The article highlights groundbreaking research conducted at Edith Cowan University, where scientists have discovered an innovative way to extend the storage life of mangoes by up to 28 days. Led by Dr Mekhala Vithana, the study reveals that dipping mangoes in ozonated water for 10 minutes before cold storage significantly reduces chilling injury and extends shelf life.

Mango lovers rejoice! The research is a game-changer for growers and traders alike, as it reduces food loss during storage and provides a longer market window. With the global demand for fruits and vegetables on the rise, this eco-friendly technology could minimize post-harvest losses of mangoes and reduce waste in Australia.

Traditionally, mangoes are stored at 13 degrees Celsius for up to 14 days, but this temperature is not cold enough to prevent chilling injury. Prolonged storage below 12.5 degrees causes physiological disorders that damage the fruit skin and lead to decreased marketability and significant food waste.

The study tested aqueous ozonation technology on Australia’s most widely produced mango variety, Kensington Pride, and found that dipping the mango in ozonated water for 10 minutes prior to cold storage at 5 degrees Celsius extended shelf life up to 28 days with much less chilling injury. This breakthrough could revolutionize the way we store mangoes and reduce food waste.

Dr Vithana emphasizes that aqueous ozonation is a cost-effective, controlled-on-site technology that can be used in commercial settings. The researchers hope to conduct further studies on other varieties of mangoes to test their responsiveness and achieve further reduction in chilling injury for extended cold storage.

As we continue to explore innovative solutions to reduce food waste, the ozone secret could hold the key to extending mango storage life by 28 days, benefiting both growers and consumers alike.

The Fiji ant plant, Squamellaria, has long been studied for its remarkable ability to form symbiotic relationships with ants. But what makes this relationship truly unique is the way the plant provides separate “condos” for each ant species, preventing conflicts that could arise from competition for resources. Researchers from Washington University in St. Louis and Durham University in the United Kingdom have made a groundbreaking discovery about the secrets behind this harmonious coexistence.

The study, published in Science, reveals that compartmentalization is the key to mitigating conflicts between unrelated symbionts. By creating separate chambers within its tubers, Squamellaria prevents ant colonies from coming into contact with each other, thereby reducing competition for resources and eliminating deadly conflicts.

“We were able to visualize directly what theory has long predicted – that unrelated partners would conflict by competing for host resources,” said Susanne S. Renner, senior author of the study. “But here we also have a simple, highly effective evolutionary strategy to mitigate these conflicts: compartmentalization.”

The researchers used computed-tomography scanning and 3D modeling to visualize the tubers’ internal structure and understand how the plant enables multiple ant species to live together in harmony. They found that removing the partition walls between the chambers resulted in immediate conflict and high worker mortality, emphasizing the importance of compartmentalization.

This discovery has significant implications for our understanding of symbiotic relationships and the ecology and evolution of species interactions. It highlights the remarkable ability of Squamellaria to adapt to its environment and form mutually beneficial relationships with ants, even when faced with conflicting interests.

The study’s findings also shed light on a long-standing problem in ecological theory – how unrelated partners can form long-term mutualistic relationships despite competing for host resources. By providing separate compartments, Squamellaria has evolved an effective solution to this problem, allowing multiple ant species to coexist peacefully and benefiting from each other’s presence.

In conclusion, the tiny condos of Fiji’s ant plant have unlocked a secret to harmonious coexistence among unrelated symbionts, offering new insights into the complex relationships between species.

The human body begins as a single cell that multiplies and differentiates into thousands of specialized cells. Researchers at the Göttingen Campus Institute for Dynamics of Biological Networks (CIDBN) and the Max Planck Institute have made a groundbreaking discovery: embryonic cells “listen” to each other through molecular mechanisms previously known only from hearing.

Using an interdisciplinary approach combining developmental genetics, brain research, hearing research, and theoretical physics, the researchers found that in thin layers of skin, cells register the movements of their neighboring cells and synchronize their own tiny movements with those of the others. This coordination allows groups of neighboring cells to pull together with greater force, making them highly sensitive and able to respond quickly and flexibly.

The researchers created computer models of tissue development, which showed that this “whispering” among neighboring cells leads to an intricate choreography of the entire tissue, protecting it from external forces. These findings were confirmed by video recordings of embryonic development and further experiments.

Dr. Matthias Häring, group leader at the CIDBN, explained that using AI methods and computer-assisted analysis allowed them to examine about a hundred times more cell pairs than was previously possible in this field, giving their results high accuracy.

The mechanisms revealed in embryonic development are also known to play a role in hearing, where hair cells convert sound waves into nerve signals. The ear is sensitive because of special proteins that convert mechanical forces into electrical currents. This discovery suggests that such sensors of force may have evolved from our single-celled ancestors, which emerged long before the origin of animal life.

Professor Fred Wolf, Director of the CIDBN, noted that future work should determine whether the original function of these cellular “nanomachines” was to perceive forces inside the body rather than perceiving the outside world. This phenomenon could provide insights into how force perception at a cellular level has evolved.