crops
Seeds on the Moon Started to Sprout for the First Time — but Quickly Died
China has taken a major step toward long-term space exploration. Earlier this month, the Chinese moon probe Chang’e 4 carried a container with cotton, mustard and potato seeds, yeast and fruit fly eggs to the moon’s far side (facing away…
Beef-Eating ‘Must Fall Drastically’ as World Population Grows
People in rich nations will have to make big cuts to the amount of beef and lamb they eat if the world is to be able to feed 10 billion people, according to a new report. These cuts and a…
A Shortage of Beer and Fries? Climate Change Hits Europe Where It Hurts
Climate change has fueled raging wildfires around the world, bleached coral reefs and intensified hurricanes—and now it’s coming for Europe’s fries. A hot and dry summer has caused low potato yields in Belgium and across Europe, resulting in sad, stubby…
We Have 12 years to Limit Climate Change Catastrophe, Warns UN
The world’s leading climate scientists have warned there is only a dozen years for global warming to be kept to a maximum of 1.5C, beyond which even half a degree will significantly worsen the risks of drought, floods, extreme heat…
Planting More Trees Won’t Be Enough to Save the Planet
One way of mitigating the adverse effects of man-made climate change is to plant trees. The more trees there are, the more CO2 they absorb from the atmosphere, thereby alleviating the greenhouse effect because plants build their roots, stems and…
Climate Change Driving Global Hunger Increase, Warns UN
Climate change and extreme weather conditions such as droughts and floods are among the key drivers behind the rise in global hunger. The warning from the UN’s Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) comes in a new report, which adds changes…
Bees Addicted to Pesticides Much like Smokers to Nicotine, Scientists Say
Bees have developed a likening to pesticide-containing plants, according to a recent study. The affinity exhibited by the bees is similar to an addiction to nicotine from cigarettes. Apparently, the more pesticide-laced pollen that the bees ingest, the more they…