In North Carolina, BASF reached a global licensing agreement with the Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard for the use of CRISPR-Cas9 genome-editing technology to improve products in agricultural and industrial microbiology applications. The technology advances genome editing because it has the potential to be a simpler and more precise tool for making targeted changes […]
In Pennsylvania, the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture has approved 16 research proposals that seek to demonstrate the value and viability of industrial hemp cultivation in the state. The projects were approved under the new Industrial Hemp Research Pilot Program, which the department launched in December after Governor Tom Wolf and the General Assembly enacted Act […]
In Thailand, researchers from the Thailand Institute of Science and Technological Research have discovered that the yeast Saccharomyces Cerevisiae can be used to better produce ethanol from cassava thanks to its heat resistance and speed in consuming sugars, reducing production costs down to those of molasses. The research leading to the discovery took 18 months […]
In Minnesota, recent study revealed that an organelle within fungal cells called the endoplasmic reticulum acts as a cellular factory for synthesizing diverse natural products called sesquiterpenes in fungal cells. While some sesquiterpenes are toxins that contaminate cultivated grains and pose a health risk to humans, others are potential precursors to alternative fuels. Understanding how […]
In South Korea, researchers are looking to take advances made in algae processing technology for the creation of bioplastics and apply them to biopreservatives in an attempt to reduce potential side effects from those currently used in cosmetics, food and personal care products. It is the use of enzymes in the process to produce bioplastics […]
In Illinois, the American Institute of Chemical Engineers’ Fuels and Petrochemical Division has recognized four Honeywell scientists with the 2016 Industrial Research & Development Award for the development and commercialization of the UOP Advanced Methanol-to-Olefins process. The award recognizes the scientists’ work on the technology that converts methanol from sources such as coal and natural […]
In California, Stanford University scientists have now confirmed the increased efficiency of grass stomata and gained insight into how they develop. Their findings, reported in the March 17 issue of Science, could help us cultivate crops that can thrive in a changing climate. Grasses developed different stomata, which may have helped them spread during a […]
In California, using biofuels to help power jet engines reduces particle emissions in their exhaust by as much as 50 to 70 percent, in a new study conclusion that bodes well for airline economics and Earth’s environment. The findings are the result of a cooperative international research program led by NASA and involving agencies from […]
In Denmark, researchers at the University of Copenhagen working with Bayer CropScience have removed toxins from mustard plants that could in turn make them prolific oil producers, even surpassing canola. Though mustard’s distinct taste, produced by toxins, is enjoyed by humans the toxins are hazardous to animals so the meal resulting from pressing for oil […]
In Canada, the Government of Canada announced an investment of up to $20 million to support clean energy projects at the pre-commercialization stage. This investment, part of a $40-million joint initiative that includes matching funds from the province of British Columbia, will help companies with innovative projects at the prototype, field testing and demonstration stages. […]
