Researchers at the University of Idaho received a $15 million grant to explore how forest microorganisms can help trees withstand drought and wildfires.
The EMBER project studies how microorganisms in Idaho forests respond to stress, aiming to improve forest management and resilience.
The research focuses on coniferous trees and involves simulating drought and wildfire conditions to identify beneficial microorganisms.
The project combines expertise from multiple scientific disciplines and integrates Indigenous forest management practices.
Key quote:
"We really didn’t have that engaged molecular and microbiology team before."
— Tara Hudiburg, principal investigator and professor at the University of Idaho
Why this matters:
Understanding the role of microorganisms can help forest managers maintain healthier forests amid climate change, reducing the impact of droughts and wildfires. This research also bridges modern science and traditional knowledge, fostering innovative forest management practices.
"Cow's milk without cows" will be in Israeli shops by 2023, after a start-up raised a record $13m (£9.7m) in seed funding from investors to help it make traditional dairy products from microorganisms.
Microorganisms, tiny creatures invisible to the naked eye, play a "central role" in our climate crisis, more than 30 microbiologists contend in a new report.
