For centuries, potatoes have been a staple crop of many countries and, to this day, remain an essential crop in many nations worldwide. However, potatoes can be susceptible to various fungal infections called blights, which can wipe out entire crops. One of the most notable examples, the Irish Potato Famine, was caused by a potato …
Dr. Tamara Bush, a Mechanical Engineering professor at Michigan State University, and biomechanics post-doctoral student Dr. Justin Scott have developed the world’s first Smart Wheelchair. Current wheelchair designs have a limited range of adjustment, often only allowing users to recline by tilting the seat back rearward. However, these designs are often inadequate to treat pressure …
Picture the breathtaking aerial view of Victoria Falls in Zambia — watch as water falling more than 300 feet into a seemingly endless abyss comes into focus and listen to the soothing sounds of soft music playing in the background. Relax as steam billows from the waterfall that natives call Mosi-oa-Tunya, “the smoke that thunders.” Seated …
Newly published research from Michigan State University demonstrates how to evaluate soil carbon stock changes more accurately. This calculation has significant implications on measuring the actual environmental benefits of regenerative agriculture practices and economic consequences through emerging carbon markets. The findings were published in Scientific Reports, a Nature Portfolio journal. The project was led by …
Michigan State University researcher Björn Hamberger, an associate professor, and James K. Billman Jr., M.D., Endowed Professor in the College of Natural Science, have found a new use for an ancient mint plant. Michigan State University researchers, including graduate students Emily Lanier and Abigail Bryson, have conducted a comprehensive study to trace the evolution of …
PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances) are a group of man-made chemicals that have been used in a variety of everyday products since the 1940s. These products include nonstick cookware, fast-food wrappers, firefighting foam, and stain-resistant fabrics. Because of their widespread use, PFAS have made their way into our soil, drinking water, and even our blood. …
Although our farmers may feed the world, agriculture can also create waste byproducts that harm our environment. To help make farming a greener practice, Dr. Bahar Aliakbarian, an Associate Professor in the MSU Department of Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering and Director of Development and Research at the Axia Institute, is researching how the industry can …
Nanomedicines are relatively new, and we’ve only scratched the surface of their potential. “Ask the expert” articles provide information and insights from MSU scientists, researchers and scholars about national and global issues, complex research and general-interest subjects based on their areas of academic expertise and study. They may feature historical information, background, research findings or …
Michigan State University is now home to one of the nation’s newest Energy Frontier Research Centers. Led by Cheryl Kerfeld, a Professor in the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology and the MSU-DOE Plant Research Laboratory is focused on building ‘nanofactories’ inspired by natural processes found in bacterial microcompartments. These bacterial compartments house specific biochemical …
Dr. Muhammad Rabnawaz, assistant professor in the School of Packaging and professor in the Chemistry Department, is developing new ways to create plastics. Rabnawaz is researching ways to produce biodegradable plastics and recycle polymers. He utilized resources at the MSU Innovation Center to assist on the technological side of his work and stated that the …
