Montpellier, France, tests control of tiger mosquitoes by releasing 200,000 X-ray-sterilized males weekly

Montpellier, France, is testing a mosquito control strategy that does not rely on chemical insecticides by releasing X-ray-sterilized sterile male tiger mosquitoes, in response to the spread of tiger mosquitoes and the associated disease transmission risks. The trial has been underway since 2025 in the Malbosc residential area of Montpellier. This area is suitable for tiger mosquito breeding, and the trial team releases sterile male tiger mosquitoes at approximately 30 release points twice a week, about 100,000 per release, equivalent to roughly 200,000 per week across an area of about 50 hectares. The method is based on the sterile insect technique. Since only female mosquitoes bite and suck blood and may transmit viruses, and females typically mate only once in their lifetime, researchers release male mosquitoes that have lost their reproductive capacity after X-ray treatment into the wild to mate with wild females. The eggs subsequently laid by females fail to fertilize normally, thereby reducing the next generation of mosquito populations.

2026-08-03

Russian research team reveals submicroscopic pore structure of chernozem using ion beam scanning electron microscopy

Researchers at the Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology and their collaborators have recently used focused ion beam scanning electron microscopy (FIB-SEM) to perform detailed characterization of the microstructure of chernozem soil samples. The study shows that this technique can identify pores smaller than 1 micron, pore morphology, and specific organic components in soil, providing a new observational tool for understanding the mechanisms of chernozem fertility formation and maintenance. The research was supported by a grant from the Russian Science Foundation and published in the 17th series "Soil Science" of the Moscow University Bulletin. Soil science research typically requires extending from the field scale to the microscopic scale. Computed tomography (CT) has been widely used to...

2026-08-03

Yunnan Caiyunhui Innovation Competition Semifinals Conclude, Irradiation Technology Application Projects Debut

On July 29, the semifinals of the 2026 Caiyunhui Innovation Competition Yunnan Division, themed "Caiyunhui, Win the Future," concluded at Kunming City College. The semifinals covered five industry sectors: next-generation information technology, biomedicine, high-end equipment manufacturing, new materials, new energy, and energy conservation and environmental protection, with 301 enterprises from Yunnan Province advancing to the semifinals. In terms of participant composition, 111 enterprises were in next-generation information technology and 104 in biomedicine, with these two categories accounting for over 70% of the total semifinalists, making them the key tracks of this year's Yunnan Division. In the startup group, projects in next-generation information technology and biomedicine rose to 67%, reflecting that local science and technology innovation projects in Yunnan are extending from traditional industry tracks to emerging industry tracks.

2026-08-01

A series of national standards for agricultural product irradiation processes compiled by China General Nuclear Technology were officially released

Recently, the State Administration for Market Regulation (Standardization Administration of China) issued an announcement officially approving the release of the GB/T 18525 "Irradiation Processing of Agricultural Products" series of national sta

2026-07-27

IAEA Supports Nicaragua in Enhancing Agricultural Health and Food Security through Nuclear Technology

The Institute for Agricultural Protection and Health (IPSA) of Nicaragua recently hosted an official visit by Raúl Ramírez García, Head of the Division for Latin America and the Caribbean at the International Atomic Energy

2026-07-27

The Institute of Modern Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, has made progress in developing heat-tolerant industrial lactic acid bacteria strains via heavy-ion beam mutagenesis.

Recently, researchers from the Institute of Modern Physics of the Chinese Academy of Sciences and the National Key Laboratory of Heavy Ion Science and Technology relied on the carbon ion beam provided by the Lanzhou Heavy Ion Research Facility (31111.02.H

2026-07-27

Kazakhstan advances the use of radiation technology for agricultural preservation and advanced wastewater treatment.

Sayabek Sakhiyev, Director of the Institute of Nuclear Physics of Kazakhstan, recently stated that radiation technology holds promise for helping Kazakhstan reduce post-harvest losses, extend the shelf life of agricultural products, and facilitate advance

2026-07-27

Seychelles Leverages Nuclear Technology to Improve Soil Management and Boost Fruit and Vegetable Production Capacity

With the support of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), researchers in Seychelles are collaborating with policymakers and farmers to utilize nuclear and isotopic techniques. These methods aim to improve soil nutrient and water management, there

2026-07-27

IAEA Supports Nicaragua in Enhancing Agricultural Health and Food Security through Nuclear Technology

The Nicaraguan Institute for Agricultural Protection and Health (IPSA) recently hosted an official visit from Raúl Ramírez García, Director of the Technical Cooperation Division for Latin America and the Caribbean at the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). The meeting, chaired by IPSA Executive Director Ricardo Somarriba Reyes, focused on agricultural health, food safety, and the application of nuclear science and technology in agriculture. During the working session, both parties reaffirmed Nicaragua's continued participation in national and regional cooperation projects as a member of the Agreement for the Promotion of Nuclear Science and Technology Cooperation in Latin America and the Caribbean (ARCAL). The core objective of such projects is to...

2026-07-09