Maize production has increased nearly six-fold over the past six decades, but reactive nitrogen losses from maize fields have risen by a similar magnitude. A new study published in Science Bulletin argues that the next step in maize improvement must link yield gains with lower environmental costs.

The researchers introduced the concept of green and efficient, or G&E, maize varieties. These varieties are defined as relative to locally adapted conventional control varieties under comparable management, simultaneously increase grain yield while reducing at least one category of environmental input or reactive loss.

By integrating genetic evidence, reported varieties, field observations and global soil and climate data, the authors found that existing G&E maize varieties already increase yield and nitrogen utilization efficiency respectively by 10.1% and 16.7% on average. Under an ideal full-adoption scenario, such varieties could raise global maize production by 18.1% and reduce reactive nitrogen losses by 26.6%.

For children born with cleft lip and palate, repairing gaps in the jawbone often means waiting until they are 10 to 12 years old before undergoing invasive bone graft surgery. University of Sydney researchers have developed a biodegradable ‘nanobone’ material that allows the body to harness its own healing properties to regrow bone, offering a potential future alternative to procedures that have changed little in more than 50 years. 

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