Florence Quantum Labs

Our newest research out today in Nature Magazine. We built a robot (!) to track plant-fungal trade networks. By following half a million fungal highways and the traffic flows of nutrients within them, we discovered how plants and their?mycorrhizal?fungal networks build hyper-efficient supply chains to trade carbon and nutrients.? ? This massive collaboration spans several disciplines (mycology, robotics, biophysics, evolutionary biology), several labs (AMOLF, SPUN | Society for the Protection of Underground Networks, VU Centre for Teaching and Learning, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Princeton University), and many (many) years of work. ? ? The study helps us explore how arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi move billions of tons of CO2e into underground ecosystems each year. These new techniques open the door to next generation research into the ways that these networks regulate ecosystem function and the Earth's nutrient cycles. The paper “A travelling-wave strategy for plant–fungal trade” published in Nature is available here: https://lnkd.in/eYg9wMPz Shout out to all authors, including those on linkedin (follow these stellar scientists): Paper led by first authors: Loreto Oyarte Gálvez and Corentin Bisot. Other authors: Philippe Bourrianne, Rachael Cargill, Malin Klein, Marije van Son, Jaap van Krugten, Victor Caldas, Thomas Clerc, Kai-Kai Lin, Félix Kahane, Simon van Staalduine, Justin Stewart, Victoria Terry, Bianca Turcu, Antoine Babu, Marco Seynen, Marko Kamp, Bas Steenbeek, Jan Zomerdijk, Evelina Tutucci, Merlin Sheldrake, Christophe Godin, Vasilis Kokkoris, Howard A. Stone, Sander van Otterdijk, Thomas Shimizu. ? This research was possible because of funding from Human Frontier Science Program (HFSP), NWO (Dutch Research Council), Grantham Foundation, Paul G. Allen Family Foundation, The Schmidt Family Foundation, European Research Council (ERC) (video by Sa?a Spa?al)

A list of "Woke DEI grants" was released (https://lnkd.in/esWTuUkk), so I looked at this list. I took a long pause when I saw that one of the most complex, technical grants in quantum chemistry was on the list, looking at the underpinnings of quantum computing for the future of quantum technology was called out. As the proposal (https://lnkd.in/ebNYQY_T) has nothing to do with DEI, I was very puzzled. Within the impact statement was the following: "In addition to the potential broader impacts in engineering and computer science mentioned above, the project will have broader impact in integrating STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) research with education, through the inclusion of undergraduates and high school students in the research team and the preparation of pedagogical articles. The full participation of women, persons with disabilities, and underrepresented minorities will be encouraged throughout the project."

History has a habit of making us rethink what we thought we knew. The idea that ancient societies were always male-dominated turns out to be more assumption than fact ?? This new discovery from Celtic Britain—where women stayed at the center while men moved between communities—paints a different picture, one where lineage, stability, and even power were anchored in the female line. And it’s not just a one-off. From the Minangkabau in Indonesia to the Mosuo in China, matrilineal cultures have existed across time and geography. Yet somehow, we’ve built a modern world on the belief that male leadership is the default. What if it’s not? Maybe equality isn’t something we’re slowly working toward but something we lost along the way. I find this to be extremely interesting, how does this land with you? ————— If you want to read more about the new finding, then check out: ??Article: https://lnkd.in/dhHmGR6C ??Research paper: https://lnkd.in/dg87d5zP Nature Magazine | Trinity College Dublin

How can we reduce global hunger by 12–17%? Women make up 43% of the agricultural labor force in developing countries. In some regions, particularly in Africa and South Asia, this number reaches nearly 70%. Yet, despite their labor sustaining global food systems, women own less than 20% of the world’s agricultural land—and in some areas, less than 1%. In fact, when women farmers have the same access to resources as men, their yields increase by 20–30%, leading to a 2.5–4% rise in total agricultural output. This alone could reduce global hunger by 12–17% (FAO, UN Women). We at Florence Quantum Labs stand in our unwavering resolve that women, particularly indigenous women, must own more than 50% of the land globally. This is not a utopian dream, but an ontological necessity. Women are not merely caretakers of the land - they are its sovereign architects, its metaphysical custodians. Climate change will not be averted through policies alone; it will be halted by the systemic redistribution of power - economic, ecological, and epistemological - into the hands of our mothers and sisters. To every woman scientist, activist, and innovator: Florence Quantum Labs is your ally, your collaborator, and your amplifier. Reclaim! Restore! Reshape! Source: https://lnkd.in/efD8Snff #GenderEquality #Feminism #WomenEmpowerment #SocialJustice #EquityForAll #IntersectionalFeminism #WomensRights #RadicalFeminism #ClimateJustice #HumanRights #WomenInAgriculture #FoodSovereignty #FeministAgriculture #SustainableFarming #Agroecology #FoodSecurity #WomenFarmers #RegenerativeAgriculture #WomenGrowTheWorld #LocalFoodMovements #LandJustice #IndigenousLandRights #ReclaimTheLand #WomenAndLand #LandForWomen #LandEquity #LandReform #FeministLandRights #RightToOwnLand #WomenOwnTheLand #EndLandDispossession #GlobalLandJustice #PolicyForWomen #FeministEconomics #WomenInPower #SystemicChange #LegalReform #DecolonizeTheLand #AbolishPatriarchy #ResistAndRebuild #EcoFeminism #ClimateAction #SustainableFutures #PlanetOverProfit #WomenAndClimateChange #GreenEconomy #DecolonizeAgriculture #WomenSaveThePlanet #FeministClimateJustice #ClimateResilience

Plant Fact: Magnetic Field Detection Plants use light-sensitive proteins like cryptochromes to detect Earth's magnetic fields, helping orient growth and circadian rhythms. Plants use light-sensitive proteins, like Cryptochromes, to perceive and respond to various environmental signals, including the Earth’s magnetic field and circadian rhythms. Cryptochromes are involved in photoreception, where they absorb light and trigger a cascade of biochemical processes that regulate the plant's growth and behavior. These proteins are essential for plants to synchronize their internal biological clocks with external cues, particularly the 24-hour light-dark cycle, influencing processes such as flowering, leaf movement, and photosynthesis. Emerging studies suggest that Cryptochromes may also play a role in magnetoreception, allowing plants to detect the Earth's magnetic field and align their growth accordingly, much like certain animals use magnetic fields for navigation. This dual function helps plants optimize their survival and adapt to their surroundings in an ever-changing environment. Cryptochromes also have potential human applications, particularly in the fields of circadian rhythm regulation, sleep disorders, and even mental health. #funfact #humanapplications #magneticfield