Burning invasive western juniper increases the time — post-fire — that native mountain sagebrush will remain the dominant woody vegetation in the plant community by at least 44 percent compared to cutting juniper back, according to a new study. It is important to maintain sagebrush as the dominant woody vegetation in sagebrush steppe communities in…

In a study that wraps up three years and 13 growth cycles of several popular hop varieties, researchers are upending conventional wisdom hop growers have followed for decades to coax their plants to flower. His results open up new possibilities for indoor, sustainable, local production of hops. Colorado State University plant scientist Bill Bauerle, who…

Cover crops may increase sustainability of carambola groves. «Tropical fruit production has become a prominent practice in Miami-Dade County,» says Ariel Freidenreich. «For this reason, it is vital that sustainable farming practices are applied to these systems to ensure healthy soils and economically viable fruit production.» «Star fruit are a great snack while working in…

Researchers offer conclusive research for understanding how bacteria found in copper mines convert toxic copper ions to stable single-atom copper. Their research demonstrates how copper-resistant bacterium from a copper mine in Brazil convert copper sulfate ions into zero-valent metallic copper. Debora Rodrigues, Ezekiel Cullen Professor of Engineering at the University of Houston Cullen College of…

Researchers have produced a detailed inventory of glacial lakes and dams over a 35-year timeframe from 1984 to 2019 in Alaska and northwest Canada. «Floods that originate from these lakes can have devastating impacts on the downstream ecosystem, human infrastructure and communities,» said Rick, also a National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellow. Alaska and northwest…

A new study evaluates the association between a series of environmental factors and disease effects in over 400 patients. The health-related quality of life has become one of the most relevant parameters to measure the progression of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). «We know that several clinical and psychological factors can affect this parameter, but…

With some home security software and a little ingenuity, researchers have developed an inexpensive device that will allow them to study the behavior and activity of insects in regions of the world where they’re most diverse. Insects are easily the largest group of organisms on the planet, and with species inhabiting every continent, including Antarctica,…

Researchers have created a tool to assess the risk of hybridization among native and non-native fish, a development that could aid natural resource managers trying to protect threatened or endangered freshwater fish species. The introduction of non-native species poses challenges to native species, including competition for resources and habitat, exposure to diseases carried by the…

There is good and bad news about ginseng collection and production in Pennsylvania, and likely much of Appalachia, according to a new study. On the positive side, it seems that many collectors of the endangered forest herb valued for its medicinal qualities are planting seeds in forests, conserving and supplementing remaining truly wild populations. But…

The expansion of renewable energies is placing increasing demands on the power grids. Precise forecasts of the amount of solar power that will be fed into the grid is key to effective energy management. In addition to clouds, aerosol particles also strongly influence the amount of electricity generated by photovoltaic systems. Current air quality models…