Author: WeWorldMedia-admin

Conserving the white oak: Critical for timber and distilling industries

Published: 21 March 2025
Categories: National Science Foundation

RSS feed source: National Science Foundation

Credit: Donald Cameron

Leaves of the white oak (Quercus alba) U.S. National Science Foundation-funded researchers at Indiana University and Penn State have collaborated with scientists from the U.S. Forest Service and others to produce the first complete genome for the white oak (Quercus alba). This tree provides large amounts of timber and is the primary species used in barrels for aging spirits.

Data to complete the genome came from a range of academic sources, such as the Forest Service, state forests and industry. By combining those data into an unbiased annotation of the white oak’s genes, the researchers have created a resource to understand genetic diversity and population differentiation within the species, assess disease resistance and the evolution of genes that enhance it, and compare with other oak genomes to determine evolutionary relationships between species and how the genomes have evolved.

“Plants, including trees, help meet society’s needs for food, fuel, fiber and, in this case, other key economic services. Having genomic data like this helps us address important biological questions, including those related to the economic and societal use of the species,” said Diane Jofuku Okamuro, a program officer in the NSF Directorate for Biological Sciences.

The research included the use of the NSF-supported CAGEE (computational analysis of gene expression evolution) software. The

Click this link to continue reading the article on the source website.

U.S. ethane production, consumption, and exports set new records in 2024

Published: 20 March 2025
Categories: US Energy Information Administration

RSS feed source: National Science Foundation

In-brief analysis

March 20, 2025

U.S. ethane production, consumption, and exports reached record highs in 2024, according to recent data from our Petroleum Supply Monthly. Increasing ethane recovery associated with natural gas production and continued growth in the domestic and global petrochemical sectors drove these increases.

U.S. ethane production rose 7% to average a record 2.8 million barrels per day (b/d) in 2024, driven by increased ethane recovery in the Permian Basin. In the United States, almost all ethane is recovered at natural gas processing plants, which remove ethane and other natural gas plant liquids (NGPL) from raw natural gas. The Texas Inland and New Mexico refining districts, which span the Permian Basin, accounted for 63% of all U.S. ethane production in 2024, up from 61% in 2023. Production in those districts averaged 1.8 million b/d, up

Click this link to continue reading the article on the source website.

Radiactive Waste Facility Taken Over

Published: 19 March 2025
Categories: IAEA

RSS feed source: National Science Foundation

Radiactive Waste Facility Taken Over

Print View Posted on: 19 March 2025

Event Date: 02 March 2025 Event Type: Radiation Waste Facility Event Location: Mexico, Temascalapa, Mexico State, Mexico INES Rating: 0 (Final)

On Sunday March the 2nd, 2025, at approximately 6:30 AM (UTC-06:00), personnel from the municipality of Temascalapa forcibly took over the Low and Medium Level Radioactive Waste Storage Center (CADER), property of the National Institute of Nuclear Research (ININ), evicting the personnel who were at the facility and subsequently placing seals of closure at the entrances. The video surveillance and environmental radiation monitoring systems that CADER has were disabled and there was no way to know the status inside the Center.
Negotiations took place out between personnel from the government of the State of Mexico and the Municipality of Temascalapa, without reaching agreements so far.
In addition to the radioactive material and depleted uranium that are kept in the facility, work tools from a foreign company were also retained inside it.
Federal Authorities were working to regain control of the facility. The source term of the facility is estimated at approximately 1,041.55 TBq of Co-60 and its surface area is

Click this link to continue reading the article on the source website.