CuriousMinds

How long does a seed live? The science behind seed banks

New research from the Kings Park Seed Bank in Perth has shed light on the surprising life and death of seeds, important for the conservation of species and research into plants which can cope with climate change.

Seed banks around Australia store the seeds of thousands of species, but even when stored in ideal conditions, some species live longer than others – and even seeds within the same species can outlive each other.

“Seeds are living organisms, and they’re like human beings or any other animals – they age and die in storage,” Emma Dalziell, seed biologist at the University of Western Australia. “But we don’t have a really good understanding of how long we can actually store these seeds for.”

Since many of these seeds are vital for saving threatened species, restoring degraded ecosystems or ensuring the future…

Animal behavioral diversity at risk in the face of declining biodiversity

How understanding animal behavior, including tool use, can shed light on human behavior and culture

Drastic declines in biodiversity due to human activities present risks to understanding animal behaviors such as tool use, according to researchers from the University of Victoria and the Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology. Shrinking animal populations make the study of these behaviors increasingly difficult, underscoring the urgency of targeted conservation efforts and inclusive conservation strategies. Action is needed not only for research, but also to respect our shared cultural heritage with animal species.

Our environment is changing rapidly, largely as a result of human activities, leading to a significant decline in biodiversity.

According to researchers from the University of Victoria and the Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology, this decline does not only affect animal life, but also our understanding of their behavior,…

Seeing humanity's transition from hunting to farming as a cultural shift

Researchers develop a new potential standard tool for studying prehistoric transitional periods

Using a mathematical model, researchers have shed new light on the transition from hunter-gatherer to farming societies. Rather than focusing exclusively on external factors, they looked at internal demographics and the significant impact of human interactions. The model identified potential societal outcomes based on demographic changes, emphasising aspects such as migration rates, cultural assimilation and the role of mortality in these transitions. The researchers aim to further develop their model with the aim of making it a standard tool for studying historical demographic interactions.

Understanding the shift from hunting and gathering to farming has been a major concern in the study of human history. Often this major transition is attributed to external factors such as environmental changes. The shift could have happened in two ways: either groups…

Human urine, a valuable resource as fertilizer for sustainable urban agriculture, study concludes

The reuse of human urine would allow for the production of sustainable fertilizers for urban agriculture, with significant environmental benefits. This is the conclusion of a study conducted by the ICTA-UAB, which evaluates the environmental impact of nitrogen recovery from the yellow waters of buildings. In addition to promoting sustainable agriculture, it would reduce CO2 emissions and water consumption.

The global demand for fertilizers in agriculture is growing every day, making it necessary to reduce dependence on non-renewable sources. According to the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), the global demand for nitrogen as a fertilizer grows annually by 1%, which amounts to an increase of 1.074 million tons each year.

The production of these fertilizers relies heavily on non-renewable energy sources such as natural gas, oil, and coal, representing significant energy consumption and CO2 emissions.

This new…