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The Tiny World of Microscopic Imaging

The ARS Electron and Confocal Microscopy Unit assists a diverse group of scientists needing microscopic imaging for their research projects. The facility is equipped with state-of-the-art microscopes and microscopy technologies capable of producing high-resolution, digital images of many of the most important pests and pathogens affecting agriculture.

Researchers here can flash freeze mites in liquid nitrogen to create striking “snapshots” as they feed, use a laser-scanning confocal microscope to make accurate 3D images, and use a 3D printer to create models from the images.

Their images have won scientific photography awards, graced the covers of prestigious scientific journals, and enhanced our scientific understanding of many microbes, pests, and pathogens that attack crops, infect livestock, and make people sick.

See some stunning images in "Opening a Window to an Unseen World."

Composting: Nature's Way of Recycling Organic Materials

Composting is becoming ever increasingly popular, both on the farms and in the homes. Composting is an excellent way to reduce waste that’s sent to landfills while providing soil in your gardens or fields with precious nutrients (that’s why they call it “black gold”!)

But did you know that composting enhances rainfall penetration, which reduces water runoff and soil erosion?  This in turn reduces sediment, nutrients, and pesticide losses to streams. By improving the soil, compost also enhances beneficial microbes that help reduce plant diseases and pests – meaning less use of pesticides. Did you know that ARS has a 2-acre composting facility just outside our Nation’s Capital? That’s almost an entire football field, and another half of a football field, of organic recycling!

To learn how to get started with composting, other benefits of this natural recycling method, or how ARS researchers are discovering new ways to prepare composts from a variety of mixed sources of organic materials, check out our Compost Page.

Cracking the Mystery of How to Store Eggs

Some people like nice a plate of scrambled eggs for breakfast while others enjoy an egg salad sandwich for lunch. Eggs are a popular food that most of us purchase in our weekly groceries.

But have you ever wondered if you're storing your fresh eggs correctly? Harmful bacteria can penetrate the shell of an egg, so it's important to know how to handle them properly. Should you store them in the refrigerator or let them sit out in the kitchen at room temperature? Well, it turns out that the way eggs are stored depends on where they’re produced.  Want to know more? Read "How We Store Our Eggs—and Why"

Let the Sun Shine In

Powdery mildew fungus is a serious disease that affects strawberry plants and other crops. On strawberry plants, powdery mildew appears as white powdery spots or fuzzy growth on both sides of leaves and on stems. It can kill flowers, harden immature fruit, and reduce fruit quality and marketable yields. In Japan and western Europe, powdery mildew is the primary cause of fruit quality loss. ARS researchers turned to the sun to help fight this disease. Specifically, researchers are using shortwave ultraviolent light (UV-C) to kill powdery mildew fungus. Read more in "Researchers Harness the Sun’s Rays to Fight Strawberry Disease."

Science Project Handouts

Teachers and Parents. Need a science project handout for homework or at-home learning? We offer downloadable versions of our popular science projects for your convenience. They are available in a variety of topics and skill levels. Just download and print (pdf format).

Looking for more handouts? Explore our Science In Your Shopping Cart factsheets for information on everyday products that sprang from ARS's research.

Science in Your Shopping Cart

Each year, ARS scientists develop new varieties of fruits, vegetables, and other products that provide consumers with improved convenience, longer shelf life, better nutrition, new flavors, and sometimes even a whole new idea that no one has brought to consumers before.

Check out our new "Science in Your Shopping Cart" factsheets to learn which ARS research products may be sitting in your shopping cart!