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Woman cares for plants, watering green shoots from a watering can at sunset. Farming or gardening concept. Bottom view.

Why watering your plants at midday won't damage their leaves

10 May 2023

It is a long-held idea that midday watering will scorch plants' foliage and damage their health – but this isn’t supported by the evidence, says James Wong


A wood transistor made from balsa wood soaked in a conductive polymer, along with carbon fibres, paraffin wax, silver paste and carbon paste.

Wood transistor could let us embed electronics in trees

24 April 2023

An electrochemical transistor made from balsa wood opens up the possibility of embedding sensors and other electronic devices in plants, which could help in agriculture and forest management


Carnivorous plants use a sneaky trick for luring different bugs to eat

Carnivorous plants use a sneaky trick for luring different bugs to eat

19 April 2023

Some carnivorous plants seem to tailor the cocktail of scents they emit to the prey they want to attract, which shows that their smell plays a key role in luring insects and other creatures


2F6N0XJ A shot of beautiful orchid garden in Thailand.

What is so special about orchids and why are there so many?

19 April 2023

Orchids seem unique in how they inspire such a devoted following, but why are these much-loved plants so diverse and widespread, wonders Penny Sarchet


The spiky shape of sunflower pollen may clear bee guts of parasite

16 April 2023

Sunflower pollen’s spiky texture dramatically reduces the prevalence of a widespread gut parasite in eastern bumblebees


Climate change is fuelling the spread of viral diseases in plants

11 April 2023

Warmer and wetter weather has been linked to higher rates of infection in an analysis of plant virus outbreaks across the world from 1984 to 2019


Boy using smartphone to photograph a plant

Apps that identify plants can be as little as 4 per cent accurate

5 April 2023

There are many smartphone apps that aim to identify plants from photographs, but tests have found that most are not very accurate


Venus flytrap cyborg snaps shut with commands from a smartphone

Venus flytrap cyborg snaps shut with commands from a smartphone

25 March 2023

Researchers created a plant-based robotic arm by connecting a Venus flytrap equipped with soft electrodes to a metallic structure and wirelessly commanding it to grab things


Beetle daisy (Gorteria diffusa), Springbok, Namaqualand, South Africa - Image ID: C119J6 (RF)

How daisies make deceptive petals that look like female flies

23 March 2023

South African daisies co-opt the genes they usually use to grow root hairs and transport iron to create petals that resemble female flies – enticing males to land and pollinate the plant


M93A81 Golden colored Asian Rice plants (Oryza sativa) growing in their natural condition with drooping rice grains and a mountain background in rural Japan

Gene-edited rice may be able to grow on Mars

15 March 2023

Martian soil is generally poor for growing plants, but researchers have used CRISPR to create gene-edited rice that might be able to germinate and grow despite the hostile habitat


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