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My work is a conduit that moves discoveries from scientists' lab benches, fields, and computers into Twitter feeds and conversations. I help scientists share their stories, and I help journalists find scientists with stories to share.
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When temperatures drop, Siberian Miscanthus plants surpass main bioenergy variety
Scientists identified plants with exceptional photosynthetic performance in chilling temperatures that outstrip the industry favorite.
Claire Benjamin
Mar 2, 20192 min read
Rising temperatures may safeguard crop nutrition as climate changes
Hotter temperatures may offset the negative effects of higher carbon dioxide levels on seed quality, according to a new two-year study.
Claire Benjamin
Jan 23, 20193 min read
Scientists engineer shortcut for photosynthetic glitch, boost crop growth by 40 percent
The RIPE project has engineered a shortcut for photorespiration—an energy-expensive process—and increased crop productivity by 40 percent.
Claire Benjamin
Jan 2, 20194 min read
Revamped ag robot unveiled at ARPA-E Innovation Summit
Robots developed to increase bioenergy crop yields will be showcased at the ARPA-E Energy Innovation Summit in Denver.
Claire Benjamin
Jul 8, 20182 min read
Illinois’ crop-counting robot earns top recognition at leading robotics conference
The TERRA-MEPP robot was recognized by the best systems paper award at Robotics: Science and Systems.
Claire Benjamin
Jul 2, 20182 min read
Scientists boost crop production by 47 percent by speeding up photorespiration
RIPE has increased crop production 27 to 47 percent by speeding up a process called photorespiration.
Claire Benjamin
May 31, 20184 min read
Protect forest elephants to conserve ecosystems, not DNA
New University of Illinois research has found that forest elephant populations across Central Africa are genetically quite similar.
Claire Benjamin
Apr 28, 20183 min read
Humans are Sumatran rhinoceros’ biggest threat—and last hope
In a new study, researchers urge conservationists to translocate two island groups of the smallest rhinoceros species to save it.
Claire Benjamin
Apr 20, 20183 min read
ARPA-E showcases advances in bioenergy production, drought tolerance
The WEST project will showcase new advances that dramatically reduce water requirements for crops at the ARPA-E Innovation Summit.
Claire Benjamin
Mar 18, 20182 min read
Ag robot speeds data collection, analyses of crops as they grow
A new lightweight, low-cost agricultural robot could transform data collection and field scouting.
Claire Benjamin
Mar 18, 20183 min read
Scientists monitor crop photosynthesis, performance using invisible light
Light can reveal the plants’ photosynthetic performance throughout the growing season, according to newly published research.
Claire Benjamin
Feb 28, 20183 min read
DOE grants $10.6 million to produce more biodiesel, biojet fuel
The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) awarded the University of Illinois a $10.6 million, five-year grant to transform two bioenergy crops.
Claire Benjamin
Feb 25, 20183 min read
Light green plants save nitrogen without sacrificing photosynthetic efficiency
Scientists designed plants with light green leaves with hopes of allowing more light to penetrate the crop canopy and increase overall light
Claire Benjamin
Nov 28, 20173 min read
Hacking evolution, screening technique may improve most widespread enzyme
Scientists have developed novel screening tools to simulate millions of years of evolution in days to help plants quickly adapt to our chang
Claire Benjamin
Nov 1, 20172 min read
Cowpea protected from a devastating pest, free for smallholder African farmers
Next year smallholder African farmers will have the option to grow cowpeas that are resistant to one of one of the most devastating pests, t
Claire Benjamin
Oct 26, 20173 min read
Airline industry could fly thousands of miles on biofuel from a new promising feedstock
A recent study estimates that a Boeing 747 could fly for 10 hours on bio-jet fuel produced on 54 acres of specially engineered sugarcane.
Claire Benjamin
Oct 20, 20172 min read
The time is RIPE to transform agriculture and feed the world
University of Illinois receives grant from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, FFAR, and DFID to catalyze photosynthetic improvements.
Claire Benjamin
Sep 16, 20173 min read
Agricultural robot may be ‘game changer’ for crop growers, breeders
Investors and executives in the agricultural industry are getting a first look at TerraSentia, a new-to-the-market agricultural robot.
Claire Benjamin
Sep 10, 20172 min read
Incremental discovery may one day lead to photosynthetic breakthrough
Researchers have uncovered secrets about a photosynthetic protein, CP12—the full understanding of which may help boost yields in the future.
Claire Benjamin
Jun 29, 20172 min read
New 3D model predicts best planting practices for farmers
Now a computer model can answer farmers' planting questions by comparing billions of virtual fields with different planting densities, r
Claire Benjamin
Jun 23, 20172 min read
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