New problems in US farmers' war against weeds

+ mask guidance from an engineer; 5G and airplanes US Edition - Today's top story: The herbicide dicamba was supposed to solve farmers' weed problems – instead, it's making farming harder for many of them [View in browser]( US Edition | 26 January 2022 [The Conversation]( An article written by environmental historian Bart Elmore of The Ohio State University brings into focus how reliant the U.S. food system is on chemical pesticides. His story, based on his recent book on the history of Monsanto, explains the [problems posed by the herbicide dicamba](, which spreads readily, drifting from one farmer’s land to another’s crops. “I see dicamba drift as a symptom of a larger petrochemical dependency that threatens the viability of the U.S. food system,” writes Elmore, who describes how current practices have locked farmers into a chemical arms race. The idea of removing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and storing it underground is not new, but the need for viable carbon removal technologies grows more urgent as greenhouse gas levels continue to rise. A research scientist who studies carbon-mitigating technologies explains how [offshore wind generation could be combined with carbon sequestration](. By now, we’ve all heard of mRNA vaccines, which had been in development for decades before becoming a critical piece in the global pandemic response. The core technology, though, has potential for use against a wide range of illnesses, including cancer. University of Washington microbiologist Deborah Fuller, who studies RNA- and DNA-based vaccines, explains [where researchers are looking to apply this technology next](. Also in this week’s science and research news: - [The Tonga eruption sent pressure waves around the globe]( - [Four experts on when pandemics end]( - [Brain research points to connection between pain, breathing and anxiety]( If there’s a subject you’d like our team of science editors to investigate, please reply to this email. Martin La Monica Director of Editorial Projects and Newsletters Soybean plants on an Arkansas farm. Those at left show signs of damage from dicamba; others at right were planted later in the season. Washington Post via Getty Images [The herbicide dicamba was supposed to solve farmers’ weed problems – instead, it’s making farming harder for many of them]( Bart Elmore, The Ohio State University Farmers are stuck in a chemical war against weeds, which have developed resistance to many widely used herbicides. Seed companies’ answer – using more varied herbicides – is causing new problems. The U.S. had seven operating offshore wind turbines with 42 megawatts of capacity in 2021. The Biden administration’s goal is 30,000 megawatts by 2030. AP Photo/Michael Dwyer [Offshore wind farms could help capture carbon from air and store it long-term – using energy that would otherwise go to waste]( David Goldberg, Columbia University Wind turbines often can produce more power than is needed for electricity onshore. That extra energy could be put to work capturing and storing carbon. Nucleic acid vaccines use mRNA to give cells instructions on how to produce a desired protein. Libre de Droit/iStock via Getty Images [How mRNA and DNA vaccines could soon treat cancers, HIV, autoimmune disorders and genetic diseases]( Deborah Fuller, University of Washington DNA and mRNA vaccines produce a different kind of immune response than traditional vaccines, allowing researchers to tackle some previously unsolvable problems in medicine. - [Tonga eruption was so intense, it caused the atmosphere to ring like a bell]( Kevin Hamilton, University of Hawaii A phenomenon first theorized over 200 years ago is also a telltale sign of nuclear tests. - [What is the best mask for COVID-19? A mechanical engineer explains the science after 2 years of testing masks in his lab]( Christian L'Orange, Colorado State University The CDC’s updated mask guidelines say that cloth masks offer the least protection from COVID-19. Differences in the materials masks are made from and the ways they fit are the reason. - [Beavers offer lessons about managing water in a changing climate, whether the challenge is drought or floods]( Christine E. Hatch, UMass Amherst Beavers in our landscapes have great potential to provide small-scale adaptations to climate change – if humans can figure out how to live with them. - [How 5G puts airplanes at risk – an electrical engineer explains]( Prasenjit Mitra, Penn State Airplanes use radio waves to determine how far off the ground they are. New 5G cellphone services come close to the same frequencies the airplanes use. Here’s how that can be a problem. - [When will the COVID-19 pandemic end? 4 essential reads on past pandemics and what the future could bring]( Maggie Villiger, The Conversation None of our authors can see the future, but many do have expertise that offers insights about what’s reasonable to expect. - [Pain and anxiety are linked to breathing in mouse brains – suggesting a potential target to prevent opioid overdose deaths]( Sung Han, University of California San Diego; Shijia Liu, University of California San Diego Opioids can cause death by slowing breathing to dangerously low levels, or stopping it altogether. Examining one area of the brain may eventually lead to safer painkillers. - [ShakeAlert earthquake warnings can give people time to protect themselves – but so far, few have actually done so]( Dare A. {NAME}, University of Oregon When researchers look at CCTV footage of how people really react during earthquakes – as opposed to what they report after the fact – it looks like alerts aren’t yet inspiring protective action. Like this newsletter? You might be interested in our other weekly emails: [Politics Weekly]( • [This Week in Religion]( • [Weekly Highlights]( Enjoy reading The Conversation? 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