Scientists have developed a new technique to observe root development in 3D and in real-time, allowing them to track cell movements and capture the formation of new roots. This breakthrough could help plant breeders select crops more resistant to drought and flooding.
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Researchers developed a new technique to observe root growth in 3D and in real time using fluorescence microscopy. This allows them to track cell movements over three days, capturing the formation of new roots.
Researchers have discovered that plants use a complex process to sense water in soil and adjust their root architecture accordingly. This process, known as hydropatterning, allows plants to optimize water uptake and survive in environments with limited resources.
Researchers found that basal wire coiling, a simple and effective method, increased sugar concentration in tomato fruit juice. The technique results in lower shoot moisture content and reduced competition for photosynthates, leading to higher sugar concentrations.
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A new instrument, called a greenhouse on a chip, is being developed to precisely assess the performance of plants in different environmental conditions. The instrument incorporates miniature greenhouses, microfluidic technologies, and big data tools to analyze plant traits.
A South American tree species, Embothrium coccineum, has adapted to form cluster roots to access limited phosphorus in volcanic soils. Cluster root formation is stimulated by low soil nitrogen levels, enabling small seedlings to maintain adequate foliar P levels.
A recent study has re-evaluated the effect of nitric oxide on lateral root formation, finding that this molecule can both promote and inhibit root branching. The study utilizes a new parameter for measuring lateral root density and demonstrates the importance of considering the timing of root initiation.
Scientists have long puzzled over how plants set and maintain the angle of their lateral branches. The mechanism, driven by auxin hormone, counteracts gravity-sensitive growth to sustain a non-vertical angle of growth, known as the gravitropic set-point angle.
Scientists identified a network of genes that promote root growth in low-nitrogen conditions, making them suitable for sustainable biofuel production. The discovery provides new insights into the genetic mechanisms underlying plant development and could lead to the creation of nitrogen-efficient crop varieties.
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A team of researchers found that an inner layer of tissue in the branching roots is sensitive to salt and activates Abscisic Acid, which stops root growth. This study provides new insights into how plants cope with stressful environments and could lead to the development of salt-resistant crops.
Researchers studied plant roots grown on the International Space Station and found that they retained complex patterns of 'waving' and 'skewing', characteristic of Earth-grown roots. However, the degree of waving was more subtle than expected, suggesting that gravity is not essential for this process.
Using 3D time-lapse imaging, scientists have discovered that plant roots twist and buckle to generate force and push through barriers, allowing them to grow in difficult soil conditions. The study sheds new light on the mechanics of root growth and reveals a previously unknown connection between root geometry and force generation.
Researchers have identified a core group of bacterial types consistently found inside Arabidopsis roots, while others depend on soil type. The study establishes a framework for examining how plants interact with microbial communities influencing growth and development.
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Researchers have discovered a way to make plants resistant to parasitic dodder vines by attacking the junctions where they tap into their hosts. The technique, using RNA interference, has shown promise in preventing dodder from spreading and can potentially be applied to other parasites like Striga.
Researchers at University of Nottingham use math to study gibberellin hormone affecting plant growth, identifying key interactions between feedback loops. This work aims to improve crop varieties and address global food security concerns.
Scientists at the University of Nottingham have successfully altered root growth in plants by controlling a key regulatory protein, WRKY23. This breakthrough could lead to improved crop yields and resistance to parasites under varying environmental conditions.
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A new technology called RootChip enables scientists to analyze root tissue in intact live plants, revolutionizing the field of root studies. The device monitors real-time responses to environmental changes, revealing key insights into nutrient acquisition and carbon sequestration.
Researchers discovered that submerging azalea cuttings in 50°C water eliminates the deadly fungal disease. The study found that all 12 cultivars were tolerant of short submersion durations, making hot water treatment a viable alternative for disease control.
Research on container-grown trees found that deep structural roots contribute to physiological stresses and abnormally deep roots. Remediation techniques reduced growth delays in pin oak, while littleleaf linden showed more persistent issues after three years.
An international team led by a visiting researcher at IU has formally named a new class of fungi, Archaeorhizomyces, previously only known through DNA sequencing. The discovery estimates up to 250 species within the class and sheds light on their ecological roles in terrestrial ecosystems.
Researchers identified three groups of genes required for extensin production, crucial for root hair growth and nutrient uptake. The study sheds light on the assembly of plant cell wall components regulating growth, with potential applications for sustainable agriculture and forestry.
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Researchers found that O-glycosylation is essential for root hair growth in Arabidopsis thaliana, increasing growth by 200 times. Blocking this reaction inhibits growth, while over-expressing enzymes involved doubles length and density.
Researchers found that root grafting between individual jack pine trees increased radial growth rates and allowed for the sharing of resources such as water, photosynthates, and nutrients. This cooperative behavior challenges the traditional view of trees as competitors and suggests a new strategy for tree interactions.
Researchers at Ben-Gurion University developed techniques to manipulate root development functionality, enabling plants to adapt to hostile environments. By over-expressing a specific gene, they controlled lateral root growth and demonstrated its impact on plant hormone signals.
A new biosensor developed at Purdue University can detect auxin movement in real-time, allowing scientists to better understand how the plant hormone regulates root growth. The sensor uses nanomaterials to create an electrical signal that measures auxin concentration, enabling instantaneous and continuous measurements during root growth.
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The study found significant variation in root systems among various corn genotypes, with regions in the maize genome responsible for inheritance. The team developed innovative technology to analyze root complexity using fractal dimensions and statistical software, allowing them to correlate differences with genetic makeup.
Plants perceive nutrient availability through NRT1.1 nitrate transporter stimulation, inducing lateral root growth in nitrate-rich patches. This mechanism regulates root branching by controlling auxin accumulation, demonstrating a connection between nutrient and hormone signaling during organ development.
Researchers identified gibberellins as a key hormone family regulating tree root development and adaptation to changing soil conditions. Hormone suppression could help trees adapt to stress, and the findings have potential applications in biotechnology and selective breeding.
Researchers at the Salk Institute discover two genetic master switches that determine a plant's polar axis, with one group promoting root development and the other shoot growth. The study reveals an antagonistic relationship between these switches, which are regulated by multiple mechanisms to ensure proper spatial distribution.
Researchers found that auxin hormones regulate root branching in plants, enabling more efficient nutrient uptake and storage, which can support high-yield crops and enhance food security.
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Researchers found that Impatiens pallida, also known as yellow jewelweed, can recognize its relatives and adjust its resource allocation accordingly. The plant responds differently to aboveground cues depending on whether it's competing with a relative or a stranger.
Researchers at the University of Delaware have discovered how plants recognize their siblings through chemical cues in roots. This finding has significant implications for agriculture, where crop yields and growth patterns may be improved by understanding plant sibling recognition.
Scientists discovered that neurons and plant root cells may use a similar mechanism to grow, shedding light on the genetics of hereditary spastic paraplegias. The study proposes that defects in the endoplasmic reticulum shape may cause HSP, with potential applications in Arabidopsis research.
A new analysis by Duke University engineers found that elite athletes are getting bigger and faster, with the fastest swimmers growing 4.5 inches and the swiftest runners growing 6.4 inches taller since 1900. This trend can be predicted by the constructal theory of design in nature.
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Researchers at the University of Nottingham have identified gibberellin as a hormone controlling plant root growth by regulating cell proliferation and expansion rates. The study highlights the importance of understanding hormone regulation in plant biology for improving crop yields.
A new study published in Crop Science found that the root structure of corn crops plays a key role in the historical yield increases in the US Corn Belt. The research revealed that changes in root systems allow for more efficient water capture and sustain biomass accumulation.
A 10-year study on orchard ground cover management systems found substantial differences in root growth, turnover, and distribution among different GMS treatments. Hardwood bark mulch and post-emergence herbicide treatments produced more tree growth and higher yields than others.
Researchers at the Center for Food and Environmental Systems for Human Exploration of Space successfully grew sweet potato cuttings in microgravity, showing that they can regenerate roots. The study found significant differences in root growth development between microgravity and ground-based conditions.
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A study by ASHS researchers found no correlation between pepper heat levels and resistance to Phytophthora blight. Instead, genetic differences, cuticle thickness, and other factors may play a role in fruit response to the disease.
Researchers found that root shape determines hormone concentration and triggers new growth regions, sharing a deep evolutionary relationship with shoot patterning. This discovery uses computational modeling and highlights the power of interdisciplinary approaches in probing organismal architecture.
A meta-analysis of decades-long experimental evidence reveals that modern day concentrations of ground level ozone pollution are decreasing tree growth in northern and temperate mid-latitudes. The study predicts a 17% reduction in tree growth by the end of the century if current fossil fuel dependence continues.
Researchers at UC Riverside have discovered a mechanism that allows plants to bypass the negative effects of aluminum toxicity, enabling them to grow normally in soils with high levels of toxic aluminum. By manipulating a DNA surveillance system called AtATR, scientists can enhance aluminum tolerance and increase crop productivity.
Scientists at the John Innes Centre have discovered how roots use a growth control mechanism to find their way through soil and overcome obstacles. By exploring the soil in a similar way to humans navigating in the dark, root hairs can sense and adapt to changes in their environment.
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Researchers at the Salk Institute discovered a six-amino acid protein sequence, EAR domain, which ensures plants are neither all root nor all shoot. The study clarifies the purpose of the EAR motif and explains how mutations in TOPLESS gene can switch plant cell's fate from shoot to root.
Researchers discovered that some flower bulbs can move down into the ground in search of better growing conditions. Exposure to blue light triggers this movement, which is achieved through a hydraulic shift in cortical cells.
Researchers have found that ethylene regulates cell division in root stem cells, allowing plants to detect favorable soil conditions. This breakthrough has significant implications for tackling soil compaction issues in tropical agriculture.
A Purdue University study identified a gene that helps plants recognize and defend against certain pathogens, but also allows other pathogens to invade. The gene, BIK1, produces a protein that regulates a plant defense hormone called salicylic acid.
Researchers have identified plant genes crucial for capillary root formation, a vital process for plants to absorb water and minerals. This discovery has important implications for sustainable agriculture, enabling the cultivation of crops that can adapt to changing environmental conditions.
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Researchers at University of Utah discovered a gene, BPS1, in plant roots that sends chemical signals controlling leaf growth. The study found that manipulating this gene can change the way leaves develop, even when plants have enough food and water.
Researchers at the University of Utah have identified a novel gene, BYPASS1, that regulates root-to-shoot communication and controls plant architecture. The study reveals that roots produce a growth-inhibiting substance that affects shoot development, providing new insights into plant signaling.
Researchers at Duke University have developed a new technique to map the activity of thousands of genes in the roots of Arabidopsis plants, offering insights into how complex tissues develop from a single cell. The study reveals that nearly half of all expressed genes in the root show tissue-specific expression.
A team led by Philip Benfey created a detailed mosaic of cells showing where and when 22,000 genes are activated within growing root tissue. The results provide the first global resolution of gene expression for any organism.
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Kansas State University has received $4.2 million from the National Science Foundation to support new science initiatives, including a project in ecological genomics that aims to understand how organisms respond to environmental changes caused by human activities. The project will use the tools of molecular genetics with ecology to inv...
A study by University of Michigan doctoral student Miroslav Kummel found that plants associate with different fungi depending on light conditions, suggesting a choice-based mechanism for nutrient exchange. This discovery could have implications for the timber industry and our understanding of plant-fungus interactions.
Scientists at Whitehead Institute for Biomedical Research discovered a plant gene called EIR1 that plays a critical role in root growth towards the earth in response to gravity. The findings may lead to new strategies for enhancing food production, particularly in arid climates.