TO BURN OR NOT The beloved burn of chili peppers causes a dilemma for plants in the wild, new research suggests. Heat helps protect the seeds from a fungus, but it may also leave plants less tolerant of drought and plant seeds more vulnerable to ant attacks. The finding may explain the variety of heat found in the fruit of Capsicum chacoense plants, shown above, even within the same population. Courtesy of Harry Nyström
MOSCOW, Idaho — Sometimes it’s good to be not so hot.