plants

Italy's parliament has approved a law paving the way for the country's return to nuclear energy, decades after Italians voted to abandon it following the Chernobyl disaster. The move would allow new nuclear plants as part of Italy's energy strategy, and it has revived debate over safety, costs, and the country's energy future.

Ukraine struck a Russian facility linked to the production of Kh-101 cruise missiles and the Oreshnik ballistic missile, with newly released satellite images showing visible damage at the site. The strike targets a key node in Russia's long-range weapons manufacturing, and observers are sharing imagery to assess how badly production capacity was affected.

Ukraine's General Staff says its forces struck a Russian defense plant that produces components for missiles. The attack targets Russia's military-industrial capacity as the war continues. Further details on damage or casualties were not immediately provided, and Russia has not yet commented on the strike.

Automakers are exploring a pivot into defence manufacturing, repurposing pickup production lines and idle plants to build military hardware as a buffer against weak civilian demand. The idea of car factories serving a global defence boom is drawing attention as manufacturers look for new revenue streams amid slowing vehicle sales and underused capacity.

Researchers at the University of Arizona used satellite data to show that the world's drylands are growing greener, but in an increasingly volatile pattern of sharp booms and busts rather than steady vegetation growth. The findings suggest that while rising carbon dioxide and shifting rainfall are boosting plant life in arid regions, the gains come with escalating instability, complicating assumptions about how dryland ecosystems will respond to climate change.

Winemakers are adopting new strategies to cope with climate change, as rising temperatures and unpredictable weather alter growing conditions in traditional wine regions. Reported approaches include experimenting with heat- and drought-resistant grape varieties, moving plantings to cooler altitudes and latitudes, adjusting harvest timing, and changing vineyard management techniques. The story highlights how an industry closely tied to specific climates is being forced to adapt its practices to survive.

A new examination of evolutionary biology asks whether animals and plants can adapt quickly enough to keep pace with rapidly warming temperatures and shifting habitats. The piece highlights the mismatch between the slow pace of genetic adaptation and the speed of current climate change, raising concerns that many species may be unable to evolve in time to survive.

Automakers are moving closer to so-called dark factories — plants that run entirely by machines without human workers or even lighting — as artificial intelligence and robotics improve rapidly. The idea is drawing attention in the auto industry, where manufacturers face pressure to cut costs and speed up production, while raising questions about the future of manufacturing jobs.

Donald Trump has called for an end to attacks on energy facilities, speaking out as energy prices rise sharply. The demand links the protection of power infrastructure to soaring consumer costs, with the former president framing attacks on plants as a direct driver of the price increases hitting households and industry.

Researchers have developed a new soil test that could show how soil microbes help supply nutrients to plants. The method may improve understanding of nutrient cycling in farmland and could eventually guide more efficient fertiliser use. Details of the research, including where it was carried out and who funded it, have not been made clear in available reports.

Vietnamese automaker VinFast is continuing construction of its electric vehicle manufacturing plant in the United States, even as EV demand growth cools across the industry. The company is pressing forward with its American expansion while other automakers scale back or delay EV investments amid slowing sales, making its strategy a point of discussion in the auto sector.

A new report suggests most health professionals believe key plant foods are not adequately represented in official dietary guidelines. According to Plant Based News, the finding points to a gap between what practitioners recommend for health and the advice issued by nutrition authorities, sparking discussion among those pushing for more plant-centred food policy.

Federal immigration agents are conducting raids at meatpacking plants in Texas, Kansas and Oklahoma. In response, cattle industry groups including the Texas Cattle Feeders Association issued a joint statement warning that these disruptions could lead to higher beef prices for consumers and shake the entire meat supply chain.

Elon Musk and Intel are partnering on a semiconductor factory reportedly larger than the Pentagon, Apple Park and the Mall of America combined. The claim, reported by Fortune, has drawn attention for the sheer scale of the proposed facility. Few technical details about the site, cost or production timeline have been confirmed, and neither Musk nor Intel has publicly laid out specifics beyond the size comparison.

Algae levels have dropped along Israel's Mediterranean coast, but desalination plants remain only partially operational. Authorities had curtailed the plants after algal blooms threatened intake systems, raising concerns about the country's water supply, which relies heavily on desalination. Reports indicate conditions are improving, though full capacity has not yet been restored.

A Tesla Powerwall owner in Victoria, Australia says their installer blocked the system's solar and battery exports to the grid unless the household joined a virtual power plant program. The claim has raised concerns about consumer choice and whether installers can force VPP participation, with implications for other battery owners in the state.