Meteor impacts may have sparked life on Earth, scientists say

Anonymous, 04/04/2026 | Source: Agriculture and Food News -- ScienceDaily

Asteroid impacts may have helped kick-start life on Earth by creating hot, chemical-rich environments ideal for early biology. These impact-generated hydrothermal systems could have lasted thousands of years—long enough for life’s building blocks to form. Scientists now think these environments may have been common on early Earth, making them a strong candidate for where life began. The idea could also guide the search for life on other worlds.

Ancient bees found nesting inside fossil bones in rare cave discovery

Anonymous, 03/04/2026 | Source: Agriculture and Food News -- ScienceDaily

Thousands of years ago in a cave on Hispaniola, an unusual chain of events left behind a rare scientific treasure: bees nesting inside fossilized bones. After giant barn owls repeatedly brought prey like hutias into the cave, their remains accumulated in silt-rich chambers—creating a strange underground environment. Later, burrowing bees took advantage of the soft sediment and even reused tiny cavities in fossilized jaws and bones as ready-made nests, coating them with a smooth, waterproof lining.

Seed dormancy shapes gene drive dynamics in plants

Isabel K. Kim
, 03/04/2026 | Source: Nature Plants - nature.com science feeds

Nature Plants, Published online: 03 April 2026; doi:10.1038/s41477-026-02256-1

The authors present a comprehensive plant-specific modelling framework for CRISPR gene drives: dormant seed banks can slow spread and require larger releases but can also ease weed elimination and limit unintended spread to nearby populations.

Breeding mitochondria in crops

Pal Maliga
, 02/04/2026 | Source: Nature Plants - nature.com science feeds

Nature Plants, Published online: 02 April 2026; doi:10.1038/s41477-026-02275-y

Mitochondrial genes in most crops are inherited maternally. In this issue of Nature Plants, Gonzalez-Duran et al. report that mitochondrial genes can be inherited from both parents.

Occupancy-based mechanism is the chief mode of ROS1 function in preventing DNA hypermethylation

Li Deng
, 02/04/2026 | Source: Nature Plants - nature.com science feeds

Nature Plants, Published online: 02 April 2026; doi:10.1038/s41477-026-02258-z

This study shows that ROS1 mediates DNA demethylation mainly via an occupancy-based passive mechanism, challenging the traditional active model, and reveals that ROS1 occupancy marks and regulates accessible chromatin, highlighting its diverse roles.

A fungal two-in-one trick

Daiming Guo
, 31/03/2026 | Source: Nature Plants - nature.com science feeds

Nature Plants, Published online: 31 March 2026; doi:10.1038/s41477-026-02278-9

The false smut fungus attacks rice by secreting a ‘weapon’ that targets a key protein in the plant’s flowers. This single move simultaneously stops the rice from making grains and shuts down its natural immune defences. The discovery of this strategy offers an opportunity to develop disease-resistant rice in the future.

Cereal protein biofortification at the interface of nutrition, yield and sustainability

Rhowell Tiozon Jr
, 31/03/2026 | Source: Nature Plants - nature.com science feeds

Nature Plants, Published online: 31 March 2026; doi:10.1038/s41477-026-02252-5

Cereal protein biofortification can improve nutrition while maintaining yield and lowering environmental impact. This Review shows how genetics and breeding can enhance protein quality in staple cereals to support healthier and more sustainable diets.

Scientists uncovered the nutrients bees were missing — Colonies surged 15-fold

Anonymous, 27/03/2026 | Source: Agriculture and Food News -- ScienceDaily

Scientists have developed a breakthrough “superfood” for honeybees by engineering yeast to produce the essential nutrients normally found in pollen. In controlled trials, colonies fed this specially designed diet produced up to 15 times more young, showing a dramatic boost in reproduction and overall health. As climate change and modern agriculture reduce the availability of natural pollen, this innovation could offer a practical way to support struggling bee populations.

Freshwater fish populations plunge 81% as river migrations collapse

Anonymous, 27/03/2026 | Source: Agriculture and Food News -- ScienceDaily

A sweeping global report finds that migratory freshwater fish are in steep decline, with populations down roughly 81% since 1970. These species depend on long, connected rivers, but dams and human pressures are cutting off their routes. Hundreds of species now need coordinated international protection. Experts say restoring river connectivity is critical to preventing further collapse.

This cow uses tools like a primate—and scientists are stunned

Anonymous, 26/03/2026 | Source: Agriculture and Food News -- ScienceDaily

A cow named Veronika has stunned scientists by using tools in a flexible and purposeful way. She chooses different ends of a brush depending on the part of her body and adjusts her movements accordingly. This level of tool use is incredibly rare and was previously seen mainly in primates. The finding hints that cows may be much smarter than we assume.