Plant-animal hybrid cells make solar-powered tissues, organs or meat

Scientists in Japan have created hybrid plant-animal cells, essentially making animal cells that can gain energy from sunlight like plants. The breakthrough could have major benefits for growing organs and tissues for transplant, or lab-grown meat.Cont… Continue reading Plant-animal hybrid cells make solar-powered tissues, organs or meat

Explosive flower blasts beaks to dislodge rival pollen

If you were a flowering plant, wouldn’t you want your pollen to be received by a plant of your own kind? According to a new study, at least one plant may ensure that happens, by blasting “rival” pollen off of pollinating animals’ bodies.Continue Readin… Continue reading Explosive flower blasts beaks to dislodge rival pollen

Explosive flower blasts beaks to dislodge rival pollen

If you were a flowering plant, wouldn’t you want your pollen to be received by a plant of your own kind? According to a new study, at least one plant may ensure that happens, by blasting “rival” pollen off of pollinating animals’ bodies.Continue Readin… Continue reading Explosive flower blasts beaks to dislodge rival pollen

Explosive flower blasts beaks to dislodge rival pollen

If you were a flowering plant, wouldn’t you want your pollen to be received by a plant of your own kind? According to a new study, at least one plant may ensure that happens, by blasting “rival” pollen off of pollinating animals’ bodies.Continue Readin… Continue reading Explosive flower blasts beaks to dislodge rival pollen

Portable device spots drought-stressed crops before it’s too late

It’s always best if farmers can detect drought stress before crop plants become wilted, weakened and lower-yielding. An experimental new portable device could help in that regard, as it uses ultrasound to spot such stress in its earliest stages.Continu… Continue reading Portable device spots drought-stressed crops before it’s too late

Forest-floor mirrors give shaded seedlings a 175% growth-boost

Many indoor plant enthusiasts already know that mirrors can be used to direct more sunlight onto plants that need it. Scientists have now developed a method of applying that same principle to endangered tree seedlings that are struggling to grow in sha… Continue reading Forest-floor mirrors give shaded seedlings a 175% growth-boost

For a better plant growth medium, just add ground glass

Glass-fragment waste typically just ends up in landfills, but perhaps that doesn’t always have to be the case. A new study shows that ground glass particles can be mixed with soil to produce a plant growth medium that’s actually better than soil alone…. Continue reading For a better plant growth medium, just add ground glass

Genetically engineered thornless roses pave the way for better crops

Everybody loves roses, but we’d probably love them even more if they didn’t have those sharp thorns. Well, scientists have found a way of growing thornless roses, and their findings could lead to easier-to-harvest crops.Continue ReadingCategory: Biolog… Continue reading Genetically engineered thornless roses pave the way for better crops

“Smart soil” grows 138% bigger crops using 40% less water

Watering and fertilizing crops to provide enough food for a changing world is a major challenge in agriculture. Now, scientists at the University of Texas at Austin have developed a “smart soil” that can keep plants better hydrated and provide a contro… Continue reading “Smart soil” grows 138% bigger crops using 40% less water

Plant oils should replace butter, and this comprehensive study confirms it

While there has been a general consensus that olive oil and other plant-based fats are healthier than butter, scientists have now comprehensively put it beyond doubt, combining a number of diet-intervention studies and previous cohort research that all… Continue reading Plant oils should replace butter, and this comprehensive study confirms it