Plants

Plants

Here’s why blueberries are blue

Nanostructures in a blueberry’s waxy coating make it look blue, despite having dark red pigments — and no blue ones — in its skin, a new study reports.

Plants

This weird fern is the first known plant that turns its dead leaves into new roots

Cyathea rojasiana tree ferns seem to thrive in Panama’s Quebrada Chorro forest by turning dead leaves into roots that seek out nutrient-rich soil.

Paleontology

A rare 3-D tree fossil may be the earliest glimpse at a forest understory

The 350-million-year-old tree, which was wider than it was tall thanks to a mop-top crown of 3-meter-long leaves, would look at home in a Dr. Seuss book.

Ecosystems

How an invasive ant changed a lion’s dinner menu

An invasive ant is killing off ants that defend trees from elephants. With less cover, it’s harder for lions to hunt zebras, so they hunt buffalo instead.

Plants

This first-of-its-kind palm plant flowers and fruits entirely underground

Though rare, plants across 33 families are known for subterranean flowering or fruiting. This is the first example in a palm.

Chemistry

‘Most Delicious Poison’ explores how toxins rule our world

In his debut book, Noah Whiteman tours through chemistry, evolution and world history to understand toxins and how we’ve come to use them.

Plants

On some Australian islands, sea level rise may be helping mangroves thrive

Rising seas usually spell trouble for mangroves. But the first survey of the Howick Islands in 50 years finds that mangroves there have expanded a lot.

Plants

Salty sweat helps one desert plant stay hydrated

The Athel tamarisk excretes excess salt through its leaves. The buildup of salt crystals pulls water directly from the air, a study reports.

Plants

Berkley Walker wants to revamp photosynthesis for a changing climate

Finding ways to make plants work better could help feed a growing population, especially as the planet warms.

Genetics

These 8 GMOs tell a brief history of genetic modification

Since the first genetically modified organism 50 years ago, GMOs have brought us disease-resistant crops, new drugs and more.

Plants

The first citrus fruits may have come from southern China

An in-depth look at the orange family tree shows the oldest Citrus ancestors arrived in Asia on the Indian tectonic plate over 25 million years ago.

Plants

The fastest-evolving moss in the world may not adapt to climate change

The genus Takakia has the largest number of fast-evolving genes of any moss, a study finds. But it’s losing ground in the warming Himalayas.