MIT College of Agriculture and Technology Presents MITCAT Trends

My Almond Archive

Thoughtful stories for thoughtless times.Longreads has published hundreds of original stories—personal essays, reported features, reading lists, and more—and more than 14,000 editor’s picks. And they’re all funded by readers like you. Become a member today.I want to support LongreadsAngelica Calabrese | Longreads | July 7, 2026 | 4,311 words (23 minutes)Your grandfather was a traditionalist, the farmer told me, in cadenced, emphatic Italian. He never wanted to get rid of the trees. B

The Return of Florida’s Wild Flamingos

The only flamingo native to North America was exterminated in Florida by the early part of the twentieth century. They were killed for their feathers, eggs, and meat, while their wetlands habitat was destroyed for development and agriculture.Though extirpated as animals, flamingos nonetheless became icons of the state. It may have started in the 1920s with the opening of the Flamingo Hotel in the Art Deco-a-go-go of Miami Beach. Since then, flamboyances of flamingos—the collective noun for the b

Scientists solve a 30-year rye pollen mystery that could transform cancer research

Scientists have finally solved a nearly 30-year-old mystery surrounding two unusual molecules found in rye pollen that once showed an intriguing ability to help animals fight tumors. By determining their exact 3D structures, researchers have unlocked the blueprint needed to investigate how these natural compounds interact with the immune system and which parts may be responsible for their cancer-fighting effects.

Scientists want to quarantine alien life on the Moon before it reaches Earth

Scientists are calling for a lunar quarantine facility where samples from Mars, the Moon, and beyond would be examined before being brought to Earth. They warn that even a tiny alien microorganism could have unpredictable effects on Earth's ecosystems. By using robotic handling systems on the Moon, researchers hope to eliminate the risk of accidental exposure or release.

Streetlights are trapping thousands of pill bugs in giant “death spirals”

Researchers discovered that artificial streetlights can trap thousands of woodlice in mesmerizing circular "death spirals" never before seen in the wild. The surprising finding suggests that light pollution may be unintentionally altering the behavior of even the smallest ground-dwelling animals.

5,000-year-old wolves found on remote island rewrite what we know about domestication

Scientists discovered ancient wolves on a tiny Baltic island where they could only have been brought by humans, suggesting an unexpectedly close relationship between people and wolves thousands of years ago. Evidence indicates the wolves were fed, possibly cared for, and may even have been managed or selectively bred long before modern ideas of domestication.

Ancient bees turned tooth sockets into tiny nurseries 20,000 years ago

A stunning fossil discovery shows that ancient bees used the empty tooth sockets of mammal bones as tiny nests after owls scattered the bones across a cave floor 20,000 years ago. It's the first known evidence of bees nesting inside animal bones, revealing an astonishingly creative survival strategy.

The Farming Industry Has Embraced ‘Precision Agriculture’ and AI, but Critics Question Its Environmental Benefits

Can Clusters of Human-Constructed Ponds in the Arizona Desert Save a Threatened Frog? A Pipeline Company Says It Will Protect the Environment in North Carolina. Its Record in Tennessee Says Otherwise.

Roadside vendors turned exporters: Meghalaya’s ‘numbered’ farmers reap fruits of labour

A 433-member organic farmers’ producer company in Ri-Bhoi district’s Jirang has become a model of successful farm collectivisation

Broccoli Tree Video_Champions Retreat-1920 x 1080_07.02.26

Champions Retreat Video shares information on Masters Week social programming. Includes Barry Rewis, Director of Agronomy, and Mike Rymer, Director of Golf, and Michael Meeks of MacArthur Design Co.

US Department Of Agriculture Says Philippines Is Missing Out On Surging Global Demand For Ube

US Department Of Agriculture Says Philippines Is Missing Out On Surging Global Demand For UbeThere is a surging global demand for ube (purple yam) and the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) says the Philippines is missing out on it as its ube production declined a lot in 2025, according to a news report by the Manila Bulletin.Ube has long been produced here in the Philippines and it has been consumed in its standalone form and also has been used as a key ingredient in…US Department O

Who wants to go see Uniform and Agriculture with me on my birthday in Milwaukee?

<p>Who wants to go see Uniform and Agriculture with me on my birthday in Milwaukee?</p>

Assam estate sells India’s first matcha tea

A premium green tea product primarily manufactured in Japan, China and Vietnam, matcha is currently facing a global shortage due to skyrocketing worldwide demand

Scientists stunned as bumble bees solve a classic intelligence test

Bumble bees astonished researchers by inventing a new way to reach a hidden reward, despite never being taught the trick. The discovery adds to growing evidence that these tiny insects are far smarter and more adaptable than once believed.

Landscape Insider - Episode 13: Michael Massat

In this episode, hosts Ryan Heitman and Aaron Zych talk with Michael Massat of The Growing Place Garden Center. Michael shares his journey in the garden center industry, provides insights on consumer trends, and explains how his business adapted during COVID. We explore the importance of native plants, retail customer loyalty, knowing when to embrace trends, and provide some advice for newcomers in the horticulture industry. Chapters: Michael's Journey into Horticulture The Hands-On Approach

Native Texas Shrubs & Accent Plants: True Natives vs Native Cultivars | Let’s Grow Together

In this episode of Let’s Grow Together, we take a closer look at Texas native shrubs, grasses, succulents, and architectural accent plants while exploring the debate between true natives and native cultivars. Featuring perspectives from three different voices in the horticulture and landscape world, we discuss appearance, adaptability, maintenance, wildlife value, and how these plants function in modern Texas landscapes. Featured plants include Neomexicana Agave, Red Yucca, Horsetail Reed, Dwar

Landscape Insider - Episode 14: Nikki Melin

In this episode of the Landscape Insider podcast, Nikki Melin, Vice President of Sales & Marketing at Midwest Groundcovers, shares her journey from urban forestry to leadership in the horticulture industry. She emphasizes the importance of mentorship, continuous learning, balancing a love of plants and management, and industry collaboration. Discover her insights on leadership development, industry trends, and innovative technologies shaping the future of plant production. This is part of the "M

Fiinovation CSR News Update 2026 | Nagaland Gets ₹30 Crore CSR Boost From NHPC, SBI and NMDC

Welcome to the latest edition of Fiinovation CSR News Update 2026, your trusted source for the latest developments in CSR news, corporate social responsibility, sustainability, ESG, and social impact initiatives across India. In this special CSR news bulletin, we bring you a major development from Nagaland, where a significant ₹30 crore CSR funding boost is set to accelerate community development and inclusive growth. This major CSR initiative is supported by leading organizations including NHP

How asteroids may have sparked life on Earth

Ancient asteroid impacts may have done more than reshape Earth's surface—they could have helped spark life itself. New computer models show the collisions created enormous underground hydrothermal systems by cracking the planet's crust and allowing hot water to flow through it. These long-lasting, life-friendly environments may have covered much of the early Earth, turning cosmic destruction into an unexpected opportunity.

Great ape laughter reveals a hidden origin of human speech

The rhythm of human laughter appears to have deep evolutionary roots shared with chimpanzees, bonobos, gorillas, and orangutans. That ancient pattern may offer one of the clearest clues yet to how the vocal control needed for human speech gradually evolved.