Volcanism, volcanic ash, and its role in forest ecology and management Mark Kimsey, the Director of the Intermountain Forestry Cooperative, discusses volcanism, volcanic ash, and their roles in forest ecology and management. Plate tectonics, the Ring of Fire, and volcanism have shaped and continue to shape Earth’s landscapes, particularly along the Pacific Rim. Volcanism has shaped the skylines and landscapes of the North American Pacific Coast; depositing during eruptive events, volcanic tephra ranging in centimeters to tens of meters in depth. One particular eruptive event that dramatically changed Northwest U.S. ecological history was the repeat and final circular ring fissure eruption of Mount Mazama (known currently as Crater Lake) in southwestern Oregon State approximately 7,700 years ago (Fig. 1).

Cadmium (Cd) toxicity and its remediation through plant growth promoting bacteria This review explores how Cadmium (Cd), a toxic heavy metal that continues to pollute our environment, impacts plants and humans, and examines how plant growth-promoting bacteria (PGPB) can be used for eco-friendly remediation through multi-omics approaches. Heavy metals are defined as elements that are denser and heavier than water. Heavy metal pollution is caused by socioeconomic and industrial activities, and is considered one of the biggest environmental problems (Khalef et al., 2022; Ali et al., 2019). Another definition of heavy metal is a naturally occurring chemical element in water, soils, and rock, with a density of more than 5 g/cm3 (Nyika & Dinka, 2023).

Gut microbiome and aging –Unlocking new frontiers in healthy longevity As the population ages, research into preserving healthy longevity is gaining pace. Christian Brechot highlights the role of the gut microbiome – a complex community of microorganisms within us – in influencing health as we age. Humanity is facing what some call a ‘silver tsunami’: never before have so many people lived to such advanced ages. By 2050, more than 1.6 billion people worldwide will be over 65.Gut microbiome and aging –Unlocking new frontiers in healthy longevity

Spot farming: A novel concept for sustainable and climate-resilient crop production Prof Dr Jens Karl Wegener from the Julius Kühn Institute in Braunschweig, Germany, discusses Spot Farming, which he considers a novel concept for sustainable and climate-resilient crop production.Modern agriculture faces mounting challenges: climate change, biodiversity loss, soil degradation, resource scarcity, and shifting societal expectations. At the same time, farmers are expected to produce food that is both affordable and abundant – a demand that becomes even more difficult due to increasingly unpredictable climatic conditions. These evolving pressures are not only intensifying but also fundamentally altering the operating environment for crop production. Addressing this complexity requires more than incremental change. One widely accepted approach is Integrated Pest Management (IPM), which promotes site-specific, knowledge- driven, and preventive strategies to reduce inputs and environmental impact. Spot Farming builds on the core principles of IPM and extends them into a comprehensive, systems- level concept. It aims to optimise crop production by aligning crop management with spatial variability, ecological functionality, and long-term resilience.

Carbon capture surfaces: Supporting Canada’s agricultural sector and climate ambitions Canada is positioning itself as a global leader in carbon dioxide removal (CDR) as it addresses climate change and creates economic opportunities for farmers. Beth McDaniel, JD from Reactive Surfaces explains how. As the world accelerates its efforts to combat climate change, removing existing carbon dioxide (CO2) from the atmosphere has become an essential tool in the fight to limit global warming. According to the International Energy Agency (IEA), as of early 2025, total operational carbon capture and storage capacity worldwide is just over 50 million tonnes per year. However, direct air capture (DAC) – technologies that capture and sequester CO2 directly from ambient air – represents only a small portion of that total, with current capacity standing at approximately 10,000 tonnes per year (IEA, 2025).

Raman spectroscopy for forensics: Identifying body fluid traces and gunshot residue Here, the Department of Chemistry and the Center for Biophotonic Technology and Artificial Intelligence (CeBAI), investigates Raman spectroscopy for forensic applications, a universal technique for identifying traces of body fluids and gunshot residue. Raman spectroscopy (RS) opens a unique opportunity as a universal, rapid, confirmatory, and nondestructive method for the identification of all main body fluids for forensic purposes. In addition, the ability to differentiate between human and animal blood, as well as between peripheral and menstrual blood, was demonstrated.

Modeling and mapping forest carrying capacity Mark Kimsey, Director of the Intermountain Forestry Cooperative, discusses the modeling and mapping of forest carrying capacity, beginning with the historical context. Effective density management is crucial for maintaining the health and productivity of forested landscapes. This requires understanding the relationship between tree species, environmental factors, and the biological limit of forest carrying capacity. Nearly a century ago, Reineke (1933) argued that site resource abundance (e.g., water, nutrients, temperature) did not directly determine a forest’s capacity to support a maximum number of trees.

Asbestos: Early immune responses Ujjwal Adhikari, Kinta Serve, and Jean Pfau explain how asbestos exposure negatively affects the body’s immune response and repair mechanisms, particularly through macrophage dysfunction. They emphasize that gaining a better understanding of cellular responses to inhaled particles could help researchers discover new therapeutic strategies for addressing environmentally induced conditions.

Ovaries – The true beginning of a woman’s reproductive lifespan and healthspan The ovaries play a significant role in a female’s overall reproductive health, which can affect susceptibility to age-related conditions. Dr. Paula Benny and Adjunct Assistant Professor Zhongwei Huang from the NUS Bia-Echo Asia Centre for Reproductive Longevity and Equality discuss the factors influencing reproductive lifespan and healthspan. Each baby girl is born with her lifetime supply of eggs, which are surrounded by a layer of follicular cells nurturing the eggs’ growth and development. (1) The flattened layer of follicular cells surrounding the egg is known as the primordial follicle. This pool of primordial follicles will form the true ovarian reserve a girl will ever possess in her lifetime. In women, all primordial follicles are formed in the fetus between six and nine months of gestation. During this period, a marked loss of oocytes occurs due to apoptosis, until approximately 1-2 million ovarian follicles are left at birth. The number of primordial follicles decreases progressively because of their recruitment during ovarian folliculogenesis, where they grow and develop, but only one will be selected for ovulation each month for reproductive purposes. This happens until there are 1000 primordial follicles or less, and culminates as the clinical menopause. The decline in the number of ovarian follicles is not linear throughout a girl’s lifetime, with optimal fertility occurring during 18 to 31 years of age. This is then followed by a steep decline in the quantity and quality of ovarian follicles from 37 years of age and beyond, leading to fertility loss. Eventually, with the complete spontaneous cessation of menstrual cycles occurring at approximately 50 years of age, due to the clinical menopause, this marks the end of a woman’s reproductive lifespan and the deterioration of healthspan.

Microalgae as a novel, non-animal source of long-chain omega-3 fatty acids and vitamin D Charlotte Jacobsen and Emil Gundersen from the National Food Institute at the Technical University of Denmark emphasize the need for new plant-based sources of omega-3 fatty acids and vitamin D3, highlighting microalgae as a promising option and discussing the challenges in harnessing it. As the world population continues to expand, so will the global demand for feed and food production. To be consistent with planetary boundaries, this future production must be mainly plant-based. However, transitioning to a mainly plant-based diet poses certain nutritional challenges. The lack of long-chain omega-3 fatty acids and vitamin D in plants is one of them. These compounds have important health benefits related to brain and bone development, and their absence in our diet can have serious health consequences. Our primary dietary sources of these nutrients are fish and seafood products, chicken eggs, and animal-based oil supplements. This calls for a need to explore and develop new, non-animal sources. One alternative could be microalgae.