US consumers confused with ‘organic’ and ‘non-gm’ food labels, survey shows
Reading Time: < 1 minuteMANY consumers are getting confused with the “organic” and “non-GMO” labels, according to a national survey conducted by scientists at the University of Florida and Purdue University. In June 2016, the Congress approved the National Bioengineered Food Disclosure Standard which allows companies to label GM foods by text, symbol, or QR codes. Economics experts, Brandon […]
Bangladesh releases high-yielding disease-resistant wheat variety to farmers
Reading Time: 2 minutesAS wheat farmers in Bangladesh struggle to recover from a 2016 outbreak of a mysterious disease called “wheat blast,” the country’s National Seed Board (NSB) released a new, high-yielding, blast-resistant wheat variety, according to a communication from the Wheat Research Centre (WRC) in Bangladesh. Called “BARI Gom 33,” the variety was developed by WRC using […]
India-IRRI engage in rice talks
Reading Time: 2 minutesLOS BANOS, PHILIPPINES: Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the Resilient Rice Field Laboratory (RRFL) at the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) recently. While in the Philippines for the Asean Summit meetings, Modi spent time at the International Rice Research Institute discussing agriculture innovations and research advances for the rice sector. He met with several […]
S’pore University develops microfibre sensor for healthcare
Reading Time: 4 minutesA RESEARCH team from National University of Singapore (NUS) has developed a soft, flexible and stretchable microfibre sensor for real-time healthcare monitoring and diagnosis. The novel sensor is highly sensitive and ultra-thin with a diameter of a strand of human hair. It is also simple and cost-effective to mass produce. Wearable and flexible technology has […]
Why do coffee beans have to be roasted?
Reading Time: < 1 minuteALL coffee lovers know that the roasting of the coffee bean can influence the taste of the coffee quite heavily. Why is this process so important? Roasting brings out the aroma and flavour that is locked inside the green coffee beans. Beans are stored green, a state in which they can be kept without loss […]
Power up energy efficiency in crops
Reading Time: 2 minutesBY SHAWN KENG IN a resource-demanding world, humans have developed green technologies which are energy efficient and minimal in carbon footprint. Now, imagine the engineering of energy efficiency is applied in crops. Scientists are programming rice to produce more yield during photosynthesis, by interchanging genetic code found in maize. Based on University of Oxford press […]
Maximising plant growth through light manipulation
Reading Time: < 1 minutePENANG: Associate Professor Dr S Sreeraamanan from the Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM) School of Biological Sciences presented his project during the pitching session at Sains@USM held recently. His project was on the manipulation of light sources for maximising plant growth, which according to him would result in optimised growth in a cost-effective manner, as energy […]
Cyanobacteria: The Versatile Superhero
Reading Time: 2 minutesCYANOBACTERIA are simple, primitive life forms related to bacteria. They’re often bigger than bacteria and live either as single cells or in colonies. You can find them in the soil as well as terrestrial, freshwater and marine bodies of water. Check out what they can do below: Biodegradable bioplastic Scientists from Michigan State University altered […]
Taste, not appearance, drives corals to eat plastics
Reading Time: 3 minutesSCIENTISTS have long known that marine animals mistakenly eat plastic debris because the tiny bits of floating plastic might look like prey. But a new Duke University study of plastic ingestion by corals suggests there may be an additional reason for the potentially harmful behaviour. Visual cues, such as a resemblance to prey, don’t factor […]
ASM scripts blueprint for Malaysia 2050
Reading Time: 2 minutesTHE Academy of Sciences Malaysia (ASM) recently launched the “Science and Technology Foresight Malaysia 2050” gearing up to the changing landscape with the advent of the Industrial Revolution 4.0 and a number of other emerging technologies. The Foresight focuses on five main areas, namely biotechnology, digital technology, green technology, nanotechnology and neurotechnology. The Foresight provides [ihc-hide-content […]