University of Hohenheim

Onions and other members of the Allium family (such as chives and leeks) are high in sulfur, as are some odorants which are naturally present in meat

Science

Onions n' fungus could make fake meat smell meatier

The aroma of food plays a huge role in its perceived flavor, and unfortunately many plant-based meat alternatives don't smell much like real meat. That could be about to change, though, thanks to fungus and onions.

The Phoenix robot, with its arm-mounted sheathed power saw (green) visible at the top of the photo

Robotics

German robot being designed to prune fruit trees

According to Germany's University of Hohenheim, about 80 percent of the fruit trees in that country aren't pruned – despite the fact that doing so makes them more resistant to disease. That's why the university is creating a robot to do the job.

Although fresh oyster mushrooms don't contain much vitamin D, they produce quite a bit when exposed to sunlight

Health & Wellbeing

With some help from the sun, oyster mushrooms could fight TB

In developing nations with limited infrastructure, obtaining vitamin supplements can be difficult. With that in mind, German scientists are now suggesting that people in such regions could fight tuberculosis (TB) by ingesting something else – oyster mushrooms that have been sitting in the sun.