A newly published study from the University of Guam sheds light on a tiny but powerful ally in the soil and how it could help Guam farmers and growers protect their crops naturally. Published on Dec. 11, 2025, in the journal Frontiers in Plant Science, the study was conducted by Dr. Richard R. Singh, an assistant professor of sustainable plant production, and soil chemist Clancy Iyekar of the agInnovation Research Center under UOG Land Grant. The study focuses on nematodes — microscopic roundworms in soil that are poorly documented in Guam — specifically exploring how certain “good” nematodes may help control the harmful ones that damage crops.

A growing body of research suggests that combining biochar with other soil amendments such as compost, manure, or fertilizers may improve soil health more effectively than using biochar alone. A new review synthesizing field studies from around the world shows that this co-application approach can enhance soil structure, nutrient availability, and microbial activity, offering a promising strategy for sustainable land management.

A new study examining 13 years of ground motion data from sites near the Cascadia Subduction Zone shows that the entirety of the fault may not be as tightly locked as researchers thought, which could change our understanding of how a big earthquake might hit the Pacific Northwest.

An Osaka Metropolitan University-led research team used hourly precipitation data from 1981 to 2020 and spatial modeling to predict extreme precipitation events for the next 100 years in Japan.

Insects play a critical role in ecosystems, but because they are rarely preserved as fossils it’s hard to study their part in the ecosystems of the distant past. Rare inclusions of multiple insects in amber, which is fossilized tree resin, provide a priceless opportunity to learn more about insects in past geological eras. But were these insects trapped together really preying on each other, parasitizing each other, cooperating — or just in the wrong place in the wrong time? To investigate, researchers analyze six pieces of amber containing fossilized ants from as far back as the Cretaceous.