Articles for category: Plants

How Fungi Connect Forests Through Underground “Wood Wide Webs”

How Fungi Connect Forests Through Underground “Wood Wide Webs”

Annette Uy

Beneath the quiet shade of towering trees, a secret world pulses with life, invisible to the casual hiker and even seasoned botanists. Imagine a network as intricate as the internet, but woven by nature, connecting trees, plants, and entire forests in a web of life and communication. This astonishing underground system, driven by fungi, is ...

Infected cassava plants.

The Cassava Mosaic Virus: A Hidden Threat to Food Security in the Tropics

Trizzy Orozco

In the lush, verdant landscapes of the tropics, cassava stands as a vital lifeline for millions. But beneath its leafy canopy, a silent enemy lurks—one that threatens the very fabric of food security in this region. The Cassava Mosaic Virus (CMV) is a formidable adversary, stealthily impacting the lives of those who rely on cassava ...

Treedome - living architecture.

Can We Grow Buildings? The Science of Living Architecture

Trizzy Orozco

Imagine stepping into a world where buildings breathe, adapt, and even heal themselves. This is not the plot of a futuristic novel but a burgeoning reality as scientists and architects explore the possibilities of living architecture. The concept of growing buildings has captivated the imagination of many, blending the boundaries between biology and architecture. But ...

Glowing Trees and Living Lights: Bioluminescence as the Future of Sustainable Lighting

April Joy Jovita

Bioluminescence, the natural phenomenon where living organisms emit light, has captivated scientists and designers alike. From fireflies to deep-sea creatures, its biochemical process is now inspiring sustainable lighting solutions. Recent advancements in bioluminescent technology, including glowing trees and bacteria-based lighting, highlight its potential to revolutionize urban and domestic lighting systems. The Science Behind Bioluminescence Bioluminescence ...

Detailed close-up shot of a dried upland cotton plant with brown background.

The Plant That Sparked a War: Cotton’s Complicated Legacy

Maria Faith Saligumba

Few plants have shaped human civilization quite like cotton. This seemingly innocent white fiber has orchestrated empires, fueled industrial revolutions, and tragically, provided the economic foundation for one of history’s most devastating conflicts. From ancient civilizations to modern fashion runways, cotton’s journey through time reveals a story far more complex than its soft, fluffy appearance ...

The Trees That Still Wait for Mammoths: How Some Species Are Struggling Without Their Ancient Dispersers

The Trees That Still Wait for Mammoths: How Some Species Are Struggling Without Their Ancient Dispersers

Annette Uy

Imagine a world where mammoths roamed vast landscapes, their presence shaping the environment in profound ways. These magnificent creatures, now extinct, played a crucial role in the survival and spread of certain tree species. Today, in their absence, these trees face unique challenges, waiting in vain for their ancient dispersers. This intriguing relationship between trees ...