The Feds Are Trying to Get Plants to Mine Metal Through Their Roots

“Just like we do research with corn, wheat, soybean, getting these plants to be more efficient in taking up nutrients—nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium—well, there needs to be this research that goes into understanding the mechanisms of metal hyperaccumulation,” says McNear. “And then enhancing that, whether it be through gene editing or whatever.” ARPA-E is eying a … Read more

In Uganda, bamboo has government’s backing as a crop with real growth potential

ALONG RIVER RWIZI, Uganda — Along a stretch of bush by a muddy river, laborers dug and slashed in search of bamboo plants buried under dense grass. Here and there a few plants had sprouted tall, but most of the bamboo seedlings planted more than a year ago never grew. Now, environment protection officers seeking … Read more

Bring Nature Inside With Amazon’s Big Spring Sale: Shop Deals on Plants, Indoor Gardens and More

As days warm up and green sprouts appear outside, it’s apparent that spring is finally here. Even while temperatures linger on the cooler side and you’re staying indoors dreaming of more sunshine, your home may be calling out to you for a spring refresh. A home decor trend that’s here to stay is to add life to your … Read more

UN nuclear chief tells Japan transparency is ‘very important’ in ruined nuclear plant’s discharges

TOKYO — The head of the U.N. atomic agency on Tuesday emphasized to Japan’s government the importance of transparency in its ongoing discharges of treated radioactive wastewater at the ruined Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant. International Atomic Energy Agency Director-General Rafael Grossi also expressed support for increasing Japan’s nuclear capacity as the country looks to … Read more

India boosts chip ambitions, okays plants with $15 billion in investments

Researchers inside the semiconductor fabrication lab at the Centre for Nano Science and Engineering, at the Indian Institute of Science, in Bangalore on June 30, 2018. Manjunath Kiran | Afp | Getty Images India has approved building three semiconductor plants with investments of more than $15 billion as the country aims to become a major … Read more

4 Chinese citizens, 1 in US illegally, allegedly found with $22.5M worth of marijuana plants in Georgia

Georgia law enforcement officials thought they were raiding an illegal food manufacturing plant before discovering $22.5 million in marijuana plants last week, authorities said Tuesday. Four Chinese citizens were arrested in connection with an illegal marijuana growing facility in Pierce County. The suspects, identified as Zhu Sheng Bing, Jinpeng Ma, Chenhui Shu and Wei Sheng … Read more

PlantPetz Smart Pot Turns Ho-Hum Plants Into Lively, Dancing Pets

Sure, some people talk to their plants (King Charles III among them), but the leafy things just don’t respond in the same way pets do. Until now. An innovation we spotted at CES 2024 called PlantPetz gives your up-till-now quiet houseplants personalities all their own. Think Big Mouth Billy Bass for houseplants, or those dancing, … Read more

TEPCO’s operational ban is lifted, putting it one step closer to restarting reactors in Niigata

TOKYO — Japanese nuclear safety regulators lifted an operational ban Wednesday imposed on Tokyo Electric Power Company Holdings, the operator behind the Fukushima plant that ended in disaster, allowing the company to resume preparations for restarting a separate plant after more than 10 years. At its weekly meeting, the Nuclear Regulation Authority formally lifted the … Read more

AP PHOTOS: Estonia, one of the first countries to introduce Christmas trees, celebrates the holiday

TALLINN, Estonia — Christmas trees started appearing in Central Europe and the Baltic States, including Estonia, as early as the Middle Ages and have now become traditional across much of the world. Dec. 22 is the shortest day of the year and in Estonia, as in many parts of the world, trees covered with lights … Read more

Strong winds from Storm Pia disrupt holiday travel in the UK as Eurostar hit by unexpected strike

LONDON — High winds from Storm Pia on Thursday grounded flights in parts of the U.K., suspended train service and stopped Scottish ferries in a preview of holiday travel disruptions likely to hit northern Europe as the storm moved east. Meanwhile, in a development unrelated to weather, a surprise strike by French workers added to … Read more