Crop yields could be boosted up to 37 per cent by covering plants in red plastic

A simple, cheap technology could help to boost food production and possibly allow crops to be grown in different places in order to cut down on food miles Environment 18 February 2022 By Alice Klein Trial of the LLEAF material in a greenhouse at Western Sydney University Alexander Soeriyadi/LLEAF Pty Ltd The yields of some … Read more

How climate change is shaking up the hops that give beer its flavour

Hop plants are largely what distinguish your dark ales from your refreshing pales, and each has its own “terroir”. With changing weather affecting how and where they grow, what does the future hold for brewing and beer? Humans 15 December 2021 By Chris Simms Wicked weed: freshly harvested hop flowers Jean/Stockimo/Alamy WATER, malted barley and … Read more

The secret life of cheese: How marvellous microbes create its flavour

We have been making cheese for millennia, but researchers are only now getting to grips with how bacteria, fungi and viruses combine to create its characteristic flavours and textures Life 15 December 2021 By Alison George WHEN it comes to finding new and exotic species, there is no need to travel to the rainforest or … Read more