For the first time ever, scientists have grown plants in soil samples collected from the Moon fifty years ago, a feat that could have implications not only for prolonged space exploration, but for plants trying to thrive in harsh conditions on our planet. During the study, which was funded by NASA, University of Florida scientists […]
One argument for preserving biodiversity is that there are many plants with medicinal or health benefits that could go extinct before we are even aware of them. Now, scientists have pin-pointed 1,044 underused plants that could be potential sources of vitamin B, and 63 of them are threatened in their natural habitat. “We need to […]
Over centuries, civilizations developed methods of dyeing with natural materials for colorful expressions of culture, clothing, and art. Archeologists have found evidence of dyes as far back as the Neolithic period, and Native Americans are known to have used mountain alder, bloodroot, black walnut, and other natural sources to imbibe color. Yet, with the rise […]
Okra is commonly called gumbo in Africa, and it’s known for its sticky, thickening properties used to make the hearty comfort food that southerners in the United States know as gumbo, naming the dish for the plant itself. Aside from being a five-star comfort food, okra’s potential health benefits are plentiful: It’s a good source […]
The Earth is full of diverse and fascinating species, and more than 2,200 of them have been lost to science for at least 10 years. That’s why the Texas-based conservation group Re:wild has launched its “top 25 most wanted lost species” list, and on Wednesday it added eight new species to replace those that have […]
They are everywhere: in the air we breathe, the water we drink, within our bodies, and under our feet. Fungi are a crucial component of our lives, even when we can’t see them. Between two and four million species of fungi exist on Earth, and more than 2,000 new species are discovered every year. The […]
In the winter, our houses get drier, temperatures get colder, and hours of sunlight get shorter. An extra sweater or two might work for us, but make sure your houseplants are also getting the care they need this winter. Make these seasonal changes to keep your indoor greenery happy during their dormant winter months. Adjust […]
The World Wildlife Fund (WWF) has reported 224 newly discovered species in the Mekong region, which stretches across parts of Laos, Thailand, Vietnam, Cambodia, China and Myanmar and contains rich biodiversity in its 200 million acres. The report covers species identified in the area in 2020 because such a lag is typical, as the WWF […]
Biodiversity loss and the climate crisis could interact to drive plant species to extinction. A new study published in the journal Science Thursday found that a loss of seed-dispersing bird and mammal species has already cut the ability of plants to follow a changing climate to their ideal range by 60 percent, and this may […]
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