24/7 Farm  News Coverage
January 15, 2019
WATER WORLD
UN warns of rising levels of toxic brine as desalination plants meet growing water needs



Hamilton, Canada (SPX) Jan 15, 2019
The fast-rising number of desalination plants worldwide - now almost 16,000, with capacity concentrated in the Middle East and North Africa - quench a growing thirst for freshwater but create a salty dilemma as well: how to deal with all the chemical-laden leftover brine. In a UN-backed paper, experts estimate the freshwater output capacity of desalination plants at 95 million cubic meters per day - equal to almost half the average flow over Niagara Falls. For every litre of freshwater outpu ... read more

CARBON WORLDS
Feds, states can help biochar live up to its soil-saving potential
Houston TX (SPX) Jan 15, 2019
Even though every dollar spent on soil improvement can save much more in environmental costs down the road, startup costs can sometimes make it hard for farmers to implement best environmental pract ... more
WATER WORLD
Million dead fish cause environmental stink in Australia
Sydney (AFP) Jan 14, 2019
As many as a million fish are believed to have died along the banks of a major river system in drought-battered eastern Australia, and the authorities warned Monday of more deaths to come. ... more
WATER WORLD
Desalination produces more toxic waste than clean water
Paris Jan 14, 2019
More than 16,000 desalination plants scattered across the globe produce far more toxic sludge than fresh water, according to a first global assessment of the sector's industrial waste, published Monday. ... more
FARM NEWS
Rice plants engineered to be better at photosynthesis make more rice
Washington DC (SPX) Jan 11, 2019
A new bioengineering approach for boosting photosynthesis in rice plants could increase grain yield by up to 27%, according to a study publishing January 10 in the journal Molecular Plant. The appro ... more
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FARM NEWS
Fish farmers of the Caribbean
Santa Barbara CA (SPX) Jan 11, 2019
There are only so many fish in the sea. And our appetite for seafood has already stressed many wild fisheries to the breaking point. Meanwhile, the planet's growing population will only further incr ... more
FARM NEWS
Cow breathalyzers help scientists measure methane emissions
Washington (UPI) Jan 10, 2019
Researchers in Texas have developed new technology for measuring the amount of methane emitted into the atmosphere by cattle. ... more
ROBO SPACE
Deere puts spotlight on high-tech farming
Las Vegas (AFP) Jan 10, 2019
It has GPS, lasers, computer vision, and uses machine learning and sensors to be more efficient. This is the new high-tech farm equipment from John Deere, which made its first Consumer Electronics Show appearance this week to highlight the importance of tech in farming. ... more
FARM NEWS
Kosher high-tech office lures Jerusalem's ultra-Orthodox
Jerusalem (AFP) Jan 9, 2019
The office in central Jerusalem at first glance resembles many other start-ups - until you notice the religious books and entrepreneurs in traditional black suits. ... more
FARM NEWS
US startup eyes next generation of burgers with relish
Las Vegas (AFP) Jan 9, 2019
Can a "high-tech" burger help save the planet? ... more
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FLORA AND FAUNA
Engineers, zoologists reveal how gulls 'wing morph' for stable soaring
Toronto, Canada (SPX) Jan 03, 2019
A unique collaboration between University of British Columbia (UBC) zoologists and U of T Engineering's aviation expert Professor Philippe Lavoie provides new insights into how gulls configure their ... more
FARM NEWS
Bricked in by poverty, Cambodia's farmers fight debt bondage
Phnom Penh (AFP) Jan 2, 2019
Bopha should be in school but instead toils seven days a week in a searing brick kiln on the outskirts of Phnom Penh - a 14-year-old trapped in debt bondage in a boom industry preying on the poverty of Cambodia's farmers. ... more
FARM NEWS
China tobacco monopoly's global unit plans Hong Kong IPO
Hong Kong (AFP) Jan 2, 2019
The international wing of the world's largest cigarette maker - a Chinese state-owned tobacco monopoly - plans to list on the Hong Kong stock exchange, filing documents showed Wednesday. ... more
FARM NEWS
A 'bran' new way to preserve healthy food with natural ingredients
University Park PA (SPX) Jan 04, 2019
A natural antioxidant found in grain bran could preserve food longer and replace synthetic antioxidants currently used by the food industry, according to researchers at Penn State. "Currently, ... more
FARM NEWS
Scientists engineer shortcut for photosynthetic glitch, boost crop growth by 40 percent
Urbana IL (SPX) Jan 04, 2019
Plants convert sunlight into energy through photosynthesis; however, most crops on the planet are plagued by a photosynthetic glitch, and to deal with it, evolved an energy-expensive process called ... more


Drop beef and save millions of lives, slash emissions: WEF

FARM NEWS
Climate change takes toll on French oyster farmers
Cancale, France (AFP) Jan 01, 2019
Gulping down oysters has long been a favourite New Year's Eve ritual for the French, but as winters get warmer and summers get drier many growers worry there will soon be fewer of the prized mollusks to go around. ... more
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FARM NEWS
Bricked in by poverty, Cambodia's farmers fight debt bondage
Phnom Penh (AFP) Jan 2, 2019
Bopha should be in school but instead toils seven days a week in a searing brick kiln on the outskirts of Phnom Penh - a 14-year-old trapped in debt bondage in a boom industry preying on the poverty of Cambodia's farmers. ... more
FARM NEWS
Scientists: 'Time is ripe' to use big data for planet-sized plant questions
Gainesville FL (SPX) Jan 01, 2019
A group of Florida Museum of Natural History scientists has issued a "call to action" to use big data to tackle longstanding questions about plant diversity and evolution and forecast how plant life ... more
WATER WORLD
Iran sees 'revival' of imperilled Lake Urmia
Miandoab, Iran (AFP) Dec 30, 2018
It is one of the worst ecological disasters of recent decades, but the shrinking of Iran's great Lake Urmia finally appears to be stabilising and officials see the start of a revival. ... more
FARM NEWS
China customs gives green light for US rice imports
Beijing (AFP) Dec 28, 2018
China's customs administration announced Friday it had approved US rice imports, a move that comes during a 90-day tariff truce between the two countries which are engaged in a bruising trade war. ... more
FARM NEWS
Tree-ring analysis explains physiology behind drought intolerance
Corvallis OR (SPX) Dec 27, 2018
Tree rings tell the story of what's happening physiologically as fire suppression makes forests more dense and less tolerant of drought, pests and wildfires, new research shows. Scientists at ... more
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UK Space Agency COMPASS project aims to to improve crop yields for Mexican farmers
Harwell UK (SPX) Jan 11, 2019
SIAP, the Secretariat of Agriculture, Livestock, Rural Development, Fisheries and Food - part of the Mexican Ministry of Agriculture (SAGARPA) - has signed a declaration of intent with the UK Space Agency to provide historic, statistical and satellite data to support Rezatec's development of a crop yield optimisation tool for Mexican farmers and other supply chain stakeholders. The Mexican ... more
+ Satellite images reveal global poverty
+ New nanosatellite system captures better imagery at lower cost
+ Declining particulate pollution led to increased ozone pollution in China
+ China launches six Yunhai-2 satellites for atmospheric environment research
+ Reliable tropical weather pattern to change in a warming climate
+ Research reveals 'fundamental finding' about Earth's outer core
+ First detection of rain over the ocean by navigation satellites
US Air Force contracts Lockheed Martin to continue GPS ground control supprt
Colorado Springs CO (SPX) Jan 11, 2019
The U.S. Air Force awarded Lockheed Martin the GPS Control Segment Sustainment II (GCS II) contract to continue to sustain and further modernize the Global Positioning System (GPS) satellite constellation's ground control system through 2025. This is the follow-on contract to Lockheed Martin's current GCS contract awarded in 2013. Under the GCS II contract, the continued upgrade of the GPS ... more
+ Magnetic North's erratic behavior forces update to global navigation system
+ GPS-denied navigation on small unmanned helicopters
+ China's BeiDou officially goes global
+ First GPS III satellite launched, moving toward operational orbit
+ First Lockheed Martin-built GPS 3 satellite responding to commands
+ First Lockheed Martin-Built GPS III satellite encapsulated for Dec. 18 launch
+ Spire Taps Galileo for Space-Based Weather Data


Beech trees are dying, and nobody's sure why
Columbus OH (SPX) Jan 10, 2019
A confounding new disease is killing beech trees in Ohio and elsewhere, and plant scientists are sounding an alarm while looking for an explanation. In a study published in the journal Forest Pathology, researchers and naturalists from The Ohio State University and metroparks in northeastern Ohio report on the emerging "beech leaf disease" epidemic, calling for speedy work to find a culpri ... more
+ Head of Brazil's environmental agency resigns
+ Revised Brazilian forest code may lead to increased legal deforestation
+ Forest soundscapes could aid biodiversity studies and conservation
+ Trees' enemies help tropical forests maintain their biodiversity
+ Nine forest vital signs reveal the impacts of the climate
+ These nine measures reveal how forests are controlled by climate
+ New Brazil environment minister downplays misconduct conviction
Yeast makes ethanol to prevent metabolic overload
Groningen, Netherlands (SPX) Jan 08, 2019
Why do some yeast cells produce ethanol? Scientists have wondered about this apparent waste of resources for decades. Now, University of Groningen scientists think they have a solution: yeast cells produce ethanol as a 'safety valve', to prevent overload when their metabolic operation reaches a critical level. The implications of this new theory, which was published in Nature Metabolism on 7 Jan ... more
+ Green catalysts with Earth-abundant metals accelerate production of bio-based plastic
+ Tel Aviv researchers develop biodegradable plastic from seawater algae
+ A lung-inspired design turns water into fuel
+ Greener days ahead for carbon fuels
+ Obtaining polyester from plant oil
+ IIT researchers show how plants can generate electricity to power LED light bulbs
+ Researchers use jiggly Jell-O to make powerful new hydrogen fuel catalyst


ASU engineers break solar cell record
Tempe AZ (SPX) Jan 14, 2019
Arizona State University researchers continue to break solar cell efficiency records in an effort to harness the sun's energy more economically as a renewable source for electricity. Last year, Assistant Professor Zachary Holman and Assistant Research Professor Zhengshan "Jason" Yu in ASU's Ira A. Fulton Schools of Engineering set a world record of 23.6 percent efficiency for a tandem sola ... more
+ Breakthrough in organic electronics
+ New materials could help improve the performance of perovskite solar cells
+ A new way to measure solar panel degradation
+ Global Commission describes new geopolitical power dynamics created by renewable energy
+ NREL details great potential for floating PV systems
+ Seawater turns into freshwater through solar energy
+ How to spot every solar panel in the United States
US Wind Inc. agrees to sell its New Jersey offshore lease to EDF Renewables North America
Baltimore MD (SPX) Jan 14, 2019
US Wind, Inc., the Baltimore-based US subsidiary of the Italian Toto Holding Group, has finalized an agreement with EDF Renewables North America, a subsidiary of French Multinational Group EDF, that has resulted in the sale of its lease to develop up to 2,500 megawatts of energy roughly seven miles off the coast of Atlantic City on the Outer Continental Shelf. EDF Renewables currently holds the ... more
+ Wind to lead U.S. electric capacity additions at power plants in 2019
+ Upwind wind plants can reduce flow to downwind neighbors
+ More than air: Researchers fine-tune wind farm simulation
+ Widespread decrease in wind energy resources found over the Northern Hemisphere
+ Wind power vulnerable to climate change in India
+ Coordinated development could help wind farms be better neighbors
+ Roadmap to accelerate offshore wind industry in the United States


Death toll in China mining accident rises to 21
Beijing (AFP) Jan 13, 2019
The death toll in a coal mine roof collapse in northern China has risen to 21 after rescuers found two more miners dead on Sunday, state media reported. A total of 87 people were working underground in the Shaanxi province mine at the time of the accident on Saturday afternoon, according to official news agency Xinhua, citing local authorities. Rescuers had been searching for two remain ... more
+ Trump officially taps former coal lobbyist to lead EPA
+ Spain to see exploitation end in all coal mines
+ With final goodbye, Germany shutters last black coal mine
+ Global coal demand up for second year in a row
+ EU electricity reform calls end to coal subsidies
+ End of an era as Germany's last black coal mine closes
+ 7 dead in southwest China mining accident
Age no barrier for China's senior catwalk models
Shanghai (AFP) Jan 15, 2019
Wearing a bright floral ensemble with her short hair dyed blonde, Chinese model Ma Yinhong struts a Shanghai catwalk with a style and swagger that belie her 56 years. She made her modelling debut just two years ago and is already in demand, working for leading fashion brands such as Dolce & Gabbana. Ma is one of a growing number of older models sought after by Chinese and international ... more
+ Chinese court sentences Canadian drug suspect to death
+ 'Hostage politics': Death sentence heightens China, Canada tensions
+ Chinese ambassador accuses Canada of 'white supremacy' in Huawei case
+ Hong Kong unveils law banning insults to Chinese national anthem
+ Malaysia probes claim China offered to bail out 1MDB
+ Attacker wounds 20 children at Beijing school
+ 13 Canadians held in China since arrest of Huawei executive: official


Artificial bug eyes
Washington DC (SPX) Jan 10, 2019
Single lens eyes, like those in humans and many other animals, can create sharp images, but the compound eyes of insects and crustaceans have an edge when it comes to peripheral vision, light sensitivity and motion detection. That's why scientists are developing artificial compound eyes to give sight to autonomous vehicles and robots, among other applications. Now, a report in ACS Nano des ... more
+ Deere puts spotlight on high-tech farming
+ WSU smart home tests first elder care robot
+ How game theory can bring humans and robots closer together
+ Breadmaking robot startup eyes fresh connections
+ Growing bio-inspired shapes with hundreds of tiny robots
+ Self-driving rovers tested in Mars-like Morocco
+ First Harris T7 bomb disposal robots sent to British army
Fixing the environment: when solutions become problems
Paris (AFP) Jan 14, 2019
In a world where climate change, air and water pollution, biodiversity loss, water scarcity, ozone depletion, and other environmental problems overlap, a fix in one arena can cause trouble in another. Here are a few examples of what might be called Earth's "zero-sum" dilemma in the 21st century. - Water vs. ocean pollution - A study released Monday shows for the first time that more ... more
+ How dangerous is microplastic?
+ India launches new bid to battle dirty air
+ Thailand to make it rain as pollution chokes Bangkok
+ Safer mining practices reduce hazardous exposures in small-scale mining in Nigeria
+ NUS study finds that severe air pollution affects the productivity of workers
+ Plant hedges help curb roadside pollution
+ Microplastics and plastic additives discovered in ascidians all along Israel's coastline


Trump threatens to axe emergency fire aid for California
Washington (AFP) Jan 9, 2019
President Donald Trump on Wednesday said he is cutting emergency federal aid sent to help California after devastating wildfires unless the Democratic-led state gets its "act together." "Billions of dollars are sent to the State of California for Forrest fires that, with proper Forrest Management, would never happen," Trump tweeted, initially misspelling the word forest before repeating the ... more
+ Atmospheric scientists find causes of firenado in deadly Carr Fire
+ Wildfire ash can bind to, trap mercury
+ NASA Terra Satellite Outlines Burn Scar from California's Camp Fire
+ Thousands evacuated as Australian bushfires rage
+ NASA mobilizes to aid California fires response
+ California's deadliest wildfire finally tamed
+ California wildfire pollution paralyzes San Francisco region
Upper-ocean warming is changing the global wave climate, making waves stronger
Santa Cruz CA (SPX) Jan 15, 2019
Sea level rise puts coastal areas at the forefront of the impacts of climate change, but new research shows they face other climate-related threats as well. In a study published January 14 in Nature Communications, researchers report that the energy of ocean waves has been growing globally, and they found a direct association between ocean warming and the increase in wave energy. A wide ra ... more
+ Desalination produces more toxic waste than clean water
+ California sea lions killed to protect migrating fish
+ Australian PM embarks on landmark Pacific trip
+ Oceans are warming even faster than previously thought
+ Million dead fish cause environmental stink in Australia
+ UN warns of rising levels of toxic brine as desalination plants meet growing water needs
+ Social and environmental costs of hydropower are underestimated


Koala drinks from water bottle in Australia heatwave
Sydney (AFP) Jan 1, 2019
As Australia swelters in an extreme heatwave, a video of a woman in the state of Victoria pouring water into the mouth of a thirsty koala has melted hearts online. The vast continent has experienced intense heat over the past week, with the mercury up 16 degrees Celsius (60 degrees Fahrenheit) higher than usual for this time of year in southern Australia. Numerous towns set new December ... more
+ Philippine storm death toll surges to 68
+ Australia swelters in record-breaking heatwave
+ Sydney pummelled by hail the size of tennis balls
+ Heatwave death threat soars for elderly, city dwellers
+ Northwest China hit by sandstorm as Beijing is smothered in smog
+ Flooding, traffic chaos as heavy rains lash Sydney
+ Extreme heat increasing in both summer and winter
China's trade surplus with the US grew in 2018 but tariffs bite
Beijing (AFP) Jan 14, 2019
China's trade surplus with the United States widened last year, data showed Monday, while the country's imports and exports fell in December as the long-running trade war begins to bite in the world's number two economy. The surplus with the US is a major source of anger within the Trump administration, which imposed tariffs on hundreds of billions of dollars worth of Chinese goods last year ... more
+ Trump says trade deal with China likely
+ Environment, labour concerns delaying China-backed free trade pact
+ China says US trade talks 'laid foundation' to resolve concerns
+ China will tackle US trade dispute in 2019: minister
+ China factory gate inflation dives as trade war rumbles on
+ China says US trade talks 'laid foundation' to resolve concerns
+ US firm cuts China supplier over forced labour concerns
Daily Newsletters - Space - Military - Environment - Energy

Five things to know about January's total Lunar eclipse
Syracuse NY (SPX) Jan 10, 2019
This month's rare total eclipse will be the last one visible from the United States until 2022. Walter Freeman is an assistant teaching professor in the Physics Department at Syracuse University. Freeman answers five questions about the upcoming eclipse. Freeman says: What should those in the viewing area of the Jan. 20-21 total lunar eclipse expect to see? "Viewers will see a ... more
+ New findings reveal the behavior of turbulence in the exceptionally hot solar corona
+ Preparing for discovery with NASA's Parker Solar Probe
+ Research provides insights into Sun's past, future
+ Prediction of Sun's Activity Over the Next Decade
+ Auroras help scientists study energy instabilities in space
+ NASA retires prolific solar observatory after 16 years
+ Scientists map magnetic reconnection in Earth's magnetotail
Skull scans reveal how prehistoric dogs caught dinner
Washington (UPI) Jan 11, 2019
To better understand how the earliest dogs hunted, scientists scanned and analyzed the skulls of lions, wolves and hyenas. The research showed the earliest known dog species, Hesperocyon gregarius, likely pounced on its prey, just like foxes and coyotes. Scientists also determined the largest known dog species, Epicyon haydeni, were the size of grizzly bears. Computerized scans o ... more
+ The algae's third eye
+ Bizarre 'bristle-jaw' creatures finally placed on tree of life
+ Poland denies cull aimed at wiping out wild boar
+ New research reveals how plants sense temperature
+ Even short-lived insects become elderly
+ Panda celebrates first birthday in Malaysian zoo with ice cake
+ Climate change intensifies deadly bird rivalry


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