For new research, published in the journal Ocean and Coastal Management, ten fishermen working around islands in the Aegean Sea were asked to pinpoint areas where they believed seagrass beds could be found along the coastlines of their respective islands. The maps they produced were then compared with satellite data of the same regions, with analysis showing an average accuracy of 78% – and a high of 92%. Researchers from the University of Plymouth and the Archipelagos Institute of Marine Conservation say the results are a clear demonstration of the value of tapping into local knowledge, and how doing so can be a low-cost means of generating environmental data without compromising the high accuracy needed for the data to be still valuable for policy use.

Parasitic weeds are ruthless freeloaders, stealing nutrients from crops and devastating harvests. But what if farmers could trick these invaders into self-destructing? Scientists at UC Riverside think they’ve found a way.

Researchers have engineered yeast to efficiently convert methanol into D-lactic acid, a key compound for biodegradable plastics and pharmaceuticals. By optimizing gene and promoter combinations, they achieved the highest reported yield to date, offering a sustainable alternative to petroleum-based production. Their findings advance eco-friendly chemical manufacturing.

UC Davis researchers have generated the most high-quality map of the DNA of the pistachio, allowing breeders to develop better varieties. 

A study in Forest Ecosystems reveals that Australia's cool temperate rainforests are more disturbance-resilient than previously thought. Researchers found that Nothofagus moorei thrives under higher disturbance intensities through basal coppicing. 60% of species can resprout after disturbance, with N. moorei showing faster growth and better recruitment in response to canopy removal. These findings suggest that conservation strategies should not completely exclude disturbance but instead use controlled burning and selective logging to maintain ecological diversity.A study in Forest Ecosystems reveals that Australia's cool temperate rainforests are more disturbance-resilient than previously thought. Researchers found that Nothofagus moorei thrives under higher disturbance intensities through basal coppicing. 60% of species can resprout after disturbance, with N. moorei showing faster growth and better recruitment in response to canopy removal. These findings suggest that conservation strategies should not completely exclude disturbance but instead use controlled burning and selective logging to maintain ecological diversity.

A recent study has unveiled a novel strategy to boost the efficiency of solar photovoltaic (PV) systems in agriculture, offering a solution to longstanding challenges. By integrating the Greylag Goose Optimization (GGO) algorithm with a seven-level inverter, the research team has achieved impressive advancements in maximum power point tracking (MPPT) and significantly reduced total harmonic distortion (THD). This innovation ensures more reliable and stable power for agricultural machinery, while also cutting operational costs and extending the lifespan of equipment.