Plants

Ecosystems

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.

Plants

Need a little luck? Here’s how to grow your own

A 2019 Intel ISEF finalist used a plant hormone and extra fertilizer to boost the numbers of multi-leafed clovers — including lucky four-leafed plants — she could reliably grow.

Ecosystems

Warming pushes lobsters and other species to seek cooler homes

Plants and animals are moving toward the poles, changing timing of important events and more — all in response to climate change.

Environment

Life on Earth is mostly green

A new survey of life on Earth finds that plants and microbes dominate. But even though humans are in the minority, they still play a major role.

Plants

This houseplant can clean indoor air

Houseplants may be able to help clean up polluted indoor air. Scientists gave this one a boost by givng it a gene from a rabbit.

Plants

Rare-plant hunters race against time to save at-risk species

One in five plants is at risk of extinction. Meet the rare plant hunters who rappel down cliffs and trek through forests to save them.

Plants

Scientists Say: Nectar

Nectar is a fluid filled with sugar that plants — especially flowers — produce. They use it to attract animals that will then spread their pollen to another plant.

Plants

Plants don’t grow well when always on high alert

Plants make bitter-tasting chemicals to defend themselves against hungry bugs. But they pay a cost for always being on alert, scientists find.

Plants

The plant world has some true speed demons

Some plants can fling, snap and hop at dizzying speeds. Such botanical gymnastics gives lie to the idea that all plants are slow, boring stick-in-the-muds.

Plants

Ouch! Lemons and other plants can cause a special sunburn

These are among a host of plants (many found in the refrigerator vegetable drawer) that produce chemicals that will kill skin cells when activated by sunlight. The result can be a serious, localized sunburn — sometimes with blistering.

Physics

An ancient plant inspires a new lab tool

Researchers have designed a lab tool that moves liquids from one place to another by mimicking a plant called a liverwort.