Killing Bacteria by Silencing Genes may be Alternative to Antibiotics

A new approach to killing C. difficile that silences key bacterial genes while sparing other bacteria may provide a new way to treat the most common hospital-acquired bacterial infection in the United States, according to researchers.

What Doctors Wear Really Does Matter to Patients

Physicians may want to dig a little deeper into their closets, or grab their white coats on the way out of the operating room, if they want patients to view them favorably, according to the largest-ever study of patient preferences for doctors’ attire.

NASA Observes the Formation of Tropical Storm Aletta

NASA-NOAA’s Suomi NPP satellite saw the Eastern Pacific Ocean’s first tropical storm coming together. 

NASA Sees Strong Storms in Tropical Depression 05W as it Strengthened

Tropical Depression 05W briefly reached tropical storm status overnight on June 5 into June 6, and then weakened back to a depression at 5 a.m. EDT (0900 UTC). Once 05W reached tropical storm status it was named “Ewiniar.” NASA’s Aqua satellite captured infrared imagery that provided clues that the storm would strengthen.

Breeding Better Brazilian Rice

Outside Asia, no country produces as much rice as does Brazil. It is the ninth largest rice producer in the world. Average annual yields are close to 15 million tons.

Stanford researchers find groundwater pumping can increase arsenic levels in irrigation and drinking water

For decades, intensive groundwater pumping has caused ground beneath California’s San Joaquin Valley to sink, damaging infrastructure. Now research published in the journal Nature Communications suggests that as pumping makes the ground sink, it also unleashes an invisible threat to human health and food production: It allows arsenic to move into groundwater aquifers that supply drinking water for 1 million people and irrigation for crops in some of the nation’s richest farmland.

Prime growing areas for B.C. oysters contain alarmingly high concentrations of plastic microbeads

British Columbia’s premier shellfish farming region is heavily contaminated with microplastics, according to a new Simon Fraser University study.

Food security, nutritional health and traditional food go hand in hand for First Nations in Saskatchewan

Newly published results from a study on nutrition, food security and the environment in Saskatchewan First Nations show that food insecurity is a major concern and that many households would like more access to traditional foods.

NOAA teams up with India to strengthen ocean observations

In a remote region of the Indian Ocean lies the source of a mysterious weather pattern with tentacles that stretch across the tropics, influencing everything from monsoons in India to heat waves and flooding in the United States.

Surprising Recovery of Red Spruce Shows Value of Clean Air Act

Since the 1960s, scientists at the University of Vermont have been documenting the decline of red spruce trees, casualties of the damage caused by acid rain on northeastern forests.

But now, surprising new research shows that red spruce are making a comeback—and that a combination of reduced pollution mandated by the 1990 Amendments to the Clean Air Act and changing climate are behind the resurgence.