Daily Archives: January 18, 2025

Scientists with disabilities want to make fieldwork more accessible and inclusive

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Scientists with disabilities are trying to make research labs more accessible. A recent field trip to the San Andreas fault is an example of how the scientists are working to improve access to field and lab work. (AP Video: Eugene Garcia)Subscribe: http://smarturl.it/AssociatedPressRead more: https://apnews.com​This video may be available for archive licensing via https://newsroom.ap.org/home

Blueberry Crops Threatened by Global Fungus Outbreak, Scientists Warn

A rapidly spreading fungus, Erysiphe vaccinii, poses a severe threat to global blueberry crops, jeopardizing yields and food security.
By yourNEWS Media Newsroom
Blueberry crops worldwide are under threat from a rapidly spreading fungal disease caused by Erysiphe vaccinii, a powdery mildew that has already led to staggering annual losses ranging from $47 million to $530 million. This fungus not only reduces yields but also compels farmers to rely heavily on fungicides, escalating both costs and environmental concerns.
The disease, first identified in the eastern United States, has spread globally over the last 12 years through the trade of plant materials. Major blueberry-producing regions, including China, Mexico, Morocco, Peru, Portugal, and California, are grappling with the devastating effects of the fungus. According to researchers at North Carolina State University, the spread involves two distinct fungal strains: one prevalent in China, Mexico, and California, and another found in Morocco, Peru, and Portugal.
The fungus reproduces asexually outside the United States, enhancing its ability to adapt to diverse climates such as the humid fields of China and the arid conditions of Morocco. Within the United States, it reproduces both sexually and asexually, further complicating efforts to control its spread.
The economic impact is profound for the global blueberry industry, which produces over four billion pounds of fruit annually. Beyond reduced harvests, the need for increased fungicide use adds to farmers’ burdens while raising environmental and health concerns. The Pacific Northwest, known for its optimal blueberry-growing conditions, is particularly vulnerable due to its rainy climate, which could become a breeding ground for the fungus.
This crisis underscores the urgent need for stricter biosecurity measures and sustainable farming practices to mitigate the risks of future outbreaks. Lessons from combating Erysiphe vaccinii could also inform the management of other powdery mildews affecting crops like wheat, grapes, and strawberries, safeguarding global food systems against similar threats.
Efforts to address the crisis will require international cooperation and investment in research to protect this vital fruit and the livelihoods of farmers worldwide.

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Bulgarian Scientists Study Antarctic Yeasts for Cancer Therapies

Bulgarian scientists are working on projects to research Antarctic yeasts for new cancer therapies, Prof. Christo Pimpirev, Director of the National Centre for Polar Research, head of the Bulgarian Antarctic Institute and of all Antarctic expeditions of Bulgaria, told bTV here on Saturday.Antarctica occupies one tenth of the Earth’s surface and is the largest open-air laboratory in the world, said Pimpirev. Bulgarian researchers will work on 11 scientific projects there, related to the study of glaciers, their movement and melting caused by climate change, which is felt sharply in Antarctica. “We have a lot of biology projects, we study the DNA of Antarctic bacteria that are resistant to human antibiotics. We have Antarctic yeasts from which new cancer therapies have been developed by Chilean researchers, and we are working on this with scientists from Plovdiv,” said Prof. Pimpirev.
“This is an extreme science that yields great results for Bulgaria and for humanity, we already have publications in many scientific publications,” he said.
A documentary about the Bulgarian antarctic expeditin participants will be filmed by an Austrian producer during the 33rd Bulgarian Antarctic expedition, Prof. Christo Pimpirev.  “With this film we will go on the world stage. Let the world see how we work in Antarctica, how all the scientists of the world come to us to help them there, how the artists come there to tell the world what we do there,” said Prof. Pimpirev. 
He stressed that in Antarctica Bulgaria is among the leading European countries, one of the eleven EU countries that have bases there. “You see what a battle is going on for Greenland, Antarctica is rich in minerals, and Bulgaria is very respected in Antarctic research, we are there. None of our neighbours have a ship for Antarctic research,” the researcher pointed out.
He added that with the help of the 33rd Bulgarian Antarctic Expedition, three nations are sending scientists to Antarctica for the first time – Montenegro, Greece and the UAE. ‘We are the only ones in the whole region who have a polar base and a research ship,’ said Prof. Pimpirev.
He thanked the caretaker government and the media, thanks to which at the end of last year “politicians understood how important funding is for the lives and work of people who are on a mission on the other side of the world. In addition to the budget, Antarctic missions rely on European funding,” he said.
Pimpirev pointed out that thanks to the Bulgarian naval research vessel Sv. Sv. Kiril i Metodii (RSV 421), the Bulgarian Antarctic expeditions are on the world map of oceanic research, which will be the focus of global initiatives and research in the next 10 years, according to a UN decision. “In cooperation with France, we are now also a maritime nation globally,” said Prof. Pimpirev
The Bulgarian naval research vessel Sv. Sv. Kiril i Metodii (RSV 421) departed from Varna for its third Antarctic expedition on November 7, 2024, and arrived at Livingston Island on December 28.
BTA has a national press club on the vessel and at the Bulgarian Antarctic base St. Kliment Ohridski. This is the third consecutive year that BTA has sent a correspondent to Antarctica, after Konstantin Karagyozov embarked on RSV 421’s maiden voyage to the icy continent and back. This year’s BTA correspondent is Milena Ostrovska, who arrived at the the St Kliment Ohridski Bulgarian Antarctic Base on Livingston Island base on Livingston Island on January 17. Emil Granicharov was BTA’s special correspondent to Antarctica during last year’s expedition.

Bulgarian Scientists Study Antarctic Yeasts for Cancer Therapies

Bulgarian scientists are working on projects to research Antarctic yeasts for new cancer therapies, Prof. Christo Pimpirev, Director of the National Centre for Polar Research, head of the Bulgarian Antarctic Institute and of all Antarctic expeditions of Bulgaria, told bTV here on Saturday.Antarctica occupies one tenth of the Earth’s surface and is the largest open-air laboratory in the world, said Pimpirev. Bulgarian researchers will work on 11 scientific projects there, related to the study of glaciers, their movement and melting caused by climate change, which is felt sharply in Antarctica. “We have a lot of biology projects, we study the DNA of Antarctic bacteria that are resistant to human antibiotics. We have Antarctic yeasts from which new cancer therapies have been developed by Chilean researchers, and we are working on this with scientists from Plovdiv,” said Prof. Pimpirev.
“This is an extreme science that yields great results for Bulgaria and for humanity, we already have publications in many scientific publications,” he said.
A documentary about the Bulgarian antarctic expeditin participants will be filmed by an Austrian producer during the 33rd Bulgarian Antarctic expedition, Prof. Christo Pimpirev.  “With this film we will go on the world stage. Let the world see how we work in Antarctica, how all the scientists of the world come to us to help them there, how the artists come there to tell the world what we do there,” said Prof. Pimpirev. 
He stressed that in Antarctica Bulgaria is among the leading European countries, one of the eleven EU countries that have bases there. “You see what a battle is going on for Greenland, Antarctica is rich in minerals, and Bulgaria is very respected in Antarctic research, we are there. None of our neighbours have a ship for Antarctic research,” the researcher pointed out.
He added that with the help of the 33rd Bulgarian Antarctic Expedition, three nations are sending scientists to Antarctica for the first time – Montenegro, Greece and the UAE. ‘We are the only ones in the whole region who have a polar base and a research ship,’ said Prof. Pimpirev.
He thanked the caretaker government and the media, thanks to which at the end of last year “politicians understood how important funding is for the lives and work of people who are on a mission on the other side of the world. In addition to the budget, Antarctic missions rely on European funding,” he said.
Pimpirev pointed out that thanks to the Bulgarian naval research vessel Sv. Sv. Kiril i Metodii (RSV 421), the Bulgarian Antarctic expeditions are on the world map of oceanic research, which will be the focus of global initiatives and research in the next 10 years, according to a UN decision. “In cooperation with France, we are now also a maritime nation globally,” said Prof. Pimpirev
The Bulgarian naval research vessel Sv. Sv. Kiril i Metodii (RSV 421) departed from Varna for its third Antarctic expedition on November 7, 2024, and arrived at Livingston Island on December 28.
BTA has a national press club on the vessel and at the Bulgarian Antarctic base St. Kliment Ohridski. This is the third consecutive year that BTA has sent a correspondent to Antarctica, after Konstantin Karagyozov embarked on RSV 421’s maiden voyage to the icy continent and back. This year’s BTA correspondent is Milena Ostrovska, who arrived at the the St Kliment Ohridski Bulgarian Antarctic Base on Livingston Island base on Livingston Island on January 17. Emil Granicharov was BTA’s special correspondent to Antarctica during last year’s expedition.

Scientists Quantified The Harm of Sugary Drinks, And It’s Devastating

Sugary beverages like sodas and energy drinks are designed to be hyper-palatable, laden with extravagant amounts of sweeteners to stimulate pleasure centers in the brain.That initial enjoyment belies hidden danger, though. Sugar-sweetened drinks typically offer scant nutritional value, and research shows habitual consumption can raise the risk of health problems such as tooth decay, obesity, type 2 diabetes, and heart disease.