plants

Italy's parliament has approved a law paving the way for the country's return to nuclear energy, decades after Italians voted to abandon it following the Chernobyl disaster. The move would allow new nuclear plants as part of Italy's energy strategy, and it has revived debate over safety, costs, and the country's energy future.

Ukraine's General Staff says its forces struck a Russian defense plant that produces components for missiles. The attack targets Russia's military-industrial capacity as the war continues. Further details on damage or casualties were not immediately provided, and Russia has not yet commented on the strike.

Climate activists are protesting against AI data centers and Amazon's plan to build the largest gas power plant in the United States. Campaigners argue that the rapid expansion of artificial intelligence infrastructure is driving a surge in electricity demand that is being met with new fossil fuel plants rather than clean energy. The story highlights growing friction between the tech industry's buildout and climate commitments.

Researchers at the University of Arizona report that satellite observations show drylands worldwide are greening, but in an increasingly volatile 'boom-and-bust' pattern: bursts of vegetation growth are followed by sharp crashes. The study suggests that rising atmospheric carbon dioxide is fuelling plant growth in arid regions, yet this greening masks growing instability, with vegetation swings becoming more extreme over time.

Automakers are moving closer to so-called dark factories — plants that run entirely by machines without human workers or even lighting — as artificial intelligence and robotics improve rapidly. The idea is drawing attention in the auto industry, where manufacturers face pressure to cut costs and speed up production, while raising questions about the future of manufacturing jobs.

Scientists are examining whether species can adapt genetically quickly enough to keep pace with rapid climate change. The core concern is that rising temperatures and shifting habitats are outpacing evolutionary change for many plants and animals, raising questions about extinction risks and which species may be able to adapt in time.

Vietnamese automaker VinFast is continuing construction of its electric vehicle manufacturing plant in the United States, even as EV demand growth cools across the industry. The company is pressing forward with its American expansion while other automakers scale back or delay EV investments amid slowing sales, making its strategy a point of discussion in the auto sector.

Federal immigration agents are conducting raids at meatpacking plants in Texas, Kansas and Oklahoma. In response, cattle industry groups including the Texas Cattle Feeders Association issued a joint statement warning that these disruptions could lead to higher beef prices for consumers and shake the entire meat supply chain.

Researchers have developed a new soil test that could show how soil microbes help supply nutrients to plants. The method may improve understanding of nutrient cycling in farmland and could eventually guide more efficient fertiliser use. Details of the research, including where it was carried out and who funded it, have not been made clear in available reports.

Elon Musk and Intel are partnering on a semiconductor factory reportedly larger than the Pentagon, Apple Park and the Mall of America combined. The claim, reported by Fortune, has drawn attention for the sheer scale of the proposed facility. Few technical details about the site, cost or production timeline have been confirmed, and neither Musk nor Intel has publicly laid out specifics beyond the size comparison.

A survey reported by Plant Based News suggests most health professionals believe key plant-based foods are underrepresented in official dietary guidelines. The finding points to a gap between what practitioners recommend for healthy eating and the guidance issued by food and health authorities. The report is being shared in plant-based and nutrition communities, with many arguing that guidelines should give greater prominence to legumes, whole grains, vegetables and other plant foods.

Algae levels have dropped along Israel's Mediterranean coast, but desalination plants remain only partially operational. Authorities had curtailed the plants after algal blooms threatened intake systems, raising concerns about the country's water supply, which relies heavily on desalination. Reports indicate conditions are improving, though full capacity has not yet been restored.

Researchers at the New York Botanical Garden have published a series of papers in the journal Plants, People, Planet arguing that growing threats to plant diversity are narrowing the options for building healthier, more resilient food systems. The papers explain why food plant diversity matters and set out a vision for collaboration between scientists, growers and communities to protect it. The warning highlights how the loss of crop varieties and wild relatives could undermine global food security.

Georgia's greenhouse gas emissions are projected to increase following the repeal of an Environmental Protection Agency rule, according to reporting carried by multiple regional outlets including the Savannah Morning News and The State. The rollback would ease federal limits on power plant pollution, with potential consequences for air quality and the state's climate commitments.