Priming crops to face impact of climate change
Reading Time: 3 minutesCONFRONTED with the need of increasing global food production – farmers are constantly challenged with altering conditions and emergent soil-borne pathogens brought on by human-induced climate change. Recent data estimate that 40 percent of food crops are lost to plant pests and diseases every year, largely impacting both global food security and the livelihood of smallholder […]
Climate action must address needs of women and children
Reading Time: 3 minutes BY DR SHARIFAH MUHAIRAH SHAHABUDIN THE world is witnessing a climate emergency, disrupting all living beings on earth and its natural environment. The change in climate has seen devastating floods, extreme heat waves, strong storms, and severe droughts. The rising sea levels are threatening to submerge coastal communities, while extreme heat becomes intolerable to the human […]
Researchers identify genes to help fruit adapt to droughts
Reading Time: < 1 minuteRESEARCHERS from the Boyce Thompson Institute (BTI) and Cornell University have completed the first study that provides a comprehensive picture of changes in gene expression in response to water stress in tomatoes and identified genes that could help plant breeders develop fruit that can cope with drought conditions. Led by BTI Assistant Professor Carmen Catalá, who is also a […]
Artificial intelligence PadiMedical system, accelerates patient critical data sharing
Reading Time: 3 minutesBY AISHAH HISAMUDDIN THE PadiMedical system was designed with the integration of Artificial Intelligence in mind, assisting in the detection of disease features and improving clinical workflow, giving medical practitioners the advantage of responding to the disease in its early stages as one of the supports to accelerate patient clinical image critical data sharing. The cost of medical […]
Kenyans need to turn to GM crops to combat drought
Reading Time: < 1 minuteKENYA is experiencing a severe water shortage due to four failed rainy seasons and is in the middle of the worst droughts that happened in the East African region in four decades. These conditions lead to reduced crop production and indicate a possible famine. One of the solutions to such problems is the adoption of genetically modified (GM) crops […]
Life-saving light beam to detect malaria
Reading Time: 2 minutesA FAST, needle-free malaria detection tool developed by a University of Queensland-led team could help save hundreds of thousands of lives annually. Malaria is usually detected by a blood test, but scientists have devised a method using a device that shines a beam of harmless infrared light on a person’s ear or finger for five-to-10 […]
Global Leaders Tackle Conservation at UN Biodiversity Conference
Reading Time: 2 minutesCANADA’S Prime Minister, Justin Trudeau, welcomed the delegates of the 15th Meeting of the Conference of Parties (COP15) to the United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD). Being one of the countries promoting conservation, Canada stepped up to be the host of COP15, which takes place from December 7 to 19, 2022. Biodiversity is a crucial topic of […]
EDF celebrates first-year milestone in Malaysia
Reading Time: 3 minutesKUALA LUMPUR: After building the very first methane coalition in Malaysia, Environmental Defense Fund (EDF) hosted a first-year anniversary gathering with its local partners – the Centre for Environment, Technology and Development, Malaysia (CETDEM), the Malaysian Biotechnology Information Centre (MABIC), CERAH, Science Media Centre (SMC) Malaysia and Universiti Technology Petronas (UTP). The gathering was held […]
Using mathematical models to achieve energy security
Reading Time: 2 minutesTHE Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) issued a red flag in a recent report that there will be a serious impact if we reach another 1.5 0C in surface temperature. Commenting on the report Dr Viknesh Andiappan, an energy planning specialist told The Petri Dish that mathematical skills are necessary to tackle climate change-related issues. […]
Locally made sepsis detection test kit to hit the market soon
Reading Time: 2 minutesA HOMEGROWN aptamer-based biosensor kit to detect sepsis will soon be locally available, after a decade of research. The kit, “SepsiDot” detects sepsis at an early stage and monitors its severity level if the patient requires hospital care. Sepsis, also known as blood poisoning is a common condition that can be fatal. Any common infection has […]