Highly valued economically, ecologically and culturally, the white oak (Quercus alba) is a keystone forest species and is one of the most abundant trees across much of eastern North America. It also faces declining seedling recruitment in many parts of its range.

In a paper published in New Phytologist, researchers representing the University of Tennessee Institute of Agriculture, Indiana University, the University of Kentucky, the U.S. Forest Service and several more institutions describe for the first time the species’ complex genome, providing insights into fundamental questions about plant evolution, tree breeding and genetic improvement efforts that could help forest managers plan for and address future forest resources.

Osaka Metropolitan University researchers have succeeded in establishing a method for producing recycled liquid fertilizer that contains high concentrations of phosphorus.

In regions where it hardly ever rains, water is valuable, and access to it is unequal. One such place is Alto Hospicio in Chile, located in the hyper-arid Atacama Desert region. Now, researchers have tested if making water from fog could be a solution to the city’s troubled water supply. Using fog collectors, they found that up to 10 liters per square meter each day could be collected; enough to supplement water needed for drinking, irrigation, and agriculture.

In 2024, Southern Appalachia experienced unprecedented weather extremes, including record-breaking heatwaves and catastrophic flooding from Hurricane Helene. Experts from East Tennessee State University emphasized the urgent need for enhanced community preparedness.