With its fluffed, spiraling top and thin trunk, the Sanfordiacaulis densifolia tree looks like it came straight out of Dr. Seuss’ The Lorax. But this isn’t a truffula come to…
Category: News
This first-of-its kind palm plant flowers and fruits entirely underground
Palm trees are often associated with Hollywood Boulevard and tropical resorts, but their relatives in the palm family Arecaceae can come in many different shapes and sizes. And one shuns…
On some Australian islands, sea level rise may be helping mangroves thrive
Some mangrove forests off Australia have flourished in the last several decades, a new study reports. And, counterintuitively, rising sea levels may be responsible. Off Australia’s northern coast, the skeletal…
Salty sweat helps one desert plant stay hydrated
Sweat keeps some animals cool in scorching heat. Salty secretions also serve one desert shrub a refreshing sip of water. The Athel tamarisk uses a special selection of salts excreted…
The first citrus fruits may have come from southern China
Citrus fruits’ hometown is in China, a genetic analysis suggests. An extensive look at wild members of the orange family tree hints that the first species in the Citrus…
The fastest-evolving moss in the world may not adapt to climate change
The world’s oldest moss has seen three mass extinctions — but may not survive climate change. The genus Takakia has the highest number of fast-evolving genes of any moss, researchers…
Flowers pollinated by honeybees make lower-quality seeds
Flowers pollinated by honeybees make fewer and lower-quality seeds than flowers visited by other pollinators. That could be because honeybees spend more time buzzing between flowers of the same plant…
Air pollution monitoring may accidentally help scientists track biodiversity
The ability to track animals and plants is up in the air — literally — thanks to help from an unexpected source. Around the globe, many air quality control stations…
Soil microbes that survived tough climates can help young trees do the same
Microbial stress can be a boon for young trees. Saplings grown in soil microbes that have experienced drought, cold or heat are more likely to survive when faced with those…
Electromechanical resonators operating at sub-terahertz frequencies
Suspended lithium niobate mechanical resonator vibrating at 100 GHz. Credit: Xie et al To further advance communication systems, increasing both their speed and efficiency, electronics engineers will need to create…
