Citizen science in plastic composting: a practical approach to the search for PLA-degrading microorganisms - Frontiers

According to a study conducted by researchers at Sultan Qaboos University, the material used to support microbial biofilms could influence their potential role in treating water generated during oil production. The research was led by Ph.D. candidate Arwa Al-Hadhrami under the supervision of Dr. Daniel Blackburn and conducted by a Sultan Qaboos University team representing the College of Agricultural and Marine Sciences and the Water Research Center, Oman. The results are published in Environmental Advances.

Soil-borne diseases hinder crop yield and quality. Liu et al. found that organic fertilizer induces tomato roots to secrete specific microRNAs (miRNAs) likely via exosome-like extracellular vesicles (EVs) to regulate rhizosphere microbiomes and enhance soil disease resistance, revealing a new mechanism and informing sustainable agriculture. MicroRNA-mediated rhizosphere microbiome regulation: a new insight into plant “cry for help” theoryBeing sessile organisms, plants frequently encounter various biotic and abiotic stresses during growth and development. The rhizosphere microbiome is regarded as the “second genome” of plants, and its community structure and functional diversity are directly related to the plant’s survival strategies and ecological adaptability1,2,3. Soil-borne diseases are a key bottleneck limiting crop yield and quality improvement. Conventional chemical control methods not only disrupt the soil microecological balance but also may pose food safety risks4,5.

One of the very dangerous consequences of global warming is the growing incidence of wildfires. Not only do they cause extensive physical destruction, but they put huge quantities of smoke into the atmosphere, severely impacting human health. This pollution can travel long distances from the direct effects of such fires, as witnessed earlier this year in the northeastern US due to wildfire smoke originating in western Canada and the US. This smoke includes a witches’ brew of gases and particles that can have deleterious consequences for human health. Among these are small particles called PM2.5, which can penetrate lung tissue and cause respiratory and cardiovascular harm, including aggravated asthma, decreased lung function, heart attacks, strokes and increased premature mortality. This has been known for some time. A less well-known but also dangerous component of wildfire smoke is ozone, which is a highly reactive molecule composed of three oxygen atoms (O3), as opposed to naturally occurring two-atom oxygen—O2.