plants
The evolution of modern rainforests began with the dinosaur-killing asteroid
The lush biodiversity of South America's rainforests is rooted in one of the most cataclysmic events that ever struck Earth.
Study measures marijuana’s carbon footprint—and it’s high
Growing marijuana in large, climate controlled warehouses is good for production but has a massive carbon footprint.
Nature-based Solutions (NbS) won’t save the planet
Their success is based on us adopting a plant-based diet, too.
Here’s what happened when AI and humans met in a strawberry-growing contest
Do they really need the human touch?
Venus flytrap jaws create tiny magnetic fields when they snap shut
It's like a little magnetic "nom, nom."
Newly-discovered flower is so rare, there is only one plant of its species
Scientists find a new species of flower in a remote part of Hawaii.
A Chinese plant has evolved to hide from humans
Researchers document the first example of evolutionary changes in a plant in response to humans.
Plant-grown vaccines: the next step in medicine?
Medicago is growing a SARS-CoV-2 vaccine candidate in a relative of the tobacco plant right now.
Reinventing agriculture for climate change
Modern crops have been optimized for a lot of things, but not for climate change.
Rutgers-led research finds bee decline threatens crop yields
Declining bee populations could lead to increased food insecurity and economic losses in the billions.
Stone stacking destroys the environment for clicks and likes
Stone stackers enjoy the practice as a peaceful challenge, but scientists warn that moving small stones has mountainous consequences.
New study challenges the narrative that meat is ‘manly’
New research suggests some men identify with a new form of masculinity that values authenticity, domesticity, and holistic self-awareness.
The mystery of moving, mossy, ‘glacier mice’
Atop certain glaciers are herds of small mossy balls that somehow move together when no one's looking.
The mental and physical health benefits of ecotherapy
There are countless studies that prove ecotherapy (often referred to as nature therapy) is beneficial for your physical and mental health.
Nanosensor can alert a smartphone when plants are stressed
Carbon nanotubes embedded in leaves detect chemical signals that are produced when a plant is damaged.
What will the first weed degree program in the U.S. look like?
Check out the curriculum for the nation's first cannabis-focused bachelor's program.
Could genomics solve the climate change crisis?
Technological advances in molecular biology could help fix the planet.
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World’s oldest forest found in New York state
The 385-million-year-old fossils show that trees evolved modern features millions of years earlier than previously estimated.
Amazon fires are destructive, but they aren’t depleting Earth’s oxygen supply
Contrary to popular belief, the Amazon rainforest does not produce 20% of our planet's oxygen.
Plants have sensibilities, but are they conscious?
They experience reality differently than we do.
The invention that made us human: Fire
Did fire change the development of the human brain?
‘Tamagotchi-like’ planter aims to bestow you with a green thumb
Designers from Luxembourg created a smart planter that can give anyone a green thumb.
Breaching a “carbon threshold” could lead to mass extinction
Study finds that carbon dioxide emissions may trigger a reflex in the carbon cycle, with devastating consequences.
An escape route for carbon
Study shows minerals sequester carbon for thousands of years, which may explain oxygen's abundance in the atmosphere.
Honeybees just had a record winter die-off
2018's winter was particularly harsh on U.S. honeybees. What's causing bee populations to plummet, and what can we do about it?
The strange genetic twist in Campbell’s tomato soup
New research solves a long-standing puzzle.
How to use tea to biohack your mood, stress, and productivity
Ancient beverages such as tea and chamomile can heighten your modern-day performance.
Scientists create genetically-modified houseplant that removes carcinogens from air
A new genetically-modified pothos ivy plant is exceptionally skilled at removing dangerous pollutants, such as benzene and chloroform, from the surrounding air.