consistency makes goldenrod ideal for studying genetic responses to environmental changes.



"If the plant is a nodder, it's going to nod. It's also really easy to phenotype because you can just look at it," Howard explained.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-nitrogen-and-goldenrod-nodding">Nitrogen and goldenrod nodding</h2>



The team surveyed goldenrod in six paired plots (fertilized and unfertilized) set up in 1989. 



Fertilized plots received nitrogen equivalent to what’s used in agriculture. In 2016, 2021, and 2022, they recorded significantly more nodding goldenrod in treated plots. In fact, nodding morphs were 3 to 6 times more common in fertilized areas.



The researchers observed a clear trend: as nitrogen exposure increased over the decades, the frequency of nodding goldenrod also rose. 



This wasn’t just a short-term shift. It indicated a genetic change, likely caused by the spread of nodding clones in the high-nitrogen plots.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-bigger-plants-get-attacked-more">Bigger plants get attacked more</h2>



Fertilized goldenrod grew 30 to 40% taller than unfertilized ones. In 2022, they also produced about 50% more biomass. This growth made them more noticeable to insects. 



As expected, galling increased - twice as many <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/earth-day-2025-innovation-takes-the-lead-in-environmental-action/">plants</a> were galled in fertilized plots that year.



Interestingly, stem nodding didn’t always help. In 2021 and 2022, galling rates were similar in nodders and non-nodders. This suggests insects may have adapted, or other factors (like antibiotic defenses) could be at play. 



Still, in 2016, nodding did reduce gall presence. Defense effectiveness seems to vary year by year.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-plants-bend-to-defend-themselves">Plants bend to defend themselves</h2>



Even if nodding fails sometimes, it persists. One reason is its low cost. Unlike chemical defenses that require energy, nodding is a simple structural adjustment. It does not reduce plant size, and in some studies, nodders grew taller and produced more seeds.



In nutrient-rich settings, plants must grow fast and outcompete neighbors for light. Howard’s team suggests nodding may be a defense that supports rapid growth. That makes it especially useful in fertilized environments where tall <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/plant-roots-could-be-key-to-fighting-climate-change/">plants</a> are more visible to herbivores.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-how-plants-evolve-to-defend">How plants evolve to defend</h2>



This study highlights why long-term experiments matter. Evolution unfolds over decades. Without this three-decade setup, scientists wouldn’t have spotted the subtle shifts in goldenrod genetics.



"We were really fortunate that <a href="https://www.kbs.msu.edu" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Kellogg biological station</a> had started this experiment and continued to maintain it for three decades. Having these long term experiments is really valuable," Howard said. 



"You might not see a lot of differences in plant populations in the early years, but I think they are becoming a really good resource for studying evolution."



Goldenrod reminds us that even small changes - like bending a stem - can be part of nature’s slow but powerful evolutionary story. Nitrogen, a simple nutrient, may shape how plants fight back for generations to come.



The research was made possible by three decades of continuous fieldwork at the Kellogg Biological Station, with support from multiple institutions, including <a href="https://www.nsf.gov" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">NSF</a> and <a href="https://www.usda.gov" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">USDA</a>.



The study is published in the journal <a href="https://nsojournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/oik.11181" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Oikos</a>.



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Nitrogen exposure is changing the way plants defend themselves

Goldenrod plants swaying in the breeze may not strike us...

In the dense greenery of Brazil’s Atlantic coast, botanists have long walked past a drab shrub called Trema micrantha Blume. Until recently, no one suspected its berries and blossoms contained an active ingredient already worth billions of dollars worldwide. 



That compound is cannabidiol (CBD), widely studied for easing seizures, anxiety, and chronic pain without the mind-altering high of marijuana.



The possibility of harvesting CBD from a fast-growing plant that governments do not regulate as tightly as cannabis could reshape both agriculture and medicine. 



Hemp farms in the United States, for example, need extensive licensing, testing, and security. Trema micrantha, by contrast, spreads like a roadside weed and grows from seed to flowering in a single tropical season.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-trema-micrantha-new-cbd-source">Trema micrantha - New CBD source</h2>



Brazilian molecular biologist Dr. Rodrigo Moura Neto, working at the <a href="https://ufrj.br/en/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Federal University</a> of Rio de Janeiro, confirmed that Trema fruits and flowers carry measurable CBD while lacking tetrahydrocannabinol (<a href="https://www.earth.com/news/cbd-reduces-the-unwanted-side-effects-of-thc/">THC</a>), the chemical that produces a marijuana high. 



“It was wonderful to find a plant with CBD but without THC, because you avoid all the mess around psychotropic substances,” he says. “That means the potential is enormous.”



Using ultra-high-performance <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/earth-and-planetary-sciences/liquid-chromatography" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">liquid chromatography</a> and high-resolution <a href="https://www.broadinstitute.org/technology-areas/what-mass-spectrometry" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">mass spectrometry</a>, his team pinpointed the cannabinoid profile with far more sensitivity than older methods could offer. 



The work builds on research that once found similar molecules in a related Thai shrub but never led to commercial production.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-why-trema-micrantha-stands-out">Why Trema micrantha stands out</h2>



Early tests show the plant’s berries hold far more CBD than its leaves or stems. 



Importantly, THC remains below detection limits across samples, meeting strict rules in places where any <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/cannabis-potency-why-you-shouldnt-trust-the-label/">psychoactive trace</a> would block retail sales. That feature alone could save processors the costly step of purifying extracts to strip out THC.



<figure class="wp-block-image aligncenter size-full"><a href="https://www.earth.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/cbd_found_another-plant-species_Trema-micranthum-Blume_credit-SciRep_1m.jpg"><img src="https://www.earth.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/cbd_found_another-plant-species_Trema-micranthum-Blume_credit-SciRep_1s.webp" alt="Parts of the plant Trema micranthum (L.) Blume: leaves, inflorescences, fruits, and branches. Credit: Scientific Reports" class="wp-image-1978631"/></a><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Parts of the plant Trema micranthum (L.) Blume: leaves, inflorescences, fruits, and branches. Click image to enlarge. Credit: Scientific Reports</figcaption></figure>



Size also helps. A mature shrub can top 66 feet, offering biomass well beyond what a typical hemp plant yields in regions where heat, pests, or legal hurdles keep hemp acreage low. 



“Lots of companies have been calling, looking to collaborate,” says laboratory director Rosane Silva, who refers to their new subject as the “magical plant.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-from-weed-to-wellness">From weed to wellness</h2>



CBD already supports one U.S. Food and Drug Administration–approved drug, Epidiolex, prescribed for rare childhood epilepsies. 



<a href="https://www.earth.com/news/medicinal-cannabis-helped-patients-feel-better-for-a-full-year/">Dozens of trials</a> are probing benefits for autism spectrum disorders, post-traumatic stress, and inflammatory diseases. 



Yet patients in many countries still import CBD oils at steep prices because medical marijuana remains illegal to cultivate.



Brazil reflects that tension. Judges there often grant individual patients permission to receive cannabis-derived CBD, but growers must keep operations abroad. 



If Trema proves a viable domestic source of CBD without <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/cannabis-use-in-any-form-directly-linked-to-significant-risk-of-heart-damage/">THC</a>, supply chains could shorten, prices could fall, and courts might see fewer emergency petitions.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-funding-and-next-steps">Funding and next steps</h2>



A public grant worth 500,000 BRL (104,000 USD) now fuels the next phase: perfecting extraction methods and running preclinical tests. 



Dr. Moura Neto is also navigating patents for the techniques - though not for the plant itself. “If I dreamed of being a billionaire, I wouldn’t have become a professor,” he says.



Patenting a process rather than the species allows researchers worldwide to study Trema micrantha genetics, cultivation, and pharmacology. 



Open science may accelerate breeding programs to boost <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/cannabinoids-as-pesticides-study-reveals-potential-of-hemp-compounds/">cannabinoid content</a>, just as decades of selective crossing transformed hemp into today’s high-CBD, low-THC cultivars.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-more-questions-about-trema-micrantha">More questions about Trema micrantha</h2>



Even with strong CBD levels in fruit, overall yield per acre currently trails specialized hemp varieties by orders of magnitude. 



Agronomists must learn whether fertilizer regimens, pruning schedules, or controlled stress can nudge Trema’s metabolic pathways toward richer resin production. 



Meanwhile, pharmacologists will compare therapeutic potency head-to-head against cannabis-derived CBD. As Dr. Moura Neto cautions, CBD from Trema micrantha “might not work as well, or at all.”



Clinical trials will span five to ten years if early toxicology proves safe. Extraction facilities must also demonstrate that oil from Trema meets pharmacopeia purity standards and remains stable on shelves.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-business-landscape">The business landscape</h2>



Market analysts valued global CBD sales at nearly $5 billion last year and project more than $47 billion by 2028. Those figures catch the eye of pharmaceutical firms, cosmetics brands, and food-and-beverage startups alike. 



THC-free sourcing could let companies bypass patchwork legislation that still treats cannabis as a <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/legal-access-to-cannabis-is-proving-to-be-good-for-both-people-and-society/">controlled drug</a>.



Brazil’s vast territory offers another advantage: the climate supports year-round growth near the equator, reducing greenhouse heating costs common in northern latitudes. Fast turnover from seed to fruit may allow three harvests per year, lowering production costs further.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-trema-micrantha-and-cbd-s-future">Trema micrantha and CBD's future</h2>



A shrub once written off as a nuisance now invites plant scientists, chemists, and economists to rethink how CBD reaches medicine cabinets. 



If ongoing studies confirm effectiveness and scalable yield, hemp might share the cannabinoid spotlight with its newly famous cousin. 



For now, anyone tempted to roll the leaves should heed Dr. Moura Neto’s warning: “That definitely won’t do anything for you.”



The journey from laboratory bench to pharmacy shelf is never short, yet Trema micrantha shows that valuable molecules sometimes hide in the least glamorous corners of a forest. 



With steady research funding and open collaboration, a weed could join the wellness industry - without the legal smoke clouds that follow its more notorious relative.



The full study was published in the journal <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-024-80857-6" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Scientific Reports</a>.



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Tropical weed discovered that contains the same CBD compound as cannabis plants

In the dense greenery of Brazil’s Atlantic coast, botanists have...

Female moths don't rely on sight or smell alone. They can also hear stressed plants. Scientists found that these insects detect ultrasonic clicks from plants under drought stress and use them when choosing egg-laying sites.



<a href="https://www.earth.com/news/plants-heard-making-screaming-sounds-stress-induced-first-time-ever/">Plants</a> emit airborne ultrasonic sounds when stressed. These vibrations, previously thought to be undetectable by animals, can travel through the air. The Egyptian cotton leafworm moth,&nbsp;Spodoptera littoralis, hears these sounds. 



This species has tympanic ears sensitive to the 20 to 60 kHz range, with peak sensitivity around 38 kHz. That is where many plant clicks fall. 



The researchers hypothesized that female moths might use these plant sounds to decide where to lay eggs. Their experiments confirmed this.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-understanding-plant-communication">Understanding plant communication</h2>



Plants may not have mouths or ears, but they <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/plants-could-soon-talk-to-farmers-and-listen-too/">definitely talk - and listen</a>. Through their roots, leaves, and even the air, they exchange chemical signals to warn each other of danger, call for help, or share resources. 



When a caterpillar chomps on a leaf, for example, some plants release volatile compounds that drift to their neighbors, triggering defensive measures like bitter-tasting chemicals or toughened leaves. 



Underground, fungi form vast mycorrhizal networks - often called the “Wood Wide Web” - that help trees and plants share nutrients, <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/scientists-capture-plant-communication-on-video/">send distress signals</a>, and maintain the balance of the ecosystem.



What’s wild is how intentional it all seems. Certain plants send out distress chemicals only when their kin are nearby, suggesting a level of familial recognition. 



Others can distinguish between friend and foe based on the scent of another plant’s emissions. It’s not just survival - <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/plants-use-underground-networks-to-eavesdrop-on-their-neighbors/">it’s community</a>.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-moths-respond-to-plant-sounds">Moths respond to plant sounds</h2>



The study involved multiple experiments with precise setups. In a no-plant environment, moths preferred laying eggs near a speaker playing recorded plant stress sounds. 



When these moths were deafened, the preference disappeared. This proved that the response came from hearing, not other cues.



In contrast, when healthy <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/can-music-help-plants-grow/">plants</a> were added and the same sounds were played near one, the moths chose the silent plant. This indicated that when real plants were present, moths correctly interpreted the sounds as warnings.



"After proving in the previous study that plants produce sounds, we hypothesized that animals capable of hearing these high-frequency sounds may respond to them and make decisions accordingly," said study co-author Professor Yossi Yovel from <a href="https://english.tau.ac.il" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Tel Aviv University</a>.



"Specifically, we know that many insects, which have diverse interactions with the plant world, can perceive plant sounds. We wanted to investigate whether such insects actually detect and respond to these sounds." 



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-do-plant-sounds-change-moth-behavior">Do plant sounds change moth behavior?</h2>



In longer arenas, moths laid more eggs near either the sugar feeder in the center or the sound-emitting speaker at one end. They laid none near the silent resistor at the other end. 



These results were consistent across different click rates and setups. When tracked, moths spent more time on the side with <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/flowers-hear-bee-sounds-and-make-sweeter-nectar-in-response/">plant</a> sounds before deciding.



Even though the courtship sounds of male moths fell in a similar frequency range, females showed no egg-laying preference for the male side. This confirmed that the response was specific to plant sounds.



"We chose to focus on female moths, which typically lay their eggs on plants so that the larvae can feed on them once hatched. We assumed the females seek an optimal site to lay their eggs - a healthy plant that can properly nourish the larvae," said co-author Professor Lilach Hadany.



"Thus, when the plant signals that it is dehydrated and under stress, would the moths heed the warning and avoid laying eggs on it? To explore this question, we conducted several experiments."



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-integrating-sound-and-smell">Integrating sound and smell</h2>



Without a visible plant, sound becomes the only cue. So moths associate it with <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/invasive-plants-alter-the-soundscape-of-ecosystems/">plant</a> presence. But when they can see or smell real plants, and one gives off stress sounds, they avoid it. This shows a context-based decision-making process.



The researchers also tested moth antennae. Using electroantennogram recordings, they found strong differences in odor detection between drying and hydrated plants. This shows that moths integrate sound and smell.



In real tomato plant patches, the click rate reaches about 20 per minute. In experiments, sounds were played at 30 to 60 clicks per minute. 



This simulated what a moth might hear near many stressed plants. Sound levels used matched those measured in live plants.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-acoustic-interactions-in-nature">Acoustic interactions in nature</h2>



This study reveals that plant sounds can guide insect behavior. Moths may not just rely on smell or touch. Instead, they interpret ultrasonic cues. The researchers think other animals, perhaps pollinators or predators, might also use these sounds.



While the plant clicks likely evolved as a by-product of water loss, they now serve as useful cues. Scientists predict more discoveries in this area.



"In this study, we revealed the first evidence for acoustic interaction between a plant and an insect. We are convinced, however, that this is just the beginning," noted the researchers.



"Acoustic interaction between plants and animals doubtlessly has many more forms and a wide range of roles. This is a vast, unexplored field - an entire world waiting to be discovered."



The study is published in the journal <a href="https://elifesciences.org/reviewed-preprints/104700v1" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">eLife</a>.



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Scientists demonstrate for the first time that plants and animals interact using sound

Female moths don't rely on sight or smell alone. They...

Stevia may soon offer more than just sweetness. In the lab, researchers found that when fermented with a bacterium from banana leaves, this natural plant extract targets pancreatic cancer cells - while leaving healthy kidney cells unharmed.



“Globally, the incidence and mortality rates of pancreatic cancer continue to rise, with a five-year survival rate of less than 10%,” said study co-author Narandalai Danshiitsoodol from <a href="https://www.hiroshima-u.ac.jp/en" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Hiroshima University</a>.



“Pancreatic cancer is highly invasive and prone to metastasis, showing significant resistance to existing treatments, such as surgery, radiotherapy and chemotherapy. As such, there is an urgent need to identify new and effective anticancer <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/cancer-cells-create-power-waves-to-fuel-invasion/">compounds</a>, particularly those derived from medicinal plants.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-fermented-stevia-for-cancer-therapy">Fermented stevia for cancer therapy</h2>



The researchers used&nbsp;Lactobacillus plantarum&nbsp;SN13T, a bacterium from banana leaves. They fermented stevia leaves and compared the result to a regular extract. The fermented version (FSLE) worked better in every way.



“To enhance the pharmacological efficacy of natural plant extracts, microbial biotransformation has emerged as an effective strategy,” said Masanori Sugiyama. 



“In this study, we aimed to compare LAB-fermented and non-fermented extracts to identify key compounds that enhance bioactivity, ultimately contributing to the efficacy of herbal medicine in cancer <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/walking-each-day-at-any-speed-lowers-the-risk-of-cancer/">prevention</a> and therapy.”



The researchers didn’t just mix things and hope. They optimized fermentation time, temperature, and oxygen levels. Stevia turned out to be most potent when fermented for 72 hours, without oxygen, at 37°C.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-fermented-stevia-hits-cancer-cells-hard">Fermented stevia hits cancer cells hard</h2>



Fermented stevia killed pancreatic cancer (PANC-1) cells more efficiently than the non-fermented extract. At the same time, it barely touched healthy HEK-293 cells, even at high doses. That balance is rare and valuable.



At some concentrations, FSLE didn’t kill cancer cells immediately. Instead, it slowed their growth. The cancer <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/ai-scientist-discovers-that-common-non-cancer-drugs-when-combined-can-kill-cancer-cells/">cells</a> looked weak, lost shape, and stopped sticking together. Under the microscope, they looked scattered and unhealthy.



Healthy kidney cells stayed mostly unaffected. This points to selectivity - a key feature for safe treatments.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-strong-antioxidant-effects">Strong antioxidant effects</h2>



Cancer isn’t just about rogue cells. Oxidative stress plays a big role. Fermented stevia turned out to be a powerful antioxidant too.



In lab tests, it neutralized free radicals more effectively than non-fermented extract. It hit 94% scavenging power in the DPPH assay and 75% in ABTS. Even when healthy cells were exposed to hydrogen peroxide, FSLE helped them survive.



Fermentation likely created new compounds. The researchers suspect chlorogenic acid transformed into chlorogenic acid methyl ester (CAME), a more active form. Fermented stevia contained lots of it. The raw extract had none.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-powerful-compound-fights-cancer-cells">Powerful compound fights cancer cells</h2>



CAME packed more punch than chlorogenic acid. It stopped cancer cell growth and triggered their self-destruction.



Its IC50 - the dose that kills half the cancer <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/breakthrough-cancer-cells-have-a-molecular-switch-that-could-be-rewired-to-behave-normally/">cells</a> - was just 119.1 µg/mL. For regular chlorogenic acid, it was 189.6 µg/mL. That’s a big difference. CAME shut down cancer cells by blocking their cell cycle and making them commit apoptosis.



Flow cytometry showed CAME, produced by fermented stevia, locked the cells in the G0/G1 phase. That’s the stage before a cell starts duplicating. It also caused the cells to release cytochrome c and activate caspases, which break down dying cells from the inside.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-altered-gene-activity">Altered gene activity</h2>



At the gene level, things got interesting. CAME dialed up pro-apoptotic genes like Bax, Bad, Caspase-3, Caspase-9, and Cytochrome c. 



The compound also boosted E-cadherin, a gene linked to reduced cancer migration. Meanwhile, it shut down Bcl-2, a gene that normally stops cells from dying.



This gene activity supports what the microscope and assays showed. The cells didn’t just die randomly. CAME pushed them into a specific self-destruct mode, the mitochondrial pathway.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-stevia-more-than-just-a-sweetener">Stevia: More than just a sweetener</h2>



Fermentation changed the story. It gave stevia extract a new weapon - a compound that targets <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/light-activated-molecules-kill-cancer-cells-with-precision/">cancer</a> while keeping healthy cells safe. That transformation seems to happen through specific enzymes from the SN13T strain.



“This microbial transformation was likely due to specific enzymes in the bacteria strain used,” Danshiitsoodol said. 



“Our data demonstrate that CAME exhibits stronger toxicity to cells and pro-apoptotic effects - which encourage cell death - on PANC-1 cells compared to chlorogenic acid alone.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-upcoming-cancer-research-with-stevia">Upcoming cancer research with stevia </h2>



The team plans to move beyond the lab dish. Mouse studies come next. That will show whether fermented stevia works in living systems with real immune responses and complex metabolism.



“The present study has substantially enhanced our understanding of the mechanism of action of the Lactobacillus plantarum SN13T strain in the fermentation of herbal extracts, while also offering a valuable research perspective on the potential application of probiotics as natural anti-tumor agents,” said Danshiitsoodol.



This research suggests that with the right microbes, even a simple leaf can evolve into a targeted therapy. Not bad for a sugar substitute.



The study is published in the <a href="https://www.mdpi.com/1422-0067/26/9/4186" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">International Journal of Molecular Sciences</a>. 



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Not all artificial sweeteners are bad for you, and this one might also fight cancer

Stevia may soon offer more than just sweetness. In the...

Restoring wetlands might be one of the fastest ways to cut carbon emissions - and it doesn’t come with the methane problems seen in other landscapes.



A new study shows that bringing life back to floodplain wetlands can slash carbon emissions by 39% in just one year. Even more impressive: the restored wetlands bounced back quickly, bringing multiple ecosystem benefits with them. 



And because these wetlands are widespread across the globe, their restoration could have far-reaching climate impacts.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-a-fast-turnaround-with-big-payoffs">A fast turnaround with big payoffs</h2>



The research comes from scientists at <a href="https://www.rmit.edu.au/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">RMIT University</a> and was focused on floodplain, or riparian, wetlands - the kind often found alongside rivers and streams. 



These wetlands make up more than half of the world’s wetlands but are usually overlooked in climate discussions.



Floodplain wetlands store less <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/rivers-are-releasing-a-massive-amount-of-carbon-dioxide-into-the-air/">carbon</a> than peatlands, which are traditionally seen as the heavyweights of natural carbon capture.



But <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/happy-world-peatlands-day-what-is-it-and-why-should-you-care/">peatlands</a> come with a catch: after restoration, they can release up to 530% more methane - a greenhouse gas far more potent than carbon dioxide - potentially canceling out their climate benefits in the short term.



Floodplain wetlands, on the other hand, recover quickly and don’t have the same methane spike. That makes them a promising tool for both climate and environmental repair.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-restored-wetlands-and-carbon-emissions">Restored wetlands and carbon emissions</h2>



“Restoring wetlands could be a secret weapon against <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/climate-change-earth-energy-imbalance-temperature-rise/">climate change</a>,” said Dr. Lukas Schuster from RMIT University’s Centre for Nature Positive Solutions.



“We found managing freshwater wetlands for carbon benefits also boosts flood and <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/how-a-humble-plant-may-help-us-save-crops-from-drought/">drought resilience</a>, highlighting the dual benefits of restoration.”



The researchers compared three restored wetlands to three degraded ones along the Loddon River in Victoria, Australia - and the differences were clear.



In the restored sites, rewetting and revegetation reduced carbon emissions by 39%, while emissions in the unrestored wetlands rose by 169%. Soil carbon, stored in roots and organic matter, increased by 12% in the restored areas but dropped by 10% in the degraded ones. 



Even after the wetlands dried, soil moisture in the restored sites remained 55% higher, showing strong potential for retaining water and withstanding drought. These results show real potential for drought mitigation, water retention, and long-term soil health.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-wetlands-that-work-smarter">Wetlands that work smarter</h2>



Dr. Schuster pointed to a deeper connection between carbon, water, and overall <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/groundwater-plays-critical-role-ecosystem-health/">ecosystem health</a>.



“We observed a vital link between carbon dynamics and ecosystem function,” he said. "Wetlands are nature’s purification system, removing nitrogen from waterways and carbon from the atmosphere."



“Now we know even more about the important role they play and how quickly their recovery can be, it’s time to act.”



Freshwater wetlands may only cover a small part of the Earth, but they’re responsible for up to 25% of global methane emissions. Even so, they hold strong potential as long-term carbon sinks.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-restored-wetlands-and-carbon-outcomes">Restored wetlands and carbon outcomes</h2>



One key finding involved plant life. Native species returned in force to the restored wetlands. 



Their leaves decomposed more slowly than those of invasive grasses, meaning carbon stayed locked in the soil longer. That’s good news for long-term carbon capture.



The restored wetlands also retained 45% more nitrogen in the soil. That’s important because it helps clean water, reduces the risk of algae blooms, and keeps ecosystems in balance.



“More nitrogen removed from these wetlands has a positive flow-on effect to connected waterways,” said Dr. Schuster. “If you manage the carbon outcome, you get other benefits like drought resilience and healthier farmland where flora and fauna can thrive."



“We’ve shown wetland restoration pays off, so we hope this study will inform future land management policies.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-long-term-payoff-of-restored-wetlands">Long-term payoff of restored wetlands </h2>



The payoff isn’t just short-term. One of the restored wetlands had been monitored for six years after water flow was reintroduced. It showed a 53% increase in surface carbon stocks - proof that these benefits aren’t just fast, but lasting.



In a time when climate solutions often feel slow and uncertain, restoring floodplain wetlands stands out for its speed, simplicity, and multiple payoffs. 



It's not just about cutting carbon. It’s about building healthier ecosystems, one wetland at a time.



The full study was published in the <a href="https://linkinghub.elsevier.com/retrieve/pii/S0301479725024090" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Journal of Environmental Management</a>.



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Restored wetlands cut carbon fast - without the methane problem

Restoring wetlands might be one of the fastest ways to...

Some of the oldest trees in Oregon are vanishing - and fast. In the Malheur National Forest in Eastern Oregon, old-growth pine, fir, and larch trees are dying off at a shocking rate. Many of these trees are more than 500 years old.



Between 2012 and 2023, one in four trees over the age of 300 died in remote areas of the forest. A mix of drought, insect damage, and overcrowding from younger trees appear to be the main causes.



"It's sad to see so many old trees dying," said lead researcher James Johnston, an assistant research professor in the University of Oregon's Institute for Resilient Organizations, Communities, and Environments.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-old-trees-dying-fast">Old trees dying fast</h2>



The new study builds on research that started over a decade ago. Back then, Johnston was working on his doctoral dissertation and collected core samples from old-growth trees in untouched, roadless parts of the Malheur. 



These were <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/forests-provide-different-health-benefits-based-on-their-structure/">forests</a> that hadn’t been logged or disturbed, offering a clear look at how the trees live - and die - when left alone.



Ten years later, Johnston returned to the same sites with a research team from the <a href="https://www.uoregon.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">University of Oregon</a>. They relocated 1,617 trees from the original survey. Their ages ranged from just a few decades old to over 600 years.



The results were stark. One-third of trees aged 150–300 years were gone. A full quarter of those older than 300 had died.



"We're talking about trees that easily live to be 500 years old, and a quarter of them died in just 10 years. That's really alarming," Johnston said.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-young-trees-compete-with-older-ones">Young trees compete with older ones</h2>



The team found a pattern. Trees that had slowed in growth in the last five years were more likely to die. Those in forests that hadn’t seen <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/wildfire-seasons-are-now-overlapping-worldwide/">wildfire</a> in more than 130 years were also at higher risk.



Wildfires, it turns out, play a <a href="https://education.nationalgeographic.org/resource/ecological-benefits-fire/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">key role</a>. They thin the forest naturally by removing younger trees. Without fire - or human thinning - newer vegetation grows unchecked, competing with older ones for light, water, and nutrients.



"In the moistest and most productive <a href="https://www.nwf.org/Educational-Resources/Wildlife-Guide/Plants-and-Fungi/Douglas-Fir" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Douglas-fir</a>-dominated forests in Western Oregon, setting forests aside as protected reserves has proven to be a successful strategy for protecting old trees," Johnston said. 



"But this research shows that we need active management to remove younger trees in order to protect old trees in <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/tree-diversity-in-temperate-and-dry-forests-should-not-be-overlooked/">dry forests</a> of Eastern and Southern Oregon."



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-drought-and-pests-play-a-part">Drought and pests play a part</h2>



And it's not just about space. <a href="https://www.fs.usda.gov/r06/malheur" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Malheur</a> is a dry forest system. While these trees are used to some <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/how-a-thirsty-atmosphere-is-making-global-droughts-much-worse/">drought</a>, recent conditions have gone beyond what they can handle. The region has grown significantly drier over the past decade.



At the same time, pests like the western spruce budworm and Douglas-fir tussock moth have taken a heavy toll. These insects strip forests of their needles, weakening them further.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-a-bleak-forecast-without-action">A bleak forecast without action</h2>



Looking ahead, the outlook isn’t promising unless something changes. Using statistical models, the team projected that fewer than one in four of the old-growth trees will still be standing in the next 50 to 60 years.



One major reason is that it takes centuries to grow a replacement. "You can't replace a 300-year-old tree in 10 years or 20 years," Johnston said.



Still, there’s hope - if the right steps are taken. Thinning younger trees to reduce competition could help the old ones hold on longer. In forests where thinning is allowed, the researchers believe outcomes could be more positive - but there’s not enough long-term data yet to be sure.



"We need significantly more research about the fate of old trees and dry forests," Johnston said.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-why-old-trees-matter">Why old trees matter</h2>



Old-growth trees aren’t just impressive for their size or age. They’re essential. They store large amounts of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/climate-models-may-overestimate-how-much-carbon-trees-release/">carbon</a>, support biodiversity, and help filter and hold water through their deep roots. 



Losing them doesn’t just mean fewer ancient trees - it could mean more fragile ecosystems and a harder time adapting to climate change.



As the forest keeps changing, researchers from the University of Oregon warn that we’ll need to rethink how we protect these old giants. It won’t be enough to just leave them alone. Some may need our help in order to survive.



The full study was published in the journal <a href="https://linkinghub.elsevier.com/retrieve/pii/S0378112725004153" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Forest Ecology and Management</a>.



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Centuries-old trees are dying at a shocking rate in Oregon

Some of the oldest trees in Oregon are vanishing -...

Farm chemicals often go everywhere except where farmers want them. A solution from Massachusetts involving silk microneedles could keep those nutrients right where the plants need them.



Associate professor Benedetto Marelli at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (<a href="https://web.mit.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">MIT</a>) leads a team that built <a href="https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC3627464/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">microneedle arrays</a> from silk to inject crops with various substances, including vitamins and minerals.



Their study, co‑authored with colleagues at the <a href="https://web.mit.edu/sma/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Singapore‑MIT</a> Alliance for Research and Technology, was recently published.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-why-silk-makes-sense">Why silk makes sense</h2>



Silk fibroin is tough yet biodegradable, so it can pierce a tomato stalk without lingering in the field. When the fibers dissolve, they leave no shards to clog harvesters.



They pour a salty silk mix into cone‑shaped molds, let the water evaporate, then wash the salt away to reveal hollow microneedles. The cavity holds liquid nutrients that are ready for slow release.



“Graduate students can make thousands of tips in an afternoon, with no clean room. It can be done outside of a clean room, you could do it in your kitchen if you wanted,” ,” said Doyoon Kim, a former MIT postdoc.



Unlike metal or plastic, silk proteins are gentle on living tissue, an idea that first drew medical engineers to microneedles for painless vaccine delivery two decades ago. That gentleness matters for living stems.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-silk-microneedles-don-t-prick-the-planet">Silk microneedles don't prick the planet</h2>



Pesticide sprays and dusts drift on the wind or seep into groundwater. <a href="https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7908628/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Reviews</a> show that most of the active chemicals never reach their target leaves, instead soaking the soil and surrounding air.



In contrast, the microneedles anchor inside the plant’s vascular tissue and every milligram of pesticide stays put. That precision means farmers could use far less chemical per acre.



Kim injected iron into chlorotic tomatoes and found the yellowing reversed without any visible damage to the stems. The treatment ran for days because the hollow cores meter out the dose slowly.



“There's a big need to make agriculture more efficient,” said Benedetto Marelli. <a href="https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fsufs.2021.631529/full" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Iron deficiency</a> chlorosis can trim tomato yields by as much as thirty percent.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-boosting-nutrition-at-the-source">Boosting nutrition at the source</h2>



Silk needles are not limited to farm inputs; they carry human <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/vitamin-c-promotes-skin-renewal-and-anti-aging-at-the-genetic-level-dna-demethylation/">vitamins</a> too. The team loaded vitamin B12, a nutrient absent from most plants, into the stalks of greenhouse tomatoes.



Lab tests confirmed that the vitamin traveled from stem to fruit before harvest, opening a path to <a href="https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9501456/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">on‑vine biofortification</a>. That could help plant‑based eaters who struggle to meet B12 needs because the vitamin comes mainly from animal foods .



“This new delivery mechanism opens up a lot of potential applications, so we wanted to do something nobody had done before,” Marelli explained. The professor’s lab focuses on using sustainable materials.



The same approach could ferry zinc, iodine, or folate, reducing the cost of fortified staples that are now sprayed or blended after harvest. Researchers see similar potential for chili peppers and strawberries.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-silk-microneedles-for-sample-collection">Silk microneedles for sample collection</h2>



The hollow silk microneedles also work in reverse, sipping sap for analysis. In hydroponic trials the needles detected cadmium in tomato stalks fifteen minutes after exposure.



Current spectral cameras spot stress only after leaves go pale, but sap sampling flags trouble while the crop still looks normal. Early warnings mean early fixes.



Researchers monitored cadmium levels over an 18‑hour window without removing the probes. Continuous readings beat labor‑intensive stem punctures that growers rarely perform.



With the right sensor package a robot could patrol rows, plug in a microneedle, and upload chemistry to a phone in real time. Such automation is already common in high‑tech greenhouses.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-from-lab-bench-to-field-rows">From lab bench to field rows</h2>



At present, a graduate student presses each patch onto a petiole by hand. Marelli imagines repurposing existing auto‑grafting arms or drone sprayers to stamp whole orchards.



“There shouldn't be a trade‑off between the agriculture industry and the environment,” said Marelli. He argues for tools that boost yields without harming biodiversity.



Farmers, meanwhile, will want proof that the extra step pays for itself and that devices do not clog or snap during harvest. Field economics will depend on automating placement and refilling nutrient reservoirs without slowing crews.



Pilot tests on open‑air <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/tomato-plants-talk-to-one-another-to-signal-danger/">tomato</a> plots are scheduled for the coming season, with attention to labor costs, residue testing, and yield bumps. Results will guide scale‑up strategies.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-are-silk-microneedles-cost-effective">Are silk microneedles cost effective?</h2>



Silk cocoons are already spun at scale for surgical sutures, so the supply chain exists. Commodity prices fluctuate, but current estimates put the raw protein at a few cents per needle.



The molds can be reused hundreds of times, and the salt reagent is recovered and recycled. That circular chemistry keeps manufacturing overhead low.



Researchers calculate that a single <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/greenhouse-gases-can-help-detect-alien-life-on-distant-planets/">greenhouse</a> could recoup microneedle hardware costs within one harvest cycle if even a five‑percent yield gain holds true. Independent trials will verify those numbers under field stress.



Investors are interested because the technology fits within existing smart‑farm systems, pairing well with sensors and autonomous vehicles already roaming high‑value crops. Early venture funding talks are under way.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-what-comes-next">What comes next</h2>



The Massachusetts team is already talking with seed companies about combining the needles with seedling clips. That marriage could roll nutrition and monitoring into a single transplant step.



Beyond food, similar silk <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/worlds-first-gene-edited-spiders-spin-red-silk/">structures</a> could deliver growth factors to tree seedlings in reforestation projects or vaccines to cash crops threatened by viral blights. Microneedles began in clinics and now stand to branch into orchards and vineyards.



Researchers in Singapore are evaluating whether the same platform can log <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/scientists-finally-learn-what-makes-plants-roots-grow-faster-and-stronger-autophagy/">plant</a> hormones in rice paddies that are battered by heat waves. Their results will shape the next generation of silk microneedle sensors for climate‑ready farming.



Their journey shows how ideas migrate when materials meet imagination. If the field trials match the lab promise, tomorrow’s tomatoes might quietly get their vitamins straight from a silk straw.



The study is published in <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41565-025-01923-2" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Nature Nanotechnology</a>.



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MIT scientists invent new technology that grows much healthier fruits and vegetables

Farm chemicals often go everywhere except where farmers want them....

An electric current can clear vineyard weeds as effectively as herbicides and mowing, scientists have shown. It offers growers a chemical‑free option that performs well in real‑world conditions while posing only a minor seasonal fire risk.



The discovery comes from research led by  Catherine Borger and Miranda Slaven from <a href="https://www.wa.gov.au/organisation/department-of-primary-industries-and-regional-development">Western Australia’s Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development</a>. 



Working with the <a href="https://zasso.com/">Zasso XPower</a> system, the team compared electric weeding with glyphosate spraying and mowing during two consecutive spring seasons.



The findings give fresh momentum to electric <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/boosting-crop-colors-with-gene-editing-can-improve-weed-control/">weed control</a> at a time when herbicide resistance and consumer concern over chemical residues are on the rise.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-testing-high-voltage-weeding">Testing high-voltage weeding</h2>



The trials took place in 2022 and 2023 at four commercial <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/wine-production-in-a-warming-world-the-winners-and-losers/">vineyards</a> near Yallingup, a cool‑climate wine region south of Perth. 



Each site carried dense spring growth. It was dominated by annual <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/fairy-circles-kill-all-newly-planted-grasses-deepening-their-mystery/">grasses</a> such as rigid ryegrass and long‑flowered veldtgrass, as well as sprawling legumes and hardy kikuyu.



Researchers mounted a 36 kW power unit on a tractor and fitted retractable electrode arrays to reach beneath vine canopies.



Traveling at a cautious 0.7 to 0.9 mph, they applied either the full 48-horsepower or a reduced 32-horsepower setting to each vine row.



Parallel plots received a standard tank mix of glyphosate plus amitrole or were mown at a height of 2 inches.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-effective-alternative-to-herbicides">Effective alternative to herbicides</h2>



The researchers harvested the biomass five weeks later, and the numbers were clear.



Electric weeding at either power level removed 84 to 87 percent of weed mass. This matched the 88 percent weed removal rate that glyphosate achieved. Mowing lagged behind at 65 percent.



“We show electric weed control in viticulture has comparable efficiency to that achieved by herbicides,” Borger said.



Just as important for growers, repeated NDVI scans confirmed that neither voltage setting injured the grapevines themselves; canopy greenness and shoot growth were identical across all treatments.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-good-fit-for-organics">Good fit for organics</h2>



Electric pulses kill by puncturing plant tissues and burning roots, and they bring several advantages that chemicals cannot match.



“These advantages include no chemical residues in the environment or food, no rain‑fast period after application, no restrictions on use in windy conditions, no chemical resistance and no impacts on neighboring vegetation or waterways," noted Borger.



The benefits carry particular weight in Australian viticulture. More than six percent of production is now certified organic, and herbicide‑resistant ryegrass threatens many conventional blocks.



“Electric weed control will be of particular importance for organic growers,” Borger added.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-limits-of-electric-weeding">Limits of electric weeding</h2>



The technology is not without drawbacks. The disadvantages include slow application speed and high fuel usage.



Fire was the other concern. To quantify the danger, the researchers applied electricity to plots covered with dry barley straw and oat hay. 



Sparks ignited debris only when plant residues were bone‑dry and the tractor moved slowly. Doubling ground speed cut sparks by 90 percent. Real vineyard passes in damp spring conditions produced no ignition at all.



“In every field experiment we conducted during spring, there were zero fires, and this is the most common time of year for weed management in Western Australia,” Borger said.



“Electric weed control is suitable for use in winter/spring weed management within the Mediterranean climate but not for control of summer or autumn weeds.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-integrating-electric-weeding">Integrating electric weeding</h2>



Taken together, the findings suggest a practical pathway for growers. Electric treatment can substitute for one or two spring herbicide applications, reducing chemical load and slowing resistance. Conventional spraying or mowing can still tidy escapes later in the season.



Adoption may accelerate as autonomous tractors become common in vineyards. Slow operating speeds are far less costly when machines can run unattended.



Further work will test performance at higher speeds, different soil moistures, and against perennial weeds with deeper reserves.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-sustainable-weed-control">Sustainable weed control</h2>



By proving that electric weeders can match chemicals under commercial conditions, Borger’s team has electrified the weed‑control debate. They have also supplied rare quantitative data on fire risk, giving growers concrete guidance on when and how to use the tools safely.



If follow‑up trials confirm similar benefits in orchards and row‑crop systems, voltage could become a central pillar of integrated weed management. 



Electric weed control would help farmers meet market demands for cleaner produce while protecting the efficacy of precious herbicides.



The study is published in the journal <a href="https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/weed-science/article/electric-weed-controlhow-does-it-compare-to-conventional-weed-control-methods/488C45B191B97E84E34257E80EB9CFC6">Weed Science</a>.



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Killing weeds without chemicals - the future may be electric

An electric current can clear vineyard weeds as effectively as...

When foresters talk about bringing a scarred hillside back to life, most of the future trees are already waiting underground, tucked inside a living soil seed bank that can lie dormant for years. 



A new nationwide Chinese survey suggests that the health of that hidden reserve depends as much on human planting choices as on climate.



“This is our most exciting find to date!” reported Xiali Guo of <a href="https://english.xju.edu.cn/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Xinjiang Normal University</a>, who led the analysis.



The study examined 920 forest plots and found that planted stands held an average of 3.137 viable seeds per square yard of topsoil, compared with 2.876 in <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/soil-is-losing-nitrogen-along-with-its-climate-fighting-power/">natural</a> stands.&nbsp;



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-buried-seeds-help-forest-recovery">Buried seeds help forest recovery</h2>



Soil seed banks work like an ecological savings account, releasing seedlings after fire, logging, or drought has wiped the slate clean. Most seeds that land on the surface either decay or are eaten, so those that are buried provide critical insurance.



Guo’s team sampled 537 natural and 383 planted stands, from moist subtropical valleys to arid northern slopes. The higher seed counts in plantations appeared even in regions where native forests boasted greater above ground <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/global-warming-may-trigger-rapid-release-of-soil-carbon/">diversity</a>.



The contrast surprised some ecologists because plantations are often criticized for being species poor. Here, however, management practices such as dense spacing and periodic thinning may create micro sites that trap seeds and shield them from predators.



Seed longevity also differs by depth. Most of the buried treasure sits in the top four inches of soil where oxygen is scarce but moisture is steady.



That layer was the focus of the new survey, ensuring the counts reflected seeds capable of germinating after common disturbances like fire or plowing. The team avoided freshly fallen litter and tested only the persistent layer of the seed bank.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-climate-and-light-affect-seed-survival">Climate and light affect seed survival</h2>



Temperature and rainfall each left a clear fingerprint on the buried seed <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/agricultural-soil-is-now-the-worlds-biggest-plastic-dumping-ground/">reserve</a>, and the direction was counterintuitive. 



In both forest types, every 1°F rise in mean annual temperature and each extra inch of rain per year nudged seed density downward, a trend echoed in long term seed viability tests where warmth accelerates aging.



Laboratory work shows that seeds stored at 95°F lose viability far faster than those kept cool, supporting the field pattern. Rising heat also boosts soil dwelling insects and fungi that prey on seeds, shrinking the bank before germination can occur.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-rainfall-and-seed-density">Rainfall and seed density</h2>



Rain can have similarly mixed effects. On loamy desert soils, additional summer showers boosted the number of annual herb seeds by up to <a href="https://ecologicalprocesses.springeropen.com/articles/10.1186/s13717-021-00346-w" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">40 percent</a>, yet washed away or rotted others.



Guo’s data mirrored that complexity, with natural forests showing sharper swings in seed density along the rainfall gradient than plantations, a hint that mixed species stands are more climatically sensitive. Sunlight and evaporative demand told a different story.



Areas soaking up longer daylight hours tended to host richer seed banks, perhaps because parent trees in sunnier spots invest more in reproduction when moisture is not limiting. 



Soil moisture loss, measured as evapotranspiration, had a similar effect, likely tied to shifts in species composition.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-soil-nutrients-control-seed-numbers">Soil nutrients control seed numbers</h2>



Soil chemistry turned out to be the heavyweight driver, explaining roughly one third of the variation in seed numbers. Nitrogen stood out in <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/soil-footprint-a-new-frontier-in-sustainable-farming/">plantations</a>, where each additional tenth of a percent of total N corresponded with thicker seed stores.



The connection fits greenhouse <a href="https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/ece3.5151" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">observations</a> showing that heavy nitrogen deposition can shift germination patterns by altering competitive dynamics in favor of fewer, more aggressive species. In Guo’s plots, though, the added nitrogen seemed to bolster overall seed counts rather than squeeze diversity.



Natural forests responded more strongly to soil pH, with seed density dropping as pH climbed toward neutral. Field burial experiments in English grasslands likewise recorded fewer persistent seeds in soils above pH 5.6, an effect linked partly to faster fungal decay.



These contrasting nutrient controls suggest that managers cannot use a one size fits all fertilization recipe. Instead, they need location specific targets, nitrogen for plantations, pH buffering for native stands, to keep the hidden seed reserve healthy.



<a href="https://www.usgs.gov/special-topics/water-science-school/science/phosphorus-and-water" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Phosphorus</a> told a subtler story, trimming seed density in plantations when it climbed above about 0.15 percent of dry soil. The authors think luxuriant phosphorus may let young trees invest in wood growth and canopy spread rather than in producing the next generation of seeds.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-tree-traits-shape-underground-seed-bank">Tree traits shape underground seed bank</h2>



Beyond dirt and weather, the way a stand is built matters. Older trees with wider trunks were linked to richer seed banks, probably because mature canopies have had more seasons to contribute litter and fruit.



High planting density told the opposite tale, trimming seed density as tightly packed crowns shaded out under story species and limited seed rain. That pattern aligns with classic regeneration theory that light starved floors tend to be seed poor.



Leaf traits joined the list of subtle influences. Plantations dominated by fast growing species with flimsy, nitrogen rich leaves produced fewer buried seeds per adult tree, hinting at a trade off between rapid growth and reproductive output.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-lessons-for-tomorrow-s-forests">Lessons for tomorrow’s forests</h2>



For practitioners tasked with re-greening degraded land, the take home is refreshingly actionable. Boosting <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/soil-is-losing-nitrogen-along-with-its-climate-fighting-power/">soil nitrogen</a> in plantations and keeping pH below about 5.5 in natural stands could raise the seed cushion that smooths post disturbance recovery.



The findings also challenge the notion that plantations are ecological deserts. While they may hold fewer above ground species, their subterranean diversity vault can be surprisingly full, offering an unplanned bonus for large scale restoration.



Policy designers interested in climate smart forestry now have one more lever to pull. Matching plantation designs to local soils and expected warming trends can lock extra resilience into the ground before the first seedling is ever planted.



“Planted forests consistently harbor denser seed banks than natural forests, offering crucial regeneration potential,” Guo concluded. 



As global pledges push for billions of new trees, remembering the seeds already at hand could make those promises cheaper and faster to keep.&nbsp;



The study is published in the journal <a href="https://www.maxapress.com/article/doi/10.48130/seedbio-0024-0020" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Seed Biology</a>.



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Buried seeds in soil help forests recover faster after damage

When foresters talk about bringing a scarred hillside back to...

Woman,Using,Phone,While,Sitting,Cozy,On,A,Porch,At

Researchers in Texas report that people living in neighborhoods surrounded by nature and greenspaces have dramatically lower rates of bipolar disorder, <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/teenagers-with-anxiety-or-depression-spend-more-time-on-social-media-according-to-experts/">depression</a>, and other mental health maladies, according to an analysis of 61 million outpatient visits across 1,169 urban ZIP codes.



The work suggests that crossing a NatureScore threshold of 40 marks a turning point, with the probability of needing treatment for bipolar disorder dropping by roughly two‑thirds and depression by half.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-nature-cities-and-human-health">Nature, cities, and human health</h2>



“Our study was the first to use NatureScore, which provides more complex data, to study the correlation between urban nature exposure and mental health,” explained <a href="https://public-health.tamu.edu/directory/maddock.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Jay Maddock</a> of <a href="https://public-health.tamu.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Texas A&amp;M University</a>.



Maddock’s team partnered with <a href="https://www.houstonmethodistcareers.org/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Houston Methodist</a> and <a href="https://texanbynature.org/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Texan by Nature</a> to match hospital records with satellite imagery, tree‑canopy maps, and pollution readings.



More than one in five American adults lives with a mental health disorder, yet many cities keep losing trees to development.



Researchers worldwide have been searching for neighborhood‑level indicators that planners can act on, and composite measures like NatureScore are starting to fill that gap.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-what-the-numbers-reveal">What the numbers reveal</h2>



The Texas data painted a steady downward slope: mental health visits fell as NatureScore climbed from the “Deficient” band below 40 to the “Utopia” band above 80.



Neighborhoods rated 60 or higher logged only half as many <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/how-to-maximize-the-mental-health-benefits-of-exercise/">mental‑health</a> outpatient encounters as those below 60, even after adjusting for income, education, insurance, and race.



Women made up 63 percent of the sample, yet the protective effect of vegetation held for men and women alike.



Zip codes with more trees also tended to have older residents and higher employment, but the statistical models removed those factors and still found the green advantage.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-how-nature-boost-brain-health-by-60">How nature boost brain health by 60%</h2>



Brains appear to settle down when the eyes land on leaves instead of concrete, lowering cortisol and quieting neural circuits that loop negative thoughts.



A controlled <a href="https://www.researchgate.net/publication/259512509_The_influence_of_urban_green_environments_on_stress_relief_measures_A_field_experiment" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">trial</a> in Finland reported that a 15‑minute walk through an urban forest lifted mood scores more than a similar walk along a busy street.



Trees also buffer noise and filter fine particles, so cleaner, quieter streets may reduce the chronic stress that can trigger mood swings.



Green streets invite more walking, and routine physical activity is known to cut depression risk by about a quarter.&nbsp;



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-what-counts-as-enough-green">What counts as enough green</h2>



<a href="https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=9kFH1fYAAAAJ&amp;hl=en" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Omar M. Makram</a>, the study’s lead author, pointed out that “a NatureScore above 40, considered Nature Adequate, seems to be the threshold for good mental health.”



In practice, that threshold equates to roughly one mature street tree every 50 feet, a patch of park within a quarter‑mile, and low nighttime glare, according to the <a href="https://www.naturequant.com/naturescore/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">NatureQuant</a> methodology.



For planners, the 40‑point line offers a clear performance target that can be checked for any address in the United States.



Public health agencies could layer NatureScore onto routine surveillance maps and flag hot spots where the score falls short and psychiatric visits pile up.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-planning-cities-with-health-in-mind">Planning cities with health in mind</h2>



Austin’s tree‑planting master plan already aims to shade 50 percent of the city by 2050, citing heat and mental health benefits.



Chicago and <a href="https://louisvilleky.gov/government/sustainability/services/green-infrastructure-incentives" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Louisville</a> are experimenting with “green alleys,” retrofitting paved lanes with bioswales and saplings to raise neighborhood scores without buying new parkland.



These micro‑projects are cheaper than psychiatric hospital stays, which can exceed $8,000 for a single visit, and they generate co‑benefits like storm‑water capture and bird habitat.



Maddock’s group argues that hospitals and insurers should help fund urban greening because lower utilization eases pressure on crowded clinics.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-limitations-and-next-steps">Limitations and next steps</h2>



The study relied on ZIP‑code averages, so exposure may have been misclassified for people living on the edge of a park or a freeway.



Records stopped in mid‑2019, leaving out the COVID‑19 era, when many clinics switched to telehealth and park use spiked.



<a href="https://www.earth.com/news/do-humans-and-ai-work-better-together/">Future work</a> will track individual addresses and smartphone GPS trails to test whether time spent in nature matters more than leafy views from a kitchen window.



The team is also exploring whether childhood exposure to green streets guards against first‑episode bipolar disorder later in life.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-a-growing-policy-consensus">A growing policy consensus</h2>



“Increasing green space in cities could promote well‑being and <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/preserving-your-cultural-traditions-drastically-improves-mental-health/">mental health</a>,” noted Omar M. Makram, who now consults for several municipal planning departments.



His statement sums up a growing consensus: planting trees is a mental‑health intervention that can fit on a sidewalk.



As urban populations climb, quantifying how much greenery keeps minds stable could shape zoning codes as powerfully as traffic engineering ever did.



The study is published in the <a href="https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/21/2/168" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health</a>.



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Living near nature and greenspaces shown to reduce mental health issues by 60%

Researchers in Texas report that people living in neighborhoods surrounded...

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