The Forgotten Sisters Who Transformed Early American Science
The Morris sisters made significant contributions to botany and entomology, but their stories were erased from the history of early American science, both accidentally and by design.
Plants
This Flower Refrigerates Itself to Survive Scorching Summers
A humble thistle blossom in southern Spain somehow keeps itself up to 18 degrees Fahrenheit cooler than the surrounding air
This Genetically Engineered Petunia Glows in the Dark and Could Be Yours for $29
The engineered “firefly petunia” emits a continuous green glow thanks to genes from a light-up mushroom
Cranberries Are a Scientific Delicacy
From self-pollination to bogs, cranberries are a Thanksgiving classic with many fascinating botanical and genetic features
This Fall Is Full of Acorns—Thanks to a ‘Mast’ Year
Trees can outsmart animals such as squirrels and birds by synchronizing their seed production
How Hot Is ‘Pepper X’? Its Creator Spent 6 Hours Recovering from Eating It
“Pepper X” is officially the hottest pepper in the world, weighing in with 2.693 million Scoville heat units. The creator reveals his process and experience tasting the pepper
We Finally Know Where Oranges and Lemons Come From
In addition to finding where citrus come from, researchers have pinpointed the genetic origins of the fruits’ tart taste
Thousands More Puzzling ‘Fairy Circles’ Have Been Found around the World
These mysterious spots of barren soil have fascinated scientists for years. Now evidence of their existence beyond two known locations is stirring up a fresh round of contention
Tropical Forests May Be Getting Too Hot for Photosynthesis
When trees get too hot, energy production in their leaves breaks down
The World’s Oldest Moss Outlived the Dinosaurs, but It May Not Survive Climate Change
The world’s oldest moss has survived Earth’s shifting landscapes for more than 400 million years, but climate change is happening faster than it can adapt
Can Virtual Reality Mimic Nature’s Power to Make Us Healthier?
Just seeing nature in VR brings some health benefits—and helps scientists learn why we need the real thing
Quantum Light Experiment Proves Photosynthesis Starts with a Single Photon
Scientists have used quantum technology to track individual particles of light as they begin the process of photosynthesis