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From bud to branch: How buds communicate to shape plant architecture

Researchers from the University of Cambridge have discovered a unified model that explains how plants control their architecture by integrating local and systemic signals. This breakthrough could help scientists design new strategies to optimize crop yield, resilience, and resource use.

SourceUniversity of Cambridge·JournalPLOS Biology·TypeExperimental study·DateSep 19, 2025

Study finds the secret behind the corpse flower's famous stench

A Dartmouth-led study reveals the fundamental genetic pathways and biological mechanisms behind the corpse flower's heat production and odorous chemicals. The researchers identify a new component of the corpse flower's odor, an organic chemical called putrescine, which is released when the plant blooms.

SourceDartmouth College·JournalPNAS Nexus·TypeExperimental study·DateNov 11, 2024
GoPro HERO13 Black

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Improving crops with laser beams and 3D printing

Researchers use laser scanning to generate 3D models of sugar beet plants, capturing essential characteristics for AI-assisted crop improvement. The 3D models are reproducible and freely available, enabling efficient and cost-effective plant breeding in resource-poor settings.

SourceGigaScience·JournalGigaScience·TypeExperimental study·DateJun 19, 2024

The clue is in the glue - Nature’s secret for holding it together

A study by John Innes Centre researchers has revealed how plants avoid cracking under stress by using a growth hormone called brassinosteroid to loosen the straitjacket effect on their skin. The findings, published in Science, have implications for our understanding of plant development and potentially improve crop yields.

SourceJohn Innes Centre·JournalScience·DateJun 22, 2023

Scientists find unlikely pairs of DNA elements and regulator proteins make small plant stem cells destined to become tiny mouths

Researchers have elucidated a mechanism that makes tiny plant stem cells destined to give rise to stomata, cellular valves of plants. The discovery reveals two DNA codes and regulator proteins working together to lock in the fate of a plant cell.

SourceInstitute of Transformative Bio-Molecules (ITbM), Nagoya University·JournalNature Plants·TypeExperimental study·DateFeb 8, 2023

Trees might be 'aware' of their size

Researchers found that trees can adjust their stem radial growth in response to added weight, but this response varies along the stem. The study used a birch mutant that lacks this ability, revealing a key genetic locus involved in the mechanism.

SourceUniversity of Helsinki·JournalCurrent Biology·DateJan 30, 2020
Celestron NexStar 8SE Computerized Telescope

Celestron NexStar 8SE Computerized Telescope combines portable Schmidt-Cassegrain optics with GoTo pointing for outreach nights and field campaigns.

Chemical hints of ayahuasca use in pre-Columbian rituals

A study has uncovered chemical evidence suggesting the use of psychoactive plants in pre-Columbian rituals in Bolivia. The analysis of a 1,000-year-old ritual bundle found five psychoactive compounds, including cocaine and dimethyltryptamine, which hint at the use of multiple plants to make ayahuasca

SourceProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateMay 6, 2019

A stem's 'sense of self' contributes to shape

A new mathematical framework explains why plants have different shapes, attributing it to a 'sense of self' and its interaction with gravity and environment. The study uses simple ideas to quantify plant stem diversity.

SourceHarvard John A. Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Sciences·JournalJournal of The Royal Society Interface·DateMar 23, 2017

UBC research aims to help Canadian flax farmers

Researchers at the University of British Columbia have identified the genetic profile of the toughest part of the flax plant's stem, which is prone to causing damage to farm equipment. This breakthrough could lead to the development of tougher flax straw for use in paper and plastics production.

SourceUniversity of British Columbia Okanagan campus·JournalFrontiers in Plant Science·DateAug 10, 2016
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