While scientists have described over 350,000 plant species, as many as 100,000 plant species remain unknown. These undiscovered plants are the dark matter of botany, their identities and locations obscured to science. Yet, with extinction threatening an estimated 77% of undescribed plant species, the time to document them is running out. Identifying these species is […]
Plant diversity darkspots: Botany’s dark matter Read More »
Often viewed as vampiric blood suckers and rabies vectors, bats have a notoriously negative reputation invoking fear and disgust. Yet, people’s preconceived notions exclude the importance of these flying mammals. Bats are essential to the environment, the economy, and human well–being by controlling insect populations, pollinating plants, and dispersing seeds. A new study published in
Bats and babies: The chilling connection between a bat epidemic and infant mortality Read More »
Nestled between the brick and concrete buildings of Boston, a flash of green stands out. Joyous voices carry through the urban bustle as a group gathers in a verdant garden, eager to try the first tomatoes of the season. After several months of careful tending, the fruits have finally ripened on their sprawling vines, gleaming
Growing green: Reducing urban agriculture’s carbon footprint Read More »
Sea otters, adored for their expressive faces and fluffy fur, are some of the most well-known and charismatic aquatic animals. Beyond their cuteness, these marine mammals are keystone species that play an integral role in their environment. As top predators, sea otters are crucial to balancing coastal ecosystems such as kelp forests, enhancing ecological resilience
Sea otters: Guardians of the kelp forest Read More »
Plant a tree for every dollar donated, 10,000 steps walked, or 50 Google searches made. Across the globe, tree-planting initiatives such as these campaigns have skyrocketed in response to the rising threat of climate change. Numerous organizations, from nonprofits to governments to businesses, plant billions of trees each year in the hopes of offsetting greenhouse
Biological deserts: The harms of monoculture tree plantations for carbon storage Read More »
On the harsh, icy cliffs of the Tibetan Plateau, an ancient moss carpets the ground. Covered by snow for eight months of the year, Takakia is a highly specialized moss and one of the fastest-evolving plants ever documented. Surviving four mass extinctions, this 390-million-year-old moss species saw the rise and fall of dinosaurs and the