Are Plants Conscious?

Medicine & Technology Feb 04, 2021

A new study suggests that plants may exhibit some form of sentience, where they purposefully observe their vicinity and react to external stimuli.

New Study Explains How Plants “See” Blue Light

Jan 05, 2021

Plants have been known to perceive and respond to light in a wide range of the electromagnetic spectrum. Now, a new study specifically notes how plants react to blue light.

Exploring Nonhost Resistance, or Why Pathogens Choose Which Plants to Harm

Dec 30, 2020

One of the longstanding puzzles in agricultural science is the supposed resistance of apples and cucumbers to the same pathogen that ravaged potatoes - and researchers might have found a way to turn nonhost resistance into an agricultural advantage.

COVID-19 Pandemic Renewed Interest in Gardening and the Outdoors

Dec 17, 2020

Some plant lovers are now engaged in community gardens where they work in timed shifts amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

Tobacco Plant-Based Flu Vaccine Passed Clinical Trials For the First Time

Nov 09, 2020

For the first time, scientists have developed a flu vaccine based on tobacco plant that is comparable to commercial vaccines.

Researchers Turn to AI to Protect Orchids and Other Threatened Species

Sep 29, 2020

Researchers are turning to artificial intelligence (AI) in speeding up conservation efforts for orchids and other species, automating the assessment process.

Stem Cell Division in Plants Guided by a "Cellular Compass"

Sep 18, 2020

A new study from Stanford University researchers reports the motion in the plant nucleus that might explain the stem cell division process.

Airborne Seeds Pose Potential Risk of Non-Native Plant Invasions

Sep 14, 2020

A recent study that involved vacuum-cleaning air intake grills of shipping containers at the Port of Savannah, Georgia, revealed the presence of stowaway seeds.

Chemical Used as Defense Against Pests, Used by Moths to Lay Eggs

Sep 11, 2020

Isothiocyanates, produced by cruciferous plants as a defense against pests, are also key in telling diamondback moths where to lay their eggs.

Researchers Find The Largest Protein Complex Behind Plant Respiration

Aug 26, 2020

A new study provides the atomic-level 3D structure of the proteins behind plant respiration - the release of energy from food intake.

5 Most Dangerous Plants in Existence

Aug 03, 2020

To remind us of the creatively scary ways nature instilled fear in humans, here are eight of the most dangerous plants in existence:

3 Plants to Grow That Could Withstand Climate Change in Your Backyard

Jul 16, 2020

Climate change can affect even plants in our backyard. How can we combat the this-worldly crisis, and how can specific choices in garden plants help? Click the link above to find out.

No Pollen? No Problem! Bees Puncture Plant Leaves to Accelerate Flower Production

May 23, 2020

When flowers have not yet bloomed due to climate crisis, bees found a genius way to accelerate its flower production for them to survive.

Plants’ Use of Hormone Can Help Fight Insect Attacks and Fungi

Mar 17, 2020

Salk Institute scientists indicated in a new research study published in Nature Plants journal, that the hormone is known as "jasmonic acid" is specifically vital for the defense response of plants against insects and fungi.

Did You Know? Plants Have The Ability To Talk Down A Nematode And Avoid Infestation

Jan 12, 2020

Plants were able to manipulate the substance excreted by nematodes to give signals to these roundworms that they are unavailable for the taking.