Lawns have long been the sign of a clean and respectable neighborhood, causing U.S. homeowners to maintain weekly or even daily upkeep on 40 million acres of lawn nationwide. The history and environmental impact of a trim yard, though, suggests the grass is not always greener with traditional lawns. British colonizers initiated today’s concept of […]
The American lawn: Is the grass always greener? Read More »
Crisp apples, plump tomatoes, juicy berries, and citrusy oranges are endless luxuries in the middle of Boston’s cold, dead winter. Despite slush and ice covering grass and sidewalks, grocery shelves are fertile with everyone’s favorite produce. However, the fresh fruits and vegetables that fill the aisles involve a lengthy journey and intense science to get
Fruit that lasts forever! How gene editing may answer the problem of postharvest waste Read More »
After a long day of exploring the lush jungles of Guam, you and your adventure buddies relax in the shade of a native coconut palm tree. Suddenly you hear a slight rustle of leaves in the canopy above. Fearing the worst, your eyes dart upwards in frantic search of the abundant, ill-famed brown tree snake
Space invaders: The carnage of invasive species Read More »
It’s no secret that climate change is responsible for a plethora of environmental issues, and according to recent research, a giant and toxic algal bloom off the west coast of the United States can be added to the long list of climate change–induced disasters. According to a 2020 study published in Frontiers in Climate and
Blooms of doom: How toxic algae is harming marine life on the west coast Read More »
As spring approaches, albeit slowly, the threat of allergies encroaches. Seasonal allergies, often due to pollen, leave the afflicted congested, with itchy eyes and more. These symptoms all stem from a common denominator: pollen, or in other words, plant sperm. The immune system is primed to maintain balance in the body by removing potential threats,
Tree sexism: Why — Achoo! — allergies get so bad Read More »
Our world is embracing smart technology, especially those available to consumers like a Fitbit or an Apple Watch. Smart wearables are everywhere, and most people have or know of someone who has at least one form of them. Although smart wearables are at the forefront of everyone’s minds, what if we thought about them in
Mush-room for improvement: Harnessing the powers of fungi and technology Read More »
When considering endangered species, people often think of animals like the white rhino, polar bear, or dodo bird. What people often fail to consider is the fact that plants can be equally as susceptible to being endangered or going extinct, often from human impacts. Plants are just as vulnerable as animal species to the impacts
Seed banks: So humans can stop & smell the roses for generations to come Read More »
Most of the time, the natural phenomena that are visible from space are destructive forces such as hurricanes, volcanoes, and forest fires. But every so often, a beautiful display of flowers illuminates satellite images. In the springs of 2017 and 2019, the dry hills in southern California exploded into what has become known as a
California’s super blooms: A force of nature Read More »
We all like to think we are saving the turtles when we throw a plastic bottle in the recycling, but where does this actually end up? According to a new study from the University of California, Santa Barbara, a shocking 79 percent of that plastic ends up in landfills — or even worse, in the
Where does recycling actually go? Read More »