USDA-ARS employees are strongly encouraged to participate in STEM outreach opportunities aimed at increasing literacy in science, technology, engineering and math for students of all ages, especially among members of underrepresented populations.  ARS's Outreach and Recruitment Branch coordinates a number of these outreach activities with neighboring schools and communities.

Can Seaweed Mitigate Climate Change? Yep!

According to NASA, belches from cattle, sheep, goats, and other ruminant animals have a climate change problem. Ruminants have digestive systems that ferment the cellulose in the rough vegetation they eat, making it easier to digest. The problem is methane gas is a byproduct of fermentation and the animals release it when they belch.

According to the EPA, methane accounts for about 10% of U.S. greenhouse emissions – and enteric (intestinal) fermentation accounts for about 27% of that.

ARS scientists are turning to bromoform, a compound in seaweed, that may reduce enteric methane emission by as much as 82% when fed to ruminants as a small portion of their diet. Expanding this nutritional supplement nationwide, and perhaps globally, could markedly reduce methane emissions, and that’s something worth boasting, not belching, about.

To learn more read "Happy Earth Day! Scientists Working to Reduce Methane Emissions"

Keep Your Eyes on the Fries

Next time you go to McDonald's, there's a good chance you'll be eating an ARS-developed French fry. ARS scientists released two varieties of potatoes—'Clearwater Russet' and 'Blazer Russet'—used by McDonald's for French fries. The company has a high bar for its potatoes, having accepted only seven varieties to use in its fries over the years.

Potatoes are highly perishable, and the crop must be consumed, processed, or stored cold immediately after harvest. However, ARS potato breeders were able to release new potato varieties resistant to problems that develop during storage and to internal heat necrosis.

Sink your teeth into this research with "You Want Fries With That?"

Composting, a process that speeds up natural decomposition, is becoming ever increasingly popular, both on the farms and at home. Composting provides a great way to keep food scraps and yard waste out of landfills and it has a variety of benefits when added to soil to help plants grow.

Download this factsheet to learn how to compost and why.

Feeding the Antibiotics Debate

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a hot-button issue when it comes to food safety. According to the World Health Organization, AMR occurs when bacteria, viruses, fungi, and parasites change over time and no longer respond to modern medicines, including antibiotics – which are designed to fight bacterial infections. AMR can make infections in humans and animals that are harder to treat and increase the risk of disease and illness. In agriculture, antibiotics may be given to cattle and other livestock to fight infections and keep the animals healthy. However, there are concerns that the use of antibiotics in agricultural settings may lead to AMR that affects people. ARS scientists researched whether raising beef cattle without antibiotics would reduce AMR levels, compared to health practices using antibiotics. The results may surprise you.

Check out Science Shows Less Can Equal More and watch the video to find out what they learned.

Three Strikes and You're Out – Saving Ash Trees From a Voracious Pest

It's that magic time of year when the first signs of spring begin to appear everywhere—the weather starts getting warmer, robins return to build their nests, and cherry trees begin to blossom. But to some, the true harbinger of spring is the opening day of baseball season.

White ash has been a go-to wood for making Major League Baseball bats for many years because of its light weight and resistance to splintering. But alas this sturdy wood has come under attack by a little half-inch, metallic green beetle known as the “Emerald Ash borer”.

The adult beetles lay eggs in the crevices of ash tree bark in late May to mid-June and the hatching larvae bore under the bark, where their feeding cuts off the transportation of water and nutrients which the tree needs to survive.

This invasive pest was first detected near Detroit, MI, in 2002 and is found today in 33 states and two Canadian provinces. Learn how ARS scientists are working hard to fight this pest and protect our beloved ash trees.