A new polymer coating could serve as a safer alternative to pesticides in controlling harmful fungi that devastate plant crops. UK scientists used a coating of (meth)acrylate polymer, which is normally used to make acrylic plastics, to block fungi from attaching to surfaces. The coating, which was shown to be effective on plants, averts the … Read more
GP practice will trial prescribing pot PLANTS instead of pills for patients suffering from depression, anxiety and loneliness Cornbrook Medical Practice, in the inner-city area of Hulme, is behind the move The pilot scheme by the GP practice is the latest example of social prescribing Studies show gardening is good for mental health because nature … Read more
Scientists have developed plant ‘probiotics’ that help fight disease without the use of expensive pesticides. UK researchers say beneficial bacteria in soil supports plants’ immune systems in a similar way to positive gut bacteria in humans. By injecting probiotics into a plant’s growth medium, they hope to create ideal growing conditions year-round for herbs, fruits … Read more
Cunning bumblebees help plants produce flowers by nibbling away on their leaves in way that speeds up blooming, according to a new report. Bumblebees that wake up earlier in the year than normal due to climate change face a scarcity of pollen because flowers are yet to bloom, European researchers claim. They therefore bite the … Read more
Car makers jump-start their plants back to life as thousands of furloughed employees prepare to return to work By James Salmon for the Daily Mail Published: 21:50 BST, 13 May 2020 | Updated: 21:50 BST, 13 May 2020 Ford and Vauxhall are set to open their plants next week, with thousands of furloughed employees returning … Read more
Grasshoppers are gorging themselves on the equivalent of ‘junk food’ as rising levels of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere make plants less nutritious, a study has found. Experts studying a grassland preserve in Kansas discovered that its grasshopper numbers have fallen by more than 30 per cent over the last two decades. Increasing levels of atmospheric carbon dioxide … Read more
The managing director of a plant wholesaler said his firm has lost more than £2.5million-worth of business in the last three months after garden centres were forced to close as part of the coronavirus lockdown. Adrian Marskell, who runs The Bransford Webbs Plant Company in Worcester, in the West Midlands, has had to begin throwing away … Read more
Tiny beetle that attacks ragweed plants and prevents them from flowering ‘could be the key to relieving millions of hay fever sufferers of their symptoms’ Pollen released from the invasive ragweed plant is a key cause of hay fever One plant can release a billion grains of pollen, causing sneezing and itchy eyes Experts found … Read more
Amazon warehouses ‘are prime sites for coronavirus’: Workers at two distribution plants fear the bug will thrive there because of a lack of hand sanitisers and non-enforcement of social distancing among staff Amazon’s business is booming as shop closures have seen orders surge online But a worker in Doncaster said lack of space means they … Read more
Orlando Bloom plants a kiss on pregnant fiancé Katy Perry through car window as the pair stop off at a gas station on weekend outing By Sean O’grady For Mailonline Published: 09:26 GMT, 23 March 2020 | Updated: 09:26 GMT, 23 March 2020 They revealed earlier this month they are expecting their first child together … Read more