Ramanujan’s elegant formulas for calculating pi, developed more than a century ago, have unexpectedly resurfaced at the heart of modern physics. Researchers at IISc discovered that the same mathematical structures behind these formulas also describe real-world phenomena like turbulence, percolation, and even black holes. What once seemed like pure mathematics now appears deeply intertwined with the physical laws governing the universe.

A museum visit sparked a revelation when a Roman glass cup was turned around and its overlooked markings came into focus. These symbols, once dismissed as decoration, appear to be workshop identifiers used by teams of skilled artisans. The findings challenge centuries of assumptions about how Roman glass was made. They also restore identity and agency to the anonymous makers behind these stunning objects.

Over 8,000 years ago, early farming communities in northern Mesopotamia were already thinking mathematically—long before numbers were written down. By closely studying Halafian pottery, researchers uncovered floral and plant designs arranged with precise symmetry and numerical patterns, revealing a surprisingly advanced sense of geometry.

Scientists have digitally reconstructed the face of a 1.5-million-year-old Homo erectus fossil from Ethiopia, uncovering an unexpectedly primitive appearance. While its braincase fits with classic Homo erectus, the face and teeth resemble much older human ancestors. This discovery challenges long-held ideas about where and how Homo erectus evolved. It also hints at a complex web of migrations and possible mixing between early human species.

Cells may generate their own electrical signals through microscopic membrane motions. Researchers show that active molecular processes can create voltage spikes similar to those used by neurons. These signals could help drive ion transport and explain key biological functions. The work may also guide the design of intelligent, bio-inspired materials.

A newly developed AI can predict which diseases specific genetic mutations are likely to cause, not just whether they are harmful. The breakthrough could speed up diagnoses and open new paths for personalized treatment.

Cases of colorectal cancer in younger adults are climbing worldwide, driven by lifestyle changes and inherited genetic risks. Diet, obesity, and lack of early screening are playing a major role in this shift. New genetic tests offer hope for earlier detection, but access and awareness lag behind. Health experts say urgent action is needed to reverse the trend.

Scientists are uncovering a surprising way to influence bacteria—not by killing them, but by changing how they communicate. Researchers studying oral bacteria found that disrupting chemical signals used in bacterial “conversations” can shift dental plaque toward healthier, less harmful communities. The discovery could open the door to new treatments that prevent disease by maintaining a balanced microbiome rather than wiping bacteria out entirely.

Physicists have found a clever way to detect the elusive Unruh effect without extreme accelerations. By using atoms that emit light cooperatively between mirrors, acceleration subtly shifts when a powerful light burst appears. That early flash acts like a timestamped signature of the effect. The method could make once-theoretical physics experimentally reachable.

A new genetic mapping strategy reveals how entire networks of genes work together to cause disease, filling in the missing links left by traditional genetic studies. The technique could transform how scientists identify drug targets for complex conditions.

A rare, ultra-long earthquake in Myanmar revealed that mature faults can deliver their full force directly to the surface. The discovery could mean stronger shaking near faults like California’s San Andreas than current models predict.

Farm Foundation announces two new cohorts that reflect its continued investment in developing future leaders across food, agriculture, and agricultural policy. The January 2026 Cultivators cohort and the 2026 USDA Economic Research Service (ERS) Agricultural Scholars cohort represent students from institutions nationwide who will engage with Farm Foundation programs in distinct yet complementary ways.

The Cultivator Program provides an exclusive opportunity for outstanding undergraduate and graduate students in agriculture to engage directly with senior leaders and policy discussions shaping the future of the food and agriculture system. Cultivators attend the Round Table and present their research alongside industry, government, and nonprofit executives.

Farm Foundation offers two Cultivators cohorts each year, with each cohort aligned to one of the organization’s biannual Round Table meetings. The January 2026 Cultivators cohort will participate in the Farm Foundation Round Table held January 14–16, 2026, in El Paso, Texas.

January 2026 Cultivators Cohort

• Freweyni Abrha– University of Maryland Eastern Shore
• Vera Adabrah-Danquah – Kansas State University
• Dawood Atta – University of Florida
• Jacob Lionberger – University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
• Menglin Liu – University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
• Marisol Olivas – New Mexico State University
• Kimberly Okpah – University of Maryland Eastern Shore
• Yi Wang – Purdue University

Through the Cultivator Program, participants gain exposure to high-level dialogue on emerging agricultural issues while building professional networks with leaders across the public and private sectors.

Learn more about the Cultivator Program

---

2026 USDA Economic Research Service Agricultural Scholars

Farm Foundation, in collaboration with the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Economic Research Service (ERS), also announces the 2026 Agricultural Scholars cohort. This fully funded, 12-month professional development program is designed for graduate students pursuing agricultural economics or related agricultural policy fields.

The Agricultural Scholars Program provides immersive, hands-on exposure to applied policy and economic analysis. Scholars work closely with ERS senior analysts while developing a deeper understanding of agricultural policy, commodity markets, agricultural finance, and related disciplines.

Scholar Experience

During the program year, Scholars will:

• Partner with an ERS senior analyst for year-long mentorship
• Conduct and present capstone research to ERS economists and receive expert feedback
• Participate in Farm Foundation Forums held virtually throughout the year
• Engage with senior leaders across agribusiness, government, and trade associations

Scholars will also attend several flagship events, including:

• Farm Foundation Round Table – January 14–16, 2026 (El Paso, TX)
• USDA Agricultural Outlook Forum – February 19–20, 2026
• AAEA Annual Meeting – July 26–28, 2026 (Kansas City, MO)
• WASDE/Capstone Trip – October/November 2026 (Washington, D.C.), including visits to USDA, Capitol Hill, agribusinesses, and commodity groups

2026 Agricultural Scholars Cohort

• Eric Belleville – The Ohio State University (AEDE)
• Hence Duncan – Oklahoma State University
• Elizabeth Dworkin – Iowa State University
• Parthu Kalva – University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
• Asa Dolbow Vann – Purdue University

The Agricultural Scholars Program seeks to deepen participants’ understanding of production agriculture, agribusiness, and government, strengthening the pipeline of future agricultural economists and policy leaders.

Learn more about the Agricultural Scholars Program and individual profiles

The post Announcing the Farm Foundation January 2026 Cultivators and 2026 Agricultural Scholars Cohorts appeared first on Farm Foundation.

Ethanol industry highlights ethanol deficit in Chinese purchases under Phase One Agreement as USTR reviews compliance.

WASHINGTON, D.C.—As the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) heard testimony today on its Section 301 investigation into China’s implementation of the Phase One trade agreement, Growth Energy’s written comments highlighted significant shortfalls in Chinese purchases of U.S. ethanol and other agricultural commodities, and urged the administration to ensure Beijing is held to its commitments to American farmers and biofuel producers.

“The Trump Administration is right to closely scrutinize China’s failure to meet its agricultural purchase commitments,” said Growth Energy CEO Emily Skor. “America’s ethanol producers and corn growers stood ready to deliver on the market access promised under Phase One. When China committed to substantial agricultural purchases, our industry invested and prepared accordingly. We appreciate USTR’s leadership in examining these shortfalls and look forward to working with the administration to ensure American ethanol producers receive the fair treatment and market access they deserve.”

In comments submitted to USTR’s Section 301 investigation, Growth Energy detailed major gaps between China’s commitments and actual purchases:

Overall Agricultural Shortfalls:

• China’s agricultural purchases reached only 82 percent of committed levels in 2020 and 84 percent in 2021.

• Total agricultural gap: $12 billion below Phase One commitments.

• The additional $5 billion per year China agreed to “strive for” never materialized.

Ethanol-Specific Deficits:

• China was the third largest export market for U.S. ethanol in 2016

• U.S. ethanol exports to China fell 39 percent below the 2017 baseline in 2020, despite China committing to a 64 percent increase in overall agricultural purchases.

• Estimated cumulative ethanol purchase deficit: $88.6 million during the Phase One implementation period.

• Since 2021, ethanol exports to China have essentially disappeared.

Signed in January 2020, the Phase One agreement committed China to $32 billion in additional agricultural purchases over two years above 2017 levels. Although the agreement did not specify commodity-specific targets, ethanol was explicitly included as an eligible agricultural product.

Growth Energy represents 97 U.S. ethanol plants producing 9.5 billion gallons annually, along with 130 associated businesses. Its members are among the nation’s leading exporters, supporting nearly two billion gallons of ethanol exports to more than 60 countries worldwide.

Growth Energy’s complete comments to USTR are available here.

The post Growth Energy Urges Swift Action on China’s Unfulfilled Agricultural Purchases appeared first on Growth Energy.

A new theory proposes that the universe’s fundamental forces and particle properties may arise from the geometry of hidden extra dimensions. These dimensions could twist and evolve over time, forming stable structures that generate mass and symmetry breaking on their own. The approach may even explain cosmic expansion and predict a new particle. It hints at a universe built entirely from geometry.

Consciousness evolved in stages, starting with basic survival responses like pain and alarm, then expanding into focused awareness and self-reflection. These layers help organisms avoid danger, learn from the environment, and coordinate socially. Surprisingly, birds show many of these same traits, from subjective perception to basic self-awareness. This suggests consciousness is far older and more widespread than once believed.

Around 1,000 years ago, a major climate shift reshaped rainfall across the South Pacific, making western islands like Samoa and Tonga drier while eastern islands such as Tahiti became increasingly wet. New evidence from plant waxes preserved in island sediments shows this change coincided with the final major wave of Polynesian expansion eastward. As freshwater became scarcer in the west and more abundant in the east, people may have been pushed to migrate, effectively “chasing the rain” across vast stretches of ocean.

Giant mosasaurs, once thought to be strictly ocean-dwelling predators, may have spent their final chapter prowling freshwater rivers alongside dinosaurs and crocodiles. A massive tooth found in North Dakota, analyzed using chemical isotope techniques, reveals that some mosasaurs adapted to river systems as seas gradually freshened near the end of the age of dinosaurs. These enormous reptiles, possibly as long as a bus, appear to have hunted near the surface, perhaps even feeding on drowned dinosaurs.

Researchers discovered a hidden molecular “switch” that herpes viruses rely on to invade cells. By combining AI, simulations, and lab experiments, they identified and altered a single amino acid that shut down viral entry. What once might have taken years was achieved far faster using computational tools. The findings open new possibilities for designing future antiviral treatments.

Hot Jupiters were once cosmic oddities, but unraveling how they moved so close to their stars has remained a stubborn mystery. Scientists have long debated whether these giants were violently flung inward or peacefully drifted through their birth disks. A new approach from researchers in Tokyo cracks open this puzzle by using the timescale of orbital circularization as a diagnostic.

Researchers in Sweden have unveiled a way to create high-performance electronic electrodes using nothing more than visible light and specially designed water-soluble monomers. This gentle, chemical-free approach lets conductive plastics form directly on surfaces ranging from glass to textiles to living skin, enabling surprisingly versatile electronic and medical applications.