Electric fields surround charged particles, creating an attraction or repulsion. Opposites attract, and objects with the same type of...

Plants have sophisticated systems of communication. Electric signaling is one of the ways plants express themselves. They generate and...

Common mycorrhizal networks form through symbiotic relationships of fungi and plant roots. By enabling communication and interaction...

Plants form complex communication networks. One way they interact is by releasing volatile organic compounds (VOCs). These carry...

Allelopathy is the natural production and release of chemicals, or allelochemicals, by plants and other organisms. It's only one of many...

Plants are dynamic participants in their environments. They sense and respond to stimuli like light, using specialized photoreceptors to...

Scammony ( Convolvulus scammonia ) is a powerful purgative, used to treat constipation and other health problems. It's taken as resin,...

Ethanol, also known as ethyl alcohol , is a clear, flammable liquid with a wine-like odor. It's produced by microbial fermentation of...

Biofuels, made from organic materials, promise a renewable alternative to fossil fuels. While the sunny side of biofuel touts its...

Phosphate solubilizing bacteria (PSB) transform inorganic phosphorus from insoluble compounds into forms plants can easily absorb. PSB...

Melanin is a pigment found in many organisms such as plants, fungi, microbes and animals including humans. Its multiple functions adapt...

Experiments on the International Space Station (ISS) achieve success when astronauts cultivate and eat lettuce in space. With...

Morning glories are easy to grow and fairly low-maintenance. In balcony gardens they need a lot of water and at least a bucket-sized...

The Great Pacific Garbage Patch (GPGP) is in the central North Pacific Ocean. A massive moving marine dump, it accumulates vast amounts...

Earth's atmosphere is made of layers, each with certain characteristics and functions. From weather at ground level to the expanse of...

Genetic engineering, manipulation or modification (GM) makes direct changes to DNA, influencing the characteristics of organisms. It's...

Slime molds dwell in dark, damp environments of decaying matter, like forest floors or compost heaps. They morph between fungi and...

OPEC emerges from a morass of political upheaval and economic shifts to consistently influence oil production and pricing worldwide. Its...

Uruk in Mesopotamia is considered the first true city in human civilization. One of the largest sites of the ancient world, Uruk is...

Cassava ( Manihot esculenta ), also called manioc or yuca, is a woody shrub native to South America. This root vegetable has significant...