Palm oil, cocoa, coffee… Who's going to tend to tomorrow's large tropical plantations?
Palm oil plantations, for one, are increasingly struggling with the sector's declining attractiveness, which has hardly changed since the colonial era.
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A lysosome switch could reshape research on cancer and neurodegenerative disease
An international research team from Bielefeld University and the Leibniz-Forschungsinstitut für Molekulare Pharmakologie (FMP) has uncovered a previously unknown regulatory mechanism in human cells. For the first time, they demonstrate how a key molecular switch regulates the
How moss could help roads cope with heavy rain and reduce air pollution
Across Europe, many banks alongside motorways are planted with grass to stabilize soil and keep roadside landscapes tidy.
All 5 fundamental units of life's genetic code were just discovered in an asteroid sample
A new study reveals all five fundamental nucleobases—the molecular "letters" of life—have been detected in samples from the asteroid Ryugu.
Analysis of 1.4 million interactions shows how employees achieve sophisticated AI collaboration
A study of 1.4 million real workplace interactions with artificial intelligence reveals teachable differences between routine and sophisticated AI use that offer organizations a concrete road map for identifying and scaling high-impact AI capability. The joint study by KPMG
China's earliest Bronze Age meteoritic iron artifact unearthed at Sanxingdui sacrificial site
In a study published in Archaeological Research in Asia, Dr. Haichao Li and a team of researchers analyzed the earliest Bronze Age meteoritic iron artifact from southwestern China, the largest found to date in the country. Recovered from the famous Sanxingdui site, it provides
How birds send heat into space measured for the first time—a hidden reflectance of feathers
As human-caused climate change continues to raise temperatures across the globe, understanding how birds regulate their temperature is vital for their conservation. But how much heat birds emit—an invisible spectrum of radiation known as mid-infrared—has never been studied,
The silver lining in Europe's deforestation law delay: A chance to build fairer supply chains
When you reach for a "palm-oil-free" label at the supermarket, you likely feel you're doing your part to save orangutans and protect biodiversity. However, the reality behind that label is more complex than it appears.
Pike eat more as water warms, threatening native species
Rising temperatures in a Southcentral Alaska river have led to a hungrier population of invasive northern pike, a trend that could imperil native salmon and other fish species. A University of Alaska Fairbanks-led research team analyzed the stomach contents of northern pike
A Hall 'rectenna' can detect signals over a 100 GHz frequency range
Many current wireless communication, imaging and sensing technologies rely on components that convert oscillating electric and magnetic fields (i.e., electromagnetic waves) into electrical signals. Some of the most used components are so-called p-n diodes, semiconducting
Sea levels around Africa are rising faster than the global average: What's behind this alarming trend
For over three decades, satellites orbiting Earth have measured the height of the ocean surface with remarkable precision. These measurements are crucial because changes in ocean height are one of the clearest indicators of how our planet is responding to climate change. Rising
Indigenous wisdom can guide Indonesia's efforts to build a sustainable ocean economy
Solutions for a sustainable future can sometimes be found in centuries-old traditions. Indonesia's Blue Economy Roadmap is about driving economic growth through the sustainable use of ocean resources, while protecting marine ecosystems for the future. One promising way to
Trying your best in a second language? Here's why native speakers seem so rude
Rudeness, whether real or perceived, can deeply affect cooperation, trust, and workplace culture. But judgments of what we consider rude aren't confined to specific disrespectful words or phrases—they are shaped by the listener's emotional processing, attention to non-verbal
Novel approach allows studying the DNA of otters without disturbing them
Studying endangered animal species without disturbing them and disrupting their natural habitat could be highly advantageous, as it would contribute to their protection and prevent unnecessary stress. Conventional methods for studying endangered species and their DNA, however,
New metabolic atlas maps how plants take up and process selenium
An estimated 500 million to 1 billion people worldwide are affected by selenium deficiency, according to the World Health Organization (WHO). Researchers at Wageningen University & Research (WUR), working with the University of Turin in Italy, have developed a metabolic map
Altered colony chemistry reveals a process that destroys termite societies
Several insect species, including ants, honeybees and termites, live in highly organized societies, also known as social insect colonies. Insects living in these colonies can take on different roles, such as reproducing, maintaining the nest, gathering food or caring for other
Weight loss drug Ozempic cuts depression, anxiety, and addiction risk
GLP-1 medications like semaglutide (Ozempic) may offer unexpected mental health benefits alongside weight loss. A large study found major drops in depression, anxiety, and psychiatric-related hospital visits among users. Even substance use disorders were significantly lower
How stress causes an eczema flare up
Scientists have identified the neurons that worsen the condition during stress
Why mosquitoes always find you and how they decide to attack
Scientists have finally cracked how mosquitoes decide where to fly—and it’s not by following each other. Instead, each insect independently reacts to visual cues and carbon dioxide, zeroing in on humans when both signals align. Dark colors and CO2 together create the strongest
Beavers are turning rivers into powerful carbon sinks
Beavers may be unlikely climate heroes, but new research suggests they could play a powerful role in fighting climate change. By building dams and transforming streams into wetlands, these industrious animals dramatically reshape how carbon moves and is stored in landscapes.
Can future astronauts be put into comas for space travel like in Project Hail Mary?
The science-fiction film Project Hail Mary sees Ryan Gosling go to space in a state of suspended animation. But does the science suggest that’s possible?
This 67,800-year-old handprint is the oldest art ever found
Researchers have uncovered the world’s oldest known cave art—a 67,800-year-old hand stencil in Indonesia. The unusual, claw-like design hints at early symbolic thinking and possibly spiritual beliefs. This discovery also strengthens the case that humans reached Australia at
Friction without contact discovered as magnetic forces break a 300-year-old law
Researchers have uncovered friction without contact—driven entirely by magnetic interactions. As two magnetic layers slide, their internal forces compete, causing constant rearrangements that dramatically increase resistance at certain distances. This creates a surprising peak
Hawaii tests asphalt made with recycled plastics and fishing nets for shedding
Hawaii has a plastic problem. The island state faces economic and logistical challenges in recycling plastic waste, including marine debris that lingers in its ocean waters. Researchers in Hawaii are pioneering a method to recycle the islands' derelict fishing nets and
Webb Telescope spots “impossible” atmosphere on ancient super Earth
Astronomers have uncovered surprising evidence of a thick atmosphere surrounding TOI-561 b, a scorching, fast-orbiting rocky planet once thought too extreme to hold onto any gas. Using NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope, researchers found the planet is far cooler than expected
Ancient DNA reveals a farming shift that pushed a society to the brink
A new study reveals that farming in Argentina’s Uspallata Valley was adopted by local hunter-gatherers rather than introduced by outside populations. Centuries later, a stressed group of maize-heavy farmers migrated into the region, facing climate instability, disease, and
A massive freshwater reservoir is hiding under the Great Salt Lake
A hidden freshwater system deep beneath the Great Salt Lake has been revealed using airborne electromagnetic surveys. Scientists found that freshwater extends much farther under the lake than expected, reaching depths of up to 4 kilometers. The discovery began with mysterious
Hidden antibiotics in river fish spark new food safety fears
Antibiotics are accumulating in a major Brazilian river, especially during the dry season when pollution becomes more concentrated. Scientists even detected a banned drug inside fish sold for food, raising concerns about human exposure. A common aquatic plant showed promise in
Gender conformity starts young, and boys and girls fall in line in different ways
Many people have felt the subtle pressure to be "man enough" or "woman enough" in the eyes of others. And research has shown this pressure can have personal and social consequences.
Light-based technique creates artificial structures that mimic the scaffolding of cells
A laser-based system that can create mesh-like structures in a dish that resemble the cytoskeletons of cells has been developed by two RIKEN researchers. They demonstrated its usefulness for research by exploring how two proteins interacted with artificial cytoskeletons. The
New research explores the paradox of firms' unique technologies
A company's ability to be technologically unique is an asset, but it can also be a costly, isolating characteristic. A new study published in Strategic Management Journal provides empirical evidence of this paradox, offering documentation of technologically unique payoffs, as
Limited jobs block social mobility opportunities for young people in coastal and rural areas, study shows
Social mobility opportunities for young people in coastal and rural areas are constrained by the lack of jobs available, a new study shows. Those who stay in the seaside towns where they grew up find their opportunities and choices limited and are more likely to work in routine
Are humans naturally violent? New research challenges long-held assumptions
New research from the University of Lincoln, UK, is challenging a common assumption about the evolutionary origins of human violence, suggesting that everyday aggression does not inevitably lead to lethal conflict. The study, published in the journal Evolution Letters, finds
Can animals sense earthquakes?
For centuries, unusual animal behavior before earthquakes has been reported worldwide. Livestock becoming restless, wildlife disappearing and snakes emerging from hibernation in the middle of winter. For a long time, scientists dismissed such observations as folklore.
Newly discovered photos show astronaut Neil Armstrong after the Gemini 8 emergency
Sixty years after Neil Armstrong barely survived an emergency in orbit around Earth on Gemini 8, never-before-seen photos of his heroic return have been donated to the Ohio museum that bears his name.
Women assistant principals average 13.2 teaching years before first principal bid
During Women's History Month, University of Delaware Associate Professor Lauren P. Bailes is taking a closer look at why males continue to outnumber females in school leadership roles, despite equivalent years of experience. "To our knowledge, this is the first study that
How DICER cuts microRNAs with single-nucleotide precision
A research team from The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST) has made an advance in understanding the molecular machinery of RNA silencing. The team uncovered how the human enzyme DICER achieves highly precise processing of microRNAs (miRNAs), advancing gene
