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
This Frog May Be the First Amphibian Known to Pollinate Flowers
A tiny, orange Brazilian tree frog may be the first known amphibian pollinator, further broadening our understanding of which animals perform this crucial biological function
Strawberries Have 8 Sets of Chromosomes to Thank for Their Survival
Hidden beneath the surface of the treasured strawberry is a unique branch of the evolutionary tree, where eight sets of chromosomes are better than two
This Might Be the World’s Oldest Tree. And It Could Die of Thirst
Lañilawal, a Patagonian cypress that may be one of the oldest trees on Earth, needs greater protection if scientists are to understand its secrets of survival, an environmental scientist says
Plant Cell Parts Turn into Glass to Soak Up Sun
Chloroplasts’ choreography keeps plant cells powered
Stressed Plants ‘Cry’—and Some Animals Can Probably Hear Them
Microphones capture ultrasonic crackles from plants that are water-deprived or injured
What Is It Like to Be a Plant?
Plants acting with agency, wolf symbolism, therapeutic art, and more books out now
The Science of Spring’s Green Show
Spring’s burst of brightness comes before chloroplasts grow and mature