Plants
This Massive New Guidebook Will Forever Change the Way You Look at Trees
Written by Smithsonian botanist W. John Kress, the book details more than 300 North American tree species in words, maps and photographs—and why we shouldn't take them for granted
Scientists Identify the Gene Behind Thorny Roses and Other Prickly Plants
A recent study could pave the way to cultivating various thornless plants, making them easier to grow and potentially more widely available
Feeling Sticky This Summer? 'Corn Sweat' Could Be Raising the Humidity
The natural process of plant evapotranspiration is pumping moisture into an already hot and humid atmosphere, especially in the corn-growing areas of the Midwest
The Race to Save Mezcal From the World
Climate change, corporate money, soaring demand—can Mexico’s local agave growers find a viable path for a beloved beverage?
As Hurricanes Bear Down and Get Stronger, Can a $34 Billion Plan Save Texas?
A massive project prompted by the wildly destructive Hurricane Ike offers a solutions-based preview of our climate future
Parasites Are Everywhere. Why Do So Few Researchers Study Them?
Aging parasitologists are working hard to inspire more students to enter the field
Archaeologists Crack Open a 2,000-Year-Old Coffin in Italy's ‘Tomb of Cerberus’
The stone coffin likely contains the leader of the family that built the frescoed chamber in Naples
These Backpack-Wearing Dogs Have an Important Job to Do
The pups are dispersing seeds at an urban nature reserve—just like their wild wolf ancestors used to do before being hunted to extinction
No, Dinosaurs Did Not Trudge Through Thick Rainforests
The first jungles dense with flowering plants only formed after an asteroid impact wiped out the giant creatures
The 'World's Loneliest Plant' Could Soon Find a Mate With a Little Help From A.I.
The only known wild Wood's cycad was discovered in 1895, and it has since been cloned into many male trees. Now, researchers are scouring a forest in South Africa for an elusive female specimen
Botanists Vote to Remove Racial Slur From Hundreds of Plant Species Names
In a first for taxonomy, researchers opted to change scientific names containing derivatives of the slur “caffra” to derivatives of “afr,” in reference to the plants' origins in Africa
Has Life on Earth Survived More Than Five Mass Extinctions?
Scientists aren’t just arguing whether humans are causing a sixth mass extinction event now, but whether many more occurred in the past
View 11 Breathtaking Images From the BigPicture Photography Competition
This 2024 showcase of life on Earth shines a light on some of our planet's most amazing species and places
Did the Extinction of the Dinosaurs Pave the Way for Grapes?
Newly discovered fossils in South America hint at the evolution and proliferation of grapes around the world
Chimpanzees May Self-Medicate With Plants, Using the Forest as a Pharmacy
New research suggests sick chimps seek out and eat plants with antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties—a finding that could advance drug discovery for humans
See 12 Captivating Bird Images From the Audubon Photography Awards
In its 15th year, the contest showcases diverse avian species, their fascinating behaviors and the habitats needed to keep them alive
Rare 'Absolutely Tiny' Plant, Not Seen for More Than a Century, Found in Vermont
The last time a botanist recorded a sighting of false mermaid-weed in the state was in 1916
A Poisonous Diet Gives These Animals Their Own Toxic Defense
From monarchs to sea slugs, various creatures consume chemicals that keep predators at bay
The 15 Best Small Towns to Visit in 2024
From a bluegrass capital in Virginia to a laid-back surf town in Hawaii, these spots are beckoning to tourists this year
This Tiny Fern Has the World's Largest Known Genome
The plant's genome has about 50 times as many base pairs as a human's, and its DNA from a single cell would stretch longer than a football field
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