Posts

Biodiversity alert: surrounding human pressure prevents many potentially present species from settling in suitable environments. Photo: P. L. Tandon Attribution - Noncommercial - Share alike 2.0 Generic CC BY-NC-SA 2.0 DeedP. L. Tandon Attribution - Noncommercial - Share alike 2.0 Generic CC BY-NC-SA 2.0 Deed

A silent biodiversity loss threatens the Planet

,
An international study introduces the concept of dark biodiversity, which helps to understand the completeness of an ecosystem in relation to its natural potential. The greater the human pressure, the lower the ability of the system to proliferate
Turisti in coda per visitare il villaggio di Aceredo, in Spagna, riemerso dalle acque durante la siccità del 2022. Gli eventi estremi, come le ondate di calore, possono trasformare gli ecosistemi in fonti di emissioni nette di carbonio. Foto: o_andras Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International CC BY-SA 4.0 Deedo_andras Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International CC BY-SA 4.0 Deed

Drought and extreme heat reduce carbon sequestration capacity in plants

,
Plant respiration and decomposition of organic matter increase carbon emissions offsetting additional sequestration associated with extended growing season, a study by the Autonomous University of Barcelona finds
Rocky outcrops are common in mountain ecosystems and exert a significant impact on ecosystem functions. Photo: Copyright Chris Gunns and licensed for reuse under this Creative Commons Licence Attribution-ShareAlike 2.0 Generic CC BY-SA 2.0 Deed

How rock outcrops impact soil in the mountains

,
A Chinese study describes and measures the effect of outcrops on the soil. These create specific localized “hotspots” where soil functions are enhanced. Rock size amplifies effect
Between 2005 and 2021, 6008 trees died in Helsinki Central Park: 1892 of them in the last year alone- Photo: Pekka Nikrus Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 2.0 Generic CC BY-NC-SA 2.0 DeedPekka Nikrus Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 2.0 Generic CC BY-NC-SA 2.0 Deed

More trees in urban boreal forests are getting killed by climate change

,
Trees are increasingly falling victim to certain phenomena related to global warming such as drought, heat, fire and increased pests, a Finnish research has found. The figures from Helsinki's “Central Park”
PFAS are found in many products such as firefighting foams, paints, pesticides, coatings, and food packaging. Photo: Defense Visual Information Distribution Service Public Domain Mark 1.0 Universal PDM 1.0 DeedDefense Visual Information Distribution Service Public Domain Mark 1.0 Universal PDM 1.0 Deed

Cleaning up Europe from PFAS would cost 2 trillion over 20 years

,
The estimate is included in an investigation coordinated by the French newspaper Le Monde into the spread of PFAS in the Continent. Producers' lobby under attack
In tropical forests, says a study, the addition of nutrients would increase shoot biomass by 26% and growth rate by 14%. Photo: E.Morgan.Strong CC0 Public Domain Free for personal and commercial use No attribution requiredE.Morgan.Strong CC0 Public Domain Free for personal and commercial use No attribution required

Accumulation of nutrients threatens tropical forests

,
According to a study, the inflow of nutrients would eventually provide a competitive advantage to some tree species resulting in a loss of biodiversity
According to the study, freshwater wetlands boast the highest carbon sequestration potential. Photo: Doug Beckers Attribution-ShareAlike 2.0 Generic CC BY-SA 2.0 DeedAccording to the study, freshwater wetlands boast the highest carbon sequestration potential. Photo: Doug Beckers Attribution-ShareAlike 2.0 Generic CC BY-SA 2.0 Deed

A Tea Bag Tells the Story of Carbon Sequestration in Wetlands

,
An unusual experiment sheds light on the impact of climate change on carbon capture in the Earth’s wetlands. In freshwater areas and tidal marshes lies the greatest sequestration potential 
Some soil microbes can help plants grow larger flowers thus attracting more bees. Photo: David Levinson Pexels Free to useDavid Levinson Pexels Free to use

Soil microbes help plants to attract bees

,
According to a UC Berkeley study, mycorrhizal fungi impact flower characteristics and, consequently, the number and duration of visits by bees
Soil hosts a huge number of microbes capable of producing effective antibiotics that have yet to be discovered. Photo: USDA Public Domain Mark 1.0 Universal PDM 1.0 DeedUSDA Public Domain Mark 1.0 Universal PDM 1.0 Deed

Soil is a surprising reservoir of new antibiotics

,
Soil, a Dutch study recalls, harbors a huge number of microbes capable of producing effective and as yet unknown antibiotics. Genetic investigation makes it possible to identify them
Model of vitamin B12 made by Dorothy Hodgkin (Alan Turing exhibition). The study of corrinoids, a key family of nutrients of which B12 itself is a member, enables the unraveling of relationships between microbes and soil. Photo: Paul Hudson Attribution 2.0 Generic CC BY 2.0 DeedPaul Hudson Attribution 2.0 Generic CC BY 2.0 Deed

A vitamin can decode interactions between soil microbes

,
Corrinoids, a category of nutrients to which vitamin B12 belongs, influence the functionality of soil microbiomes, two UC Berkeley studies have found

RECEIVE
OUR NEWSLETTER

It’s beneath our feet but we never think about its value. We tread on it, we mistreat it, but a healthy, fertile soil means life. It’s time to take care of the soil and each one of us can and must make a difference.

To receive updates about Re Soil Foundation activities, sign up to our newsletter.


    • Coldiretti
    • Novamont
    • Politecnico di Torino