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PLANT GROWTH ALTERATION
In 2021, NASA grew Hatch chile peppers on the International Space Station; over 137 days, the plants produced harvestable fruit with unusually straight stemsIn 2021, NASA astronauts successfully cultivated Hatch chile peppers aboard the International Space Station, observing that the lack of gra...
Science says plants can sense touch without a nervous system, the science is surprisingly complexPlants do not have brains, nerves or specialized sensory organs like animals, yet they can still detect mechanical changes in their surroun...
In 1991, EPFL scientists Brian O’Regan and Michael Grätzel developed solar cells inspired by plant photosynthesis. 34 years later, the technology had reached 12% efficiencyIn 1991, EPFL scientists Brian O’Regan and Michael Grätzel developed a solar cell inspired by plant photosynthesis. Their dye-sensitized so...
In 2012, the Reading Fire devastated 28,079 acres at California's Lassen Volcanic National Park. Four years later, crews treated 465 acres of bull thistle, helping native plants returnLassen Volcanic National Park faces bull thistle invasion after the 2012 Reading Fire. This invasive species thrives on disturbed lands and...
In the 1830s, America imported autumn olives from eastern Asia to stop erosion and reclaim mines; now the plant infests much of the United StatesAutumn olive, introduced from Asia, was used for erosion control and land restoration. This shrub's nitrogen-fixing ability and rapid growt...
In 2024, Nevada filled 1.8 million solar panels across the Mojave Desert; a rare milkvetch plant growing inside the farm started to produce 8 times more flowers and 10 times more fruit than plants outsideA rare Mojave Desert plant unexpectedly flourished inside Nevada's massive Gemini Solar Project. Researchers found threecorner milkvetch pl...
Nepal floods expose risks to hydropower in a warming HimalayasNepal’s devastating floods have damaged hydropower plants, roads, bridges and essential infrastructure, knocking out about 10% of the count...
America introduced Chinese Privet as an ornamental plant in 1852. It later spread across millions of acres of forestFirst spotted in 1852, Chinese privet has spread relentlessly across the American Southeast, wreaking havoc on local ecosystems. This invas...
Earth’s forests lost 60% of their canopy during ancient global warming—could it happen again?Ancient forests endured extreme global warming over 56 million years ago. This warming event caused a significant loss of forest canopy cov...
Study says wildfire smoke turns rain into liquid fertilizer packed with essential nutrientsWildfire smoke is transforming rainfall into a nutrient-rich fertilizer for ecosystems. This phenomenon, known as smoke-rain days, is becom...
Plants react to damage, but can they feel pain like humans? Here's what science saysPlants exhibit dynamic responses to environmental stress and damage. However, they lack brains and nervous systems to feel pain. Internal e...
Why are some mountain trees moving downhill as the planet warms? Scientists may have an answerMountain trees are migrating uphill and downhill due to climate change. Their water transport efficiency and drought resistance determine t...
In 2023, NASA grew tomatoes for 100 days aboard the space station; ground plants produced more than 100, while the space crop yielded 12 and was not eatenNASA's tomato experiment on the International Space Station faced major hurdles in microgravity, where watering issues resulted in uneven m...
Invasive tree of heaven is helping spotted lanternflies spread across US by feeding them its toxic sap; here’s why scientists are using it as a trapThe tree of heaven, an invasive species, facilitates the spread of the spotted lanternfly by providing an abundant source of plant sap. To ...
China's Geely used 800 engineers and AI to create a modular EV manufacturing system; Ford is now applying it in Spain, aiming to slash development time and costs by half without building the system itselfFor decades, Western automakers entered Chinese joint ventures primarily to secure access to local buyers. That dynamic has quietly inverte...
In 1992, engineers began protecting 55 km of Ottawa River shoreline with local rounded gravel. 19 years later, 80–90% of the banks were covered by indigenous vegetationOttawa River banks were protected using rounded granular material over fifteen years ago. This method halted erosion and created a riparian...
Satellite researchers studied China’s desert solar farms; vegetation developed across 30.8 square kilometres within and around the installationsSolar farms in the arid deserts of China are transforming barren landscapes into vibrant green spaces. Between 2011 and 2018, researchers n...
In 1984, Texas A&M researchers developed Rio Red grapefruit using radiation-induced mutations. 42 years later, it accounts for around 75% of all grapefruits produced in Texas, becoming the state’s dominant varietyTexas's popular Rio Red grapefruit originated from radiation-induced mutations in 1984. This variety, developed at Texas A&M University, of...
How to use aluminium foil in the garden: 6 surprisingly useful ways gardeners use this to protect plants, reflect light and deal with pests.Aluminum foil is a versatile tool for gardeners, offering a range of cost-effective solutions. For instance, reflective ground cover enhanc...
In the early 2020s, Hebrew University scientists edited 2 tomato genes involved in flower development and fertilization. Now, the plants can produce seedless fruit without fertilization and deliver more than 18 times as many fruits early in winterTomato gene editing: Hebrew University researchers edited tomato genes to boost fruit production significantly. These gene-edited plants ca...