Will rising carbon dioxide levels really boost plant growth?
New research finds more CO₂ can actually make most plants smaller in the long-term - but the story for crops isn’t so simple.
Primary Results
Plants can recover after being burned, so why might some species in the Amazon face local wipe out?
Not only can plants survive fire, they can use the experience of being burned to prepare themselves for future blazes.
Hacking plant ‘blood vessels’ could avert food crisis
Today’s wars are not about food, but not too far in the future they could be. The number of people dying of starvation has been falling for decades, but the decline in the numbers of hungry people is slowing…
Curious Kids: where did the first seed come from?
This is the story of how seeds came together bit-by-bit over a really long time, as plants evolved.
Plant‑based milk products: what you need to know before making the switch
Look out for products fortified with important vitamins and minerals.
Insects are spreading a devastating plant disease in Italy – Britain must keep it out
The meadow spittlebug can transmit a deadly bacterium – many plants in Britain could be at risk.
Why don’t plants get sunburn?
New research from the University of Geneva is helping us understand how plants protect themselves from the sun.
The strange world of the carnivorous plant
Ever since their discovery, carnivorous plants have fascinated scientists and spurred the imagination of artists, writers and filmmakers. While the Puya chilensis cactus at the Royal Horticultural Society…
Scientists create electric circuits inside plants
Do androids smell electric roses?
Botanists are disappearing – just when the world needs them most
Botany is disappearing from university modules in the UK.
Secondary Results
