MIT College of Agriculture and Technology Presents MITCAT Trends

Book review – On the Wing: Insects, Pterosaurs, Birds, Bats and the Evolution of Animal Flight

8-minute readkeywords: biomechanics, evolutionary biology, paleontologyFlight fascinates me for two reasons: one is pure envy at being earthbound, and the other because it is a fantastic example of convergent evolution, having evolved not once, but on four separate occasions. Last year I was sent Lev Parikian’s book Taking Flight and in finally reviewing that, I took the opportunity to also read David E. Alexander’s 2015 book On the Wing. A very accessible popular science book that t

Tradition in Turmoil: Sugar Maple and Climate Change

Maple syrup producers rejoice in the arrival of above-freezing days and below-freezing nights. The freeze-thaw cycle creates pressure in their tapped sugar maple trees, driving sap through spiles and into suspended buckets or tubing systems. Historically, this process began in late February or early March across the “Maple Belt,” which extends from the midwestern United States to New England and from southern Manitoba to Canada’s Maritime provinces. Some maple-producing locales, such as New Hamp

New approach could treat anthrax beyond the 'point of no return'

Researchers show that a cocktail of growth factors reversed would-be lethal cell damage in mice with anthrax, suggesting that this approach could be adapted for use in patients.

Understanding the immune response to a persistent pathogen

Researchers show that the immune system can recognize and control the latent stage of the parasite Toxoplasma gondii, a finding that can inform the study of latency in other infections of the nervous system.

Global patterns in seed plant distribution over millions of years

Why do some plants thrive in specific regions but not in others? A study explores the factors shaping plant distributions and how these patterns have changed over millions of years. Analyzing nearly 270,000 seed plant species worldwide, the research highlights the roles of environmental conditions and dispersal barriers in influencing global plant diversity.

I've Got A Micro Pack - How To Break It Down

2025 Agronomy Meeting

What do Reciprocal Tariffs Mean for Agriculture and the Markets?

Dan Basse, president of Ag Resource Company, says these tariffs are different than those imposed during the first Trump ...

All Things Agriculture

The Tony’s Pizza Events Center and Saline County Livestock and Expo Center is all about agriculture this week. The 60th Mid ...

Local food pantry weighs in on U.S. Department of Agriculture cutting food bank funding

Local food pantry weighs in on U.S. Department of Agriculture cutting food bank funding A local travel company in Greenland’s ...

Prince George: Farm Bureau volunteers read to 900 students for Agriculture Literacy Week

Educational event provides fun, engaging way to increase children’s knowledge of farming, where food comes from, importance ...

‘Agriculture placed me where I am today’

I plan to go back for a Master’s degree and a PhD because I want to be called a ‘doctor.’ I am committed, hardworking, and ...

Agriculture trade groups sound alarm on behalf of farmers

Members of the California Farm Bureau and California Association of Winegrape Growers met at the Capitol to request help and express concerns over the loss of farms and agriculture’s economic challenges.

Best Agriculture Online Marketplace

Looking for the best agriculture online marketplace to buy and sell farming products? Our platform is the ultimate destination for farmers, suppliers, and agribusinesses to connect and trade efficiently. Whether you need high-quality seeds, fertilizers, agricultural machinery, or organic produce, we offer a wide range of products at competitive prices.

Nature's viny vampire: Discovering what drives parasitic Cuscuta campestris

Researchers have discovered the mechanism that drives the parasitic vine Cuscuta campestris to insert organs into plants after making contact with the hosts.

Microbial cell factories for sustainable chemical production

In silico analysis of five industrial microorganisms identifies optimal strains and metabolic engineering strategies for producing 235 valuable chemicals.

Losing forest carbon stocks could put climate goals out of reach

In the past, intact forests absorbed 7.8 billion tons of CO2 annually -- about a fifth of all human emissions -- but their carbon storage is increasingly at risk from climate change and human activities such as deforestation. A new study shows that failing to account for the potentially decreasing ability of forests to absorb CO2 could make reaching the Paris agreement targets significantly harder, if not impossible, and much more costly.

Human urine, a valuable resource as fertilizer for sustainable urban agriculture, study concludes

The reuse of human urine would allow for the production of sustainable fertilizers for urban agriculture, with significant environmental benefits, a new study concludes. The research evaluates the environmental impact of nitrogen recovery from the yellow waters of buildings. In addition to promoting sustainable agriculture, it would reduce carbon dioxide emissions and water consumption.

Research highlights urgent need for national strategy to combat rising eating disorders

The increasing number of people with eating disorders and a lack of national guidance for support teams has led to researchers calling for a new national strategy that includes specific guidance to support the remote delivery of eating disorder services.

Cartilage and bone development: Three paths to skeleton formation

In vertebrates, the skeleton of different regions of the body arises from different precursor cells. Researchers have now discovered that these skeletal cells do not just differ in their developmental origin, but also in their gene regulation -- which may be a key to the vertebrates' evolutionary success story.

We must not ignore eugenics in our genetics curriculum, says professor

To encourage scientists to speak up when people misuse science to serve political agendas, biology professor Mark Peifer of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill argues that eugenics should be included in college genetics curriculums.