Plants
Scientists Say: Superbloom
These massive wildflower blooms create colorful carpets over desert landscapes during unusually rainy years.
Plants
More Stories in Plants
- Plants
Light pollution could be supercharging your pollen allergies
Light pollution in North American cities seems to be tricking plants into releasing pollen for longer periods each year.
- Climate
Microbes that dwell in tree bark devour major climate gases
Hidden in plain sight, this huge community of tree-bark microbes dines on gases — such as methane — that warm Earth’s atmosphere.
- Plants
Scientists Say: Pollination
Plants call upon wind, water or helpful animals to carry out this crucial step of their life cycle.
- Health & Medicine
You need to eat protein — but the right mix really matters
All proteins are not equal, research is showing. So while most Americans get plenty of protein, they might not be eating the most nutritious blend.
- Plants
Yum! Flies swarm to a flower that smells like wounded ants
A type of Japanese dogbane emits the distress signal of injured ants — a particular scent — to draw in scavenging flies that end up pollinating its flowers.
- Plants
Let’s learn about autumn leaves
Here’s why some trees put on a colorful grand finale before losing their leaves for the winter.
- Plants
Unlock pinecone secrets with this science activity
Let’s find out how pinecones respond to different temperatures — by mimicking changes in weather from the comfort of our own kitchens!
- Plants
Potatoes and tomatoes share a surprising history
Today’s potato likely came from a chance cross between an ancient tomato and a spud-less potato-plant lookalike, research shows.
- Plants
Physics explains how rose petals get their iconic shape
Scientists thought they knew what was behind rose petals’ geometry. They were wrong.
