Articles

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.

Claire Benjamin

Mar 2, 2019
2 min

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

Jan 23, 2019
3 min

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.

Scientists engineer shortcut for photosynthetic glitch, boost crop growth by 40 percent

Claire Benjamin

Jan 2, 2019
4 min

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.

Revamped ag robot unveiled at ARPA-E Innovation Summit

Claire Benjamin

Jul 8, 2018
2 min

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.

Illinois’ crop-counting robot earns top recognition at leading robotics conference

Claire Benjamin

Jul 2, 2018
2 min

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.

Scientists boost crop production by 47 percent by speeding up photorespiration

Claire Benjamin

May 31, 2018
4 min

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.

Protect forest elephants to conserve ecosystems, not DNA

Claire Benjamin

Apr 28, 2018
3 min

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.

Humans are Sumatran rhinoceros’ biggest threat—and last hope

Claire Benjamin

Apr 20, 2018
3 min

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.

ARPA-E showcases advances in bioenergy production, drought tolerance

Claire Benjamin

Mar 18, 2018
2 min

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.

Ag robot speeds data collection, analyses of crops as they grow

Claire Benjamin

Mar 18, 2018
3 min

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.

Scientists monitor crop photosynthesis, performance using invisible light

Claire Benjamin

Feb 28, 2018
3 min

Scientists monitor crop photosynthesis, performance using invisible light

Light can reveal the plants’ photosynthetic performance throughout the growing season, according to newly published research.

DOE grants $10.6 million to produce more biodiesel, biojet fuel

Claire Benjamin

Feb 25, 2018
3 min

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

Nov 28, 2017
3 min

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

Hacking evolution, screening technique may improve most widespread enzyme

Claire Benjamin

Nov 1, 2017
2 min

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

Cowpea protected from a devastating pest, free for smallholder African farmers

Claire Benjamin

Oct 26, 2017
3 min

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

Airline industry could fly thousands of miles on biofuel from a new promising feedstock

Claire Benjamin

Oct 20, 2017
2 min

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.

The time is RIPE to transform agriculture and feed the world

Claire Benjamin

Sep 16, 2017
3 min

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.

Agricultural robot may be ‘game changer’ for crop growers, breeders

Claire Benjamin

Sep 10, 2017
2 min

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.

Incremental discovery may one day lead to photosynthetic breakthrough

Claire Benjamin

Jun 29, 2017
2 min

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.

New 3D model predicts best planting practices for farmers

Claire Benjamin

Jun 23, 2017
2 min

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