Low-Res_Species range map

Protected areas that help wildlife often do little for the soil fungi that plants depend on

2026-05-20T11:26:00+01:00

Scientists built the most comprehensive models ever of the ranges of 2,858 important fungal species and compared them with the world’s protected landscapes. More than half of these critical underground organisms are less protected than if conservation areas had been drawn at random. 

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Food security

Paprika_Botrytisbefall-nah

Researchers discover the secret behind gray mold’s unstoppable spread

For years, scientists have unsuccessfully tried to breed crops that could resist Botrytis cinerea. New research suggests decades of crop breeding strategies may have overlooked a crucial piece of the puzzle: the pathogen itself. The problem may lie in a fundamental misunderstanding of how plants and the pathogen interact. 

Clean Water

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Hospital wastewater reveals drug-resistant fungus strains months before patients show symptoms

2026-05-21T18:59:00+01:00By

A study reveals that sampling raw wastewater closer to the source — sewer lines that directly serve hospitals, retirement homes, and long-term care facilities — allows scientists to detect drug-resistant strains of Candida auris as many as five months before patients begin showing symptoms.