{
  "id": 3966170,
  "title": "Inspired by nature, scientists engineer tiny 'nitrogen factories' that could help future cereal crops",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/28/inspired-by-nature-scientists-engineer-tiny-nitrogen-factories-that",
  "topic": "science",
  "section": "Science",
  "published": "2026-08-28T13:20:05.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Phys.org",
    "slug": "phys-org",
    "url": "https://phys.org/news/2026-08-nature-scientists-tiny-nitrogen-factories.html"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Scientists at South Dakota State University are developing a novel method to supply nitrogen to crops, inspired by a natural process observed in Mexican corn varieties. Nitrogen is vital for life, yet only a small fraction of organisms can convert the gas into a usable form for plants. Researchers have been seeking to harness these abilities in crops, to reduce reliance on costly synthetic fertilizers. In the Oaxaca highlands of Mexico, scientists discovered that a specific type of corn could thrive in nitrogen-poor soils, a phenomenon later documented in a 2018 study. The key to this process lies in root nodules formed by leguminous plants like soybeans, which house nitrogen-fixing bacteria. These bacteria convert nitrogen into ammonia, a process requiring a stable nitrogenase enzyme, which is sensitive to oxygen. In nature, soybeans address this issue through root nodules that create an oxygen-free environment for nitrogen fixation. Inspired by this, researchers at SDSU created biodegradable hydrogel beads to mimic the low-oxygen conditions needed for nitrogenase activity, similar to soybean root nodules. These hydrogel beads, made from seaweed-derived alginate, encapsulate nitrogen-fixing bacteria in a controlled environment, protecting the enzyme from oxygen while allowing it to remain active. The researchers found that calcium-based hydrogel beads performed best, maintaining low oxygen levels, retaining more bacteria, and supporting nitrogen fixation similar to ideal laboratory conditions. The team also discovered that adding glucose to the bacteria enhanced nitrogenase activity. Overall, this innovative approach could potentially integrate into conventional farming systems, offering a sustainable alternative to synthetic fertilizers.",
  "summary": "As fertilizer prices remain elevated, researchers at South Dakota State University are developing an innovative solution to corn's nitrogen supply problems by taking inspiration from an ancient Mexican variety and root nodules found on soybeans. In a new study, published in Plant and Soil, the researchers demonstrate how hydrogel beads may offer a promising way to naturally supply plants with…",
  "key_points": [
    "Scientists at SDSU develop nitrogen-fixing technology inspired by Mexican corn.",
    "Hydrogel beads mimic low-oxygen conditions for nitrogenase enzyme activity.",
    "Calcium-based hydrogels perform best, enhancing nitrogen fixation in crops."
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}