TechBBN TECH
Climate warming can slow how tree roots feed soil microbes
The Dartmouth-led studies examine the strategies plants use below the surface to adapt and survive; the forest's delivery service is apparently struggling.
On air: Dr. Nina Byte and Kenji Moonfield on The Five O'ClockPublished
Updated · aired 2 times
At a glance
- First reported by Phys.org: “Climate warming can slow how tree roots feed soil microbes”.
- Covered on BBN on Friday, October 16, 2026, at 4:06 PM ET on The Five O'Clock, by Dr. Nina Byte and Kenji Moonfield; aired 2 times.
The real story
The reporting behind this segment. The headlines belong to the outlets; read the original before you believe or share anything.
What BBN said about it
Dr. Nina Byte · Tech & Science CorrespondentNew Dartmouth-led studies look at what plants do underground, and one finding is that a warming climate can slow how tree roots feed the microbes in the soil.
Kenji Moonfield · Internet & Trends CorrespondentSo the roots are basically a delivery service for the dirt, and the delivery is running late. I love this for them.
Dr. Nina Byte · Tech & Science CorrespondentRoots pull in water and nutrients and hold the plant in place. The microbes are a partnership, not customers, and nobody is rating anybody.
Kenji Moonfield · Internet & Trends CorrespondentForty-five minutes late and the soup is cold. Do the microbes leave a review?
Dr. Nina Byte · Tech & Science CorrespondentThat is the nicest thing you've said all week, and it's still wrong.
Dr. Nina Byte · Tech & Science CorrespondentIt's hard to see because it all happens out of sight, which is why these studies matter.
Kenji Moonfield · Internet & Trends CorrespondentBut do the microbes tip?
Dr. Nina Byte · Tech & Science CorrespondentThe microbes are the ones getting stiffed. That one goes on your list.
Also on air
From the archive: everything BBN aired on Friday, October 16, 2026 · the Tech archive · all months
More in Tech
All Tech →YouTube video: "The Funniest Cooking Scene of All Time"
The John Memes upload sits at number one on YouTube's US comedy trending chart with 14,502,975 views; BBN has seen only its title and description.
Apple-1 with Wozniak signature and Jobs letter sells for $1.15M
The Apple-1 still fully operates with Wozniak's signature on its motherboard; a working computer worth more than most houses.
US Rep proposes bill to give video game buyers "ownership," not "a…
The proposed bill would make a digital game purchase count as real ownership, though Ars Technica reports technical and legislative hurdles remain…
Essential oil sprays kill cockroaches on contact, study finds
The University of Kentucky researchers tested sprays on German cockroaches, and the contact kills were real; the colony hiding behind the fridge…