The research team of Xu Yan and Hongxia Li from Jilin University systematically reviewed the fundamental theories and latest breakthroughs in optical biosensors for pesticide detection. Their work offers new ideas for tackling pesticide residue monitoring challenges. This review thoroughly covers key optical sensing techniques, including fluorescence (FL), colorimetry (CL), surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS), surface plasmon resonance (SPR), and chemiluminescence. It also examines the working mechanisms of various molecular recognition elements, such as enzymes, antibodies, aptamers, molecularly imprinted polymers (MIPs), and supramolecular host–guest complexes.

Plants must extract water from the soil through their roots – overcoming the resistance of the capillary forces that retain the water in the soil.

Model calculations indicate these capillary forces rise very rapidly once the soil pores start to dry out. A plant’s suction capacity fails when the pores in the soil are nearly empty.

These results explain why efforts to develop drought-resistant plants have so far failed.

A research team has revealed an overlooked climate feedback near intensive livestock farms: ammonia (NH₃) from pig production can significantly increase soil nitrous oxide (N₂O) emissions.