Collaborate Disseminate
When we think of our fellow plant-eating mammals, we tend to picture them just eating whatever they find while foraging. According to new research, however, the pocket gopher actually farms its food … and it’s the only non-human mammal to do so.Continu… Continue reading Study suggests pocket gophers may be the only other mammal that farms
Carnivorous plants are already quite fascinating, but a newly discovered one ratchets up the weirdness factor even further. It’s a type of pitcher plant, and it captures prey that lives underground.Continue ReadingCategory: Biology, ScienceTags: Univer… Continue reading Newly classified carnivorous plant goes underground to catch prey
When cooking oil is extracted from peanuts and sunflower seeds, a waste product known as oilseed meal is left behind. New research shows that proteins harvested from that meal can be used to filter heavy metals out of contaminated water.Continue Readin… Continue reading Low-cost filters use plant waste to remove heavy metals from water
Plastics are tough and versatile materials, which is great when they’re in use but not so good when they end up in the environment. Scientists at EPFL have now developed a new PET-like plastic material derived from waste plant matter that can be chemic… Continue reading Plant-based plastic strong as PET, degrades into sugars in the environment
Scientists have improved on the natural process of photosynthesis, not only growing plants more efficiently, but doing so in the dark. This could expand agriculture to areas that don’t get enough sunlight, and even help feed future space explorers.Cont… Continue reading Artificial photosynthesis lets plants grow efficiently in total darkness
In order to spread to other host trees, the parasitic mistletoe plant has very sticky seeds that cling to bird feathers, bark, and other materials. According to a recent study, the “glue” on those seeds could inspire new biomedical adhesives.Continue R… Continue reading Mistletoe glue could one day be used to seal wounds
Farmers could be spared a lot of work and expense – plus the environment could be spared a lot of harmful chemicals – if crops didn’t have to be sprayed indiscriminately. The new plant-inspecting Solix robot was designed with those facts in mind.Contin… Continue reading Crop-monitoring Solix agri-bot headed for field trials
Researchers have discovered what seems to be the largest plant in the world – a meadow of seagrass off the coast of Western Australia that covers a total of 200 km2 (77 miles2). The entire expanse has grown from just one seedling, spreading by cloning itself.
Category: Science
Tags: Plants, World’s Largest, University of Western Australia, Australia, Flinders University, Environment
Continue reading World’s largest plant: 112-mile-long seagrass found off Australian coast
Chopping down trees and processing the wood isn’t the most efficient or environmentally friendly way to make furniture or building materials. Scientists at MIT have now made breakthroughs in a process that could one day let us 3D print and grow wood di… Continue reading Lab-grown plant matter marks a step towards 3D-printable wood
Because seeds may contain yield-reducing fungi, bacteria or viruses, they’re often chemically treated before they’re sold to farmers. A new mobile system, however, substitutes microbe-killing electrons for harsh and eco-unfriendly chemicals.Continue Re… Continue reading Mobile system treats crop seeds using electrons instead of fungicides