Scientists have developed a more accessible and cost-effective method for determining biologically active phosphorus in soil, which is linked to microbial activity. This new approach will help study soil fertility more efficiently and make better use of limited phosphorus resources in agriculture.
A new study has shown that plants are capable of absorbing minerals directly from atmospheric dust through their leaves, which is especially important for ecosystems with nutrient-poor soils. In some regions, this aerial pathway provides up to 17% of the nutrients that plants need.
UNSW engineers have achieved a breakthrough in quantum computing by enabling isolated atomic nuclei to interact at the scale of modern microchips. This paves the way for building scalable quantum computers using existing technologies.