Agriculture

The maimed and tortured remains of Atacama Desert mummies reveal that the region’s earliest farmers cultivated a climate of extreme violence.

Decomposing manure produces hydrogen sulfide, methane, ammonia and carbon dioxide.

New evidence shows that watermelons were first domesticated in Sudan, leading experts to think the region rivals Iraq as a cradle of agriculture.

A new study suggests that plants that are stressed by drought or physical damage may emit ultrasonic squeals.

A banana-killing fungus has finally reached Latin America, as scientists long feared it would.

Thousands of years ago, fallout from volcanic activity may have sounded a death knell for an Egyptian dynasty.

Chickens' staggering popularity as a food source has come at an enormous cost — to chickens and to people.

The biological and physical changes happening on Earth due to climate change will transform food production, researchers say.

Simulated "Martian gardens" are helping NASA scientists learn which plants astronauts will be able to grow in future missions to the Red Planet.