Fungi and cloud seeding with Boris Vinatzer

<p>Boris Vinatzer joined <a href="https://www.research.vt.edu/news/podcast.html">Virginia Tech’s “Curious Conversations”</a> to talk about fungi and their potential to influence weather through ice nucleation. Vinatzer shared insights gained through some recent research that revealed a fungi protein that helps water freeze at a higher temperature than would otherwise be possible. He explained how ice is actually formed and the potential for this discovery to be used in cloud seeding and for a host of industrial applications.   </p><p><br></p><p>Vinatzer is a professor in the School of Plant and Environmental Sciences. His research includes molecular plant-microbe interactions, molecular evolution, and taxonomy of plant pathogenic bacteria. He is interested in investigating environmental microbes that may play a role in the formation of precipitation.</p><p><br></p>