With its wind and precipitation patterns, the South Asian Monsoon influences the lives of several billion people. Recent studies indicate that its drivers are more complex than previously assumed. Scientists from the GEOMAR Helmholtz Centre for Ocean Research Kiel have now published a reconstruction of precipitation over the eastern Indian Ocean over the past one million years in the international journal Nature Communications. It points to connections with controlling processes in the southern hemisphere that have received little attention so far.
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Researchers Discover How to Generate Plants with Enhanced Drought Resistance Without Penalizing Growth
Extreme drought is one of the effects of climate change that is already being perceived. This year, the decrease in rainfall and the abnormally hot temperatures in northern and eastern Europe have caused large losses in cereals and potato crops and in other horticultural species. Experts have long warned that to ensure food security it is becoming necessary to use plant varieties that are productive in drought conditions. Now, a team led by the researcher at the Center for Research in Agricultural Genomics (CRAG) Ana Caño-Delgado has obtained plants with increased drought resistance by modifying the signaling of the plant steroid hormones, known as brassinosteroids. The study, published in the journal Nature Communications, is the first to find to find a strategy to increase hydric stress resistance without affecting overall plant growth.
‘Miracle’ spice turmeric ‘no better than nothing’: study
Curcumin – the active ingredient in turmeric spice – is sometimes touted as having ‘miracle’ medicinal qualities for those who consume it.
Amazon Rainforest Can't Keep Up With Climate Change
A team of more than 100 scientists has assessed global warming's impact on thousands of tree species across the Amazon rainforest, assessing the winners and losers from 30 years of climate change.
Sustainable bubble tea straws launch at Simon Fraser University
The Boba Co. and four other Simon Fraser University (SFU)-related ventures took home prizes from the university’s annual product competition.
Novel Strategy Appears to Protect Retina When Disease Reduces Oxygen
An enzyme known to help our liver get rid of ammonia also appears to be good at protecting our retina, scientists report.