Plants
Has Life on Earth Survived More Than Five Mass Extinctions?
Scientists aren’t just arguing whether humans are causing a sixth mass extinction event now, but whether many more occurred in the past
View 11 Breathtaking Images From the BigPicture Photography Competition
This 2024 showcase of life on Earth shines a light on some of our planet's most amazing species and places
Did the Extinction of the Dinosaurs Pave the Way for Grapes?
Newly discovered fossils in South America hint at the evolution and proliferation of grapes around the world
Chimpanzees May Self-Medicate With Plants, Using the Forest as a Pharmacy
New research suggests sick chimps seek out and eat plants with antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties—a finding that could advance drug discovery for humans
See 12 Captivating Bird Images From the Audubon Photography Awards
In its 15th year, the contest showcases diverse avian species, their fascinating behaviors and the habitats needed to keep them alive
Rare 'Absolutely Tiny' Plant, Not Seen for More Than a Century, Found in Vermont
The last time a botanist recorded a sighting of false mermaid-weed in the state was in 1916
A Poisonous Diet Gives These Animals Their Own Toxic Defense
From monarchs to sea slugs, various creatures consume chemicals that keep predators at bay
The 15 Best Small Towns to Visit in 2024
From a bluegrass capital in Virginia to a laid-back surf town in Hawaii, these spots are beckoning to tourists this year
This Tiny Fern Has the World's Largest Known Genome
The plant's genome has about 50 times as many base pairs as a human's, and its DNA from a single cell would stretch longer than a football field
Why Do Trees Drop So Many Seeds One Year, and Then Hardly Any the Next?
A new paper suggests that plants may use slow seed years to prevent the spread of disease
Scientists Uncover the Ancient Origins of Baobab Trees in Genetic Study
The trees originated in Madagascar 21 million years ago but later traveled long distances by way of ocean currents, according to new research
Where Do We Get Seeds for Seedless Fruit? And More Questions From Our Readers
You’ve got questions. We’ve got experts
An Ancient Maya Practice Could Be the Key to Growing Vegetables on Mars
Researchers are exploring whether intercropping—a technique of growing different types of plants in close proximity to one another—could be the secret to agriculture on the Red Planet
In a First, an Orangutan Healed His Own Wound Using a Known Medicinal Plant
The primate named Rakus chewed up yellow root and applied it to an open facial wound, closing the sore within days
Move Over, Cicadas: These Living Things ‘Go Dark’ For a Long Time, Too
From frogs to orchids, many organisms go dormant or move underground for lengthy stints
The English Farmers Who Harvest Rhubarb by Candlelight
The secret to the world’s sweetest rhubarb? Sealed sheds, total darkness and a little old-fashioned flair
How Rapa Nui Lost a Tree, Only to Have It Sprout Up Elsewhere
Before the toromiro disappeared from the island, at least two men grabbed seeds from the last remaining plant and brought them home
Alaska's Frigid North Slope Was Once a Lush, Wet, Dinosaur Hotspot, Fossils Reveal
Conditions north of the Arctic Circle, where dinosaurs roamed in abundance during the mid-Cretaceous, were warmer than today, with rainfall comparable to “modern-day Miami”
These Researchers Are Digging Into the Understudied Science of Roots
After centuries of neglect, botanists are using new techniques to understand roots
This High Schooler Invented an A.I.-Powered Trap That Zaps Invasive Lanternflies
Using solar power, machine learning and her family’s patio umbrella, 18-year-old Selina Zhang created a synthetic tree that lures the destructive species
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