Disease-resistant gene-edited rice offers hope for small-scale farmers in Africa
Reading Time: < 1 minuteRICE YELLOW MOTTLE VIRUS (RYMV) is responsible for high crop losses in Africa, particularly among small-scale farmers. A research team from Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf (HHU) and the French National Research Institute for Sustainable Development (IRD) has now developed rice lines that are resistant to the disease using genome editing. RYMV is an RNA virus spread by beetles and […]
Columbia, Ecuador yields five new species of eyelash vipers
Reading Time: 3 minutesA GROUP OF SCIENTISTS led by researchers of the Khamai Foundation discovered five dazzling new species of eyelash vipers in the jungles and cloud forests of Colombia and Ecuador. This groundbreaking discovery was made official in a study published in the open-access journal Evolutionary Systematics. Prior to this research, the captivating new vipers, now recognized as among the most alluring […]
Engineer who rebuilds broken lives in disaster zones
Reading Time: 4 minutesIN 2014, as the Islamic State group (ISIS) seized control of vast regions in Eastern Syria and Western Iraq, a haunting scene of relentless chaos unfolded—a narrative all too familiar in the war-torn landscapes of Ukraine and Gaza today. Rubble-lined streets destroyed infrastructure that once housed civilians and provided education and healthcare, and crippled transport systems […]
Let science, technology and innovation be the driving words for 2024
Reading Time: 3 minutesAn appropriate resolution for 2024 and beyond is to think science, celebrate technology, and inspire innovation. There is a wide consensus that Science, Technology, and Innovation (STI) will continue to exert increasing influence on world affairs. Many forecast that the year 2024 will see more discourses on STI as the world grapples with socially disruptive […]
New study sheds new light on forests’ role in climate and water cycle
Reading Time: 2 minutesFORESTS which cover a third of Earth’s land surface, are pivotal in carbon storage and the water cycle, though the full scope of their impact remains to be fully understood. In a new study published in Nature Communications, researchers from Stockholm University and international colleagues provide new insights into the complex role forests play in the climate […]
Malaysia’s Soaring Sky: Transforming palm waste into sustainable aviation fuel
Reading Time: 3 minutesBY AHMAD SYAKIR IZZAT AZMI Malaysia, a land synonymous with vibrant palm oil production, grapples with a hidden challenge: managing millions of tons of palm waste annually. But within this challenge lies a golden opportunity – the potential to transform palm oil waste into Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF). The nation is poised to take its […]
Driving down methane from the oil and gas industry: a climate game-changer
Reading Time: 3 minutesBY JOTISRI VASUDEVAN METHANE, often overshadowed by the focus on carbon dioxide, plays a significant role in global warming, constituting at least 25% of the current warming effect. “The oil and gas sector stands out as a leading contributor to methane emissions,” said Dr Shareen Yawanarajah, from the Environmental Defense Fund (EDF), in a recent […]
What does your poop reveal about your health and how to keep your gut happy?
Reading Time: 3 minutesBY JOYCE WONG JIN YI HAVE you ever taken a moment to ponder the signals your poop might be trying to convey about your health? Surprisingly, the characteristics of your bowel movements can be a window into your overall well-being. One intriguing aspect is whether your stool floats or sinks in the toilet bowl. The […]
Reaping the fruits of her labour
Reading Time: 3 minutesLeaving the safe confines of a stable job in the finance industry, Elizabeth Lee tells DR MAHALETCHUMY ARUJANAN she found her Eldorado – growing pineapples in Pahang. IN THE TURBULENT TIMES of the COVID-19 crisis, where job opportunities were scarce and uncertainty loomed, one spirited graduate embarked on a journey that defied conventions – paving the way […]
Zero tolerance in methane emissions: A key step towards climate change mitigation
Reading Time: 3 minutesBY ISRA ABBASI AMIDST the global urgency to combat climate change, Malaysia stands at the crossroads. The question looms: Is achieving zero-tolerance towards methane emissions a realistic goal for the nation? Methane, a gas you can’t see or smell, is a major contributor to global warming. It’s responsible for nearly half of the one-degree increase in […]