Plants
Where Have the Trees of Guam Gone?
Scientists are investigating whether the obliteration of the island's bird species is thinning the tree canopy and could alter the forests' structure
Bean Leaves Don’t Let the Bedbugs Bite by Using Tiny, Impaling Spikes
Researchers hope to design a new bedbug eradication method based upon a folk remedy of trapping the bloodsuckers as they creep
What Makes Rain Smell So Good?
A mixture of plant oils, bacterial spores and ozone is responsible for the powerful scent of fresh rain
The Greening of the Arctic is Underway
As the climate changes, trees and shrubs are poised to take over tundra and alter the Arctic's ecosystems
A Survey of the 161 Bacterial Families That Live on Your Fruits and Veggies
The first-ever sequencing of the "produce microbiome" reveals that grapes, peaches and sprouts host the largest diversity of harmless bacteria
Sea Monkeys, Ferns and Frozen Frogs: Nature’s Very Own Resurrecting Organisms
As Easter draws near, we celebrate creatures that seemingly die and then come back to life
Even Bees Get a Buzz When They Drink Caffeine
The drug, naturally present in coffee and citrus plant nectars, is shown to improve honeybees' long-term memory
A Plague of Locusts Descends Upon the Holy Land, Just in Time for Passover
Israel battles a swarm of millions of locusts that flew from Egypt that is giving rise to a host of ecological, political and agricultural issues
Jane Goodall Reveals Her Lifelong Fascination With…Plants?
After studying chimpanzees for decades, the celebrated scientist turns her penetrating gaze on another life-form
Could Disappearing Wild Insects Trigger a Global Crop Crisis?
Three-quarters of the world’s crops—including fruits, grains and nuts—depend on pollination, and the insects responsible are disappearing
Events February 26-28: A Garden Scavenger Hunt, Japanese Flute and Drums and Author Taylor Branch
This week, get active in Smithsonian's gardens, jam out to jazz on traditional Japanese instruments and meet the author of The King Years
The Story of How An Artist Created a Genetic Hybrid of Himself and a Petunia
Is it art? Or science? With DNA, Eduardo Kac pushes the limits of creativity and ethics
Trash Threatens Fragile Antarctic Environment
Decaying field huts, open pits of trash and oil-slicked beaches mar King George Island, a logistical hub for Antarctic research
The Year’s Most Outstanding Science Visualizations
A juried competition honors photographs, illustrations, videos, posters, games and apps that marry art and science in an evocative way
PHOTOS: Orchids of Latin America
Known for being particularly eye-catching, the orchids of Latin America are part of religious, cultural and even culinary life in the region
Plants Flower Nearly a Month Earlier Than They Did A Century Ago
In 2012, many plants in the eastern U.S. flowered earlier than in any other year on record
Covered in Ink, Cross-sections of Trees Make Gorgeous Prints
Connecticut-based artist Bryan Nash Gill uses ink to draw out the growth rings of a variety of tree species
Long-Term Marijuana Use Could Have Zero Effect on IQ
Last summer, a study found that long-term cannabis use reduced cognitive skills. A new study seems to say the opposite
5 Science Stories to Watch in 2013
The new year could feature discoveries of life within subglacial Antarctic lakes, the brightest comet in generations and more
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