
It takes a little empathy to fight deforestation
Sustainability Times: deforestation is perceived by many as a distant and uninvolving issue. The solution? Building empathy through the digital experience provided by virtual reality

Tropical plants provide a solution for heavy metal-contaminated soils
According to a study by NTU Singapore twelve plants proven effective in phytoremediation of soils contaminated with cadmium, arsenic, lead and chromium. The findings confirm the potential of nature-based -interventions

Artificial intelligence can reduce fertilizer use, UK researchers say
Artificial intelligence allows to predict the trend of nitrogen levels in soil, avoiding fertilizer overuse and related environmental damage according to Imperial College London

Oil-eating mushrooms bring contaminated soil back to life
U.S. researchers test the ability of mushrooms to absorb and break down soil contaminants. A strategy to restore land by reducing the weight of waste

FAO, NASA and Google join forces to beat deforestation through data power
FAO announces the launch of a Data Partnership to tackle deforestation. The initiative is based on geospatial information, which is being increasingly used in recent years to monitor soil and risk areas.

Low cost technology helps African farmers to measure carbon in soil
In Malawi, a $400 calibrated reflectometer has allowed to record the carbon concentration in soil. A key step for better managing agricultural land

Soil bacteria from a volcano bring new hope for cancer treatment
Scientists from the University of Los Baños have isolated 30 bacteria species found at the Mayon volcano, in the north of the country. One of them seems to have relevant antibiotic and antitumor properties.

Jericho: an Italian team invents a machine to analyze and treat sick soils
The invention is exhibited in the Italian Pavilion at the Venice Biennale: the terraforming device, designed by the OFL Architecture studio, detects the amount of CO2 in the soil and then injects the biological fertilizers necessary to re-naturalize the soils lacking their original production capacity

Smartphones and drones help indigenous communities fight deforestation
Thanks to drones and satellite technology, the Peruvian Amazon has halved the deforestation of indigenous lands in one year.

In Japan a DNA test unveals the secrets of soil nematodes
Genetic testing also works with nematodes, which are crucial for ecosystem. A new study from offers new perspectives for the study of soil