A new study found evidence that stands of aspen trees could resist wildfires by slowing a fire’s advance or changing its course. The findings suggest that aspen forests can act as natural firebreaks.

A new study led by Virginia Tech found that volunteer dog-handler teams — made up of everyday people and their pets — can effectively detect the elusive egg masses of the spotted lanternfly, an invasive insect that's damaging farms and forests across the eastern and central United States.

To address these questions, a research team from Mansoura University, the Agricultural Research Center, and the University of Reading conducted a study in the agricultural provinces of Dakahlia, Giza, and Minya. The study involved 300 farmers using four types of plastic agriculture systems: open-field films, low tunnels, high tunnels, and net houses. Through stratified random sampling and face-to-face interviews, the team analyzed plastic usage characteristics, disposal methods, recycling barriers, and key motivations. The article was recently published in Frontiers of Agricultural Science and Engineering (DOI: 10.15302/J-FASE-2025621).

Conventional mulch films are often plastic-based or made from non-renewable and toxic materials. In a recent Research article, a team from China introduced a novel biodegradable liquid mulch film derived from bamboo residues. This film shows high potential for selenium-enriched crop cultivation, as evidenced by the enhanced rhizome growth of pak choi seedlings. The innovation is poised to significantly advance sustainable agricultural practices.