Plants

Earth

On an Alaskan glacier, little green moss balls roll in herds

Oval balls of moss, nicknamed ‘glacier mice,’ roll across some glaciers. A new study explores the mysteries behind their herd-like motion.

Animals

Bumblebees may bite leaves to spur plant blooming

In a pollen shortage, some bees nick holes in tomato leaves. This can speed up flowering and pollen production by weeks.

Plants

Silk-based microneedles may help treat diseased plants

Engineers have invented silk microneedles to inject medicines into plants. One day farmers might use drones to dart their sick plants with meds from the air.

Chemistry

Ancient recipes helped scientists resurrect a long-lost blue hue

Led by medieval texts, scientists hunted down a plant and used its fruit to make a blue watercolor with mysterious origins.

Plants

Let’s learn about trees

These long-lived woody plants provide shade for people, homes for animals — and help protect the planet against climate change.

Plants

Let’s learn about the future of food

Technology and a warming world will change what you eat and how it gets to your plate.

Climate

5 things to know about the climate-saving benefits of tree planting

A recent analysis of the benefits of massive efforts to plant more trees triggered a firestorm of controversy.

Chemistry

Scientists look to hack photosynthesis for a ‘greener’ planet

Photosynthesis turns sunlight into energy for plants. Scientists want to know more about it, imitate it — even improve it.

Animals

Scientists Say: Species

This word describes organisms grouped by their similarities in genetics and physical traits. But defining species can be tricky.

Plants

Meat-eating pitcher plants feast on baby salamanders

Scientists didn’t think meat-eating plants in North America ate vertebrates. They now know differently.

Animals

A million species could vanish, and people are to blame

Human activities are putting a million plant and animal species at risk of extinction, a new study finds. But it’s not too late to save many of them, scientists add.

Environment

City living makes trees grow fast but die young

Many cities plant trees to absorb carbon dioxide. But city trees grow fast and die young, which means they absorb less carbon dioxide than forest trees do.