Some bent trees can straighten themselves using tension wood, which forms on the upper side of bends and provides a pulling force, resembling muscle function.

Wind helps trees develop resistance to collapse

Scientists at Biosphere 2 found that trees grew faster in the facility than those in the wild but collapsed more quickly when replanted outdoors. Researchers uncovered that trees build resistance when pushed and pulled due to wind stress, strengthening their foundational root systems.

Despite lacking a traditional nervous system, plants have specialized cells that help detect gravity, enabling them to identify which way is down to grow roots and which way is up to push shoots toward the surface.

Do trees feel pain?

Trees don’t have nerves or brains. But when they’re wounded, they send underground and airborne warnings to other trees.

Plants use physical and chemical defenses to protect themselves

Tree bark is difficult to chew and resistant to pathogens, while the waxy cuticle on the surface of leaves deters insects and microbes. Some plants possess thorns, spines, and prickles to discourage predators. Plant cells can also produce antimicrobial toxins or release compounds to alert parasitic wasps to lay eggs in attacking insects.

Transpiration drives water movement through a plant’s vascular system

Water evaporates from the leaves, creating tension that pulls more water upward from the roots through the xylem—the equivalent of plant blood vessels. This process is supported by water molecules sticking to each other (cohesion) and xylem walls (adhesion).

A fascinating look at why cucumber tendrils coil in opposite directions

The tendrils of cucumber plants coil when they hit a surface, creating a distinct telephone-cord look. Charles Darwin wrote about the mystery in the 1850s, though it wasn't until the 21st century that scientists figured out just how mysterious the coil is: its tendrils coil in opposite directions.

How trees transport water from roots to leaves

Trees move water to their extremities via a deft system starting from the roots to the leaves. See how it works in this short video breaking down the process in a Douglas fir.

Tree rings can reveal centuries of environmental change and natural events

The width and shape of tree rings reflect yearly growth conditions like rainfall or snowfall. Scars in the rings can record disruptions such as fires, avalanches, or earthquakes, explaining when and how those events occurred.

Real-time tracking of individual hair cells has revealed that hairs don't actually get pushed out from the root—instead, hair cells are tugged upward by surrounding tissues that act like tiny motors.

The complexity of classifying a tree

It may seem obvious to us when we see a tree, but very specific characteristics cause scientists to distinguish trees from other types of plants. This video provides a visual and verbal explanation of distinctions that separate trees from other plants like shrubs or herbs. See a scientific breakdown of these traits.

Many trees lose their leaves in the fall to conserve resources for future blooming rather than spending them on keeping leaves alive in the wind and cold of winter.

'Viscoelasticity' allows muscles to be elongated briefly after stretching

The protective tissues around skeletal muscles consist of elastic proteins like collagen. Stretching them expands their length while retaining strength, ideal for athletes.

Plant hormones and growth regulators guide growth stages and responses in plants

Plants naturally produce hormones like auxin and gibberellins, while humans apply synthetic or extracted growth regulators to control plant development. These substances influence processes like flowering, root growth, dormancy, and ripening—even in very small doses.

Complex molecular reactions in our tissues cause muscle contraction

When we want to move a muscle, a signal travels from the brain and into the muscle cells in question, sparking a chemical reaction that causes the muscle's smallest contractile units—sarcomeres—to shorten, forcing the muscle to contract.

Biosphere 2 revealed limitations in maintaining wildlife in unfamiliar environments

Trees appeared to become weak and more prone to breaking because a lack of wind caused them to no longer need to develop stress wood. The extinction of pollinators—potentially due to an explosion in the population of longhorn crazy ants—was also unexpected.

See how artificial Christmas trees are made

Modern artificial Christmas trees are built from bent steel frames and PVC plastic. The plastic is cut into strips and shredded to mimic the needles of an evergreen tree. See the factory process of these mass-produced holiday mainstays.

A Venus flytrap's hairs convert sensory touch into electrical signals

A stretch-activated ion channel called DmMSL10 acts as an amplifier, converting grazing contact into a strong impulse that the plant uses to react and close its jaw. To distinguish prey from raindrops or other stimuli, the jaw only closes when the hairs are touched twice in quick succession.

Explore how cells respond to signals from their environment

In "Dropping Signals," users can drag stimuli, such as hormones and light, into various cellular environments to observe cellular responses. These include changing their shape, enabling the transport of chemicals into or out of the cell via the cell membrane, or dividing to compensate for surrounding damaged cells.

The three categories of photosynthesis, which each help plants survive in different environments

In the vast majority of plants, C3 photosynthesis produces three-carbon intermediate molecules in the Calvin cycle within the cells of leaves. Plants in hot, dry climates use C4 photosynthesis across two types of cells to produce four-carbon molecules before the Calvin cycle. Plants in drought conditions use CAM to store carbon dioxide as an acid at night, minimizing water loss.

Watch students comically portray how plants can detoxify the environment

Through a series of processes that collectively make up phytoremediation, plants can take up pollutants from soil and water through their roots, then break them down, release them as less harmful gases, or store them within their cells. Any plants that sequester heavy metals or other toxins must be removed and managed after the environment is decontaminated.

Adhesion molecules and intercellular junctions allow cells to connect together

While some organic structures are mostly composed of non-cellular components (e.g., collagen and calcium phosphate minerals in bones), tissues and organs composed of connected cells rely on specialized proteins and connections to create watertight seals that protect cells within the interior from environmental molecules.

Engineering tall structures requires managing wind, earthquakes, and other destabilizing factors

Reinforced concrete, energy dampers, braced frames, flexible structures, and aerodynamic decks were among the methods implemented when building structures such as the Shanghai Tower, the Texas Super Skyscraper, and the South Rangitīkei Viaduct.

One of the leading theories behind muscle movement

According to the Sliding Filament Theory, skeletal muscle contraction is made possible by sarcomeres, which are made of bundles of myosin and actin proteins inside muscle cells. Myosin pulls itself along actin to contract a muscle, shortening the muscle and its cells and enabling physical movement. It then releases its grasp on actin so it can start the process over again if so commanded.

Possessing trunks that contain about 40,000 individual muscles, African elephants act as keystone species by trampling and clearing trees, making pathways in forests, digging water holes, and spreading seeds.

Some tectonic plates move faster than their underlying convection currents

Like a chain slipping off a ledge, as tectonic plates sink, their weight can pull the rest of the trailing plate forward, accelerating their movement. Plates can also break apart and fall, creating a suction effect that drives movement, resembling leaves following a passing car.

Some animals may anchor their brain cells to specific landmarks to determine direction

In a study of bats exploring a new area, specific sets of "head direction cells" were seen becoming active based on bats' orientation when moving, and this activity became more coordinated over time. Researchers suspect, like humans, bats and other animals establish this sense of direction based on movement relative to known points of interest.

Various types of tornadoes are distinguished by their shape, size, and location

Waterspouts form over water as long, thin columns of mist and air, while elephant trunks are tornadoes that elongate vertically as they become tilted during their formation, resembling the mammal's appendage. Wedge tornadoes are among the most powerful, often spanning a mile or more in width.

Virtually all plants are biofluorescent because their photosynthesis is powered by chlorophyll, a pigment that glows red as a way to get rid of excess energy when exposed to ultraviolet light.

Scientists testing how climate change affected plants found in a yearslong simulation study that poison ivy grew 70% faster than it did without extra carbon dioxide.

Flexible integrated circuits can be built from carbon nanotubes and elastic materials

Stanford researchers arranged the nanotubes in fishnet-like networks that allow deformation without loss of function. The stretchable ICs have been shown to power micro-LED displays and may be used in smart clothing.

How the pigments that absorb light for photosynthesis contribute to plants' green color

Although light energy is captured to power the reactions that produce the building blocks of starch, cellulose, glucose, and other sugars, chlorophyll a and b are most sensitive to violet, blue, orange, and red light, leaving green light mostly unabsorbed. This green light is instead reflected, giving most plants this color appearance.

Exercise can lead to muscle microtears, but the body's repair systems cause those fibers to grow back larger.

The chlorophyll in plants captures energy in the form of red and blue light

Light-dependent reactions during photosynthesis convert sunlight into chemical energy, stored within the bonds of molecules such as ATP and NADPH. Rather than being absorbed for these reactions, most green light is reflected, causing most plants to appear green.

Tardigrades’ intrinsically disordered proteins may help preserve biological matter

Researchers have attempted to create more drought-resistant crops by introducing proteins that help protect tardigrades in their dehydrated tun state. The proteins’ ability to stabilize molecular degradation may allow scientists to develop refrigeration-free storage for vaccines, insulin, and blood.

Fig trees are considered keystone species because they provide year-round habitat and fruit, which are eaten by an estimated 1,300 species of birds and mammals worldwide.

An inventory of ancient trees in the United Kingdom

The world is filled with trees that are hundreds—if not thousands—of years old, and the UK's Woodland Trust believes each one deserves the same protections great cathedrals and castles receive. This active database invites users to peruse...

The research pipelines being explored by the RIPE Project to improve photosynthesis

These include engineering plants with faster stomata, which would allow photosynthesis to resume more quickly amid fluctuations in available light due to clouds or shading from other plants, and resolving bottlenecks in the regeneration of RuBP, the molecule to which carbon dioxide is fixed during photosynthesis to initiate the Calvin cycle. (Some readers may experience a paywall.)

Oxygen and nutrients are circulated in tardigrade bodies through physical movement

Rather than having a circulatory system, oxygen is directly absorbed through their skin and spreads through a fluid called hemolymph as tardigrades crawl. When molting to grow, they shed their outer skin and stylets—sharp mouth parts used to pierce prey—which are regrown in their salivary glands.

Nitinol is an example of a shape memory alloy, which can be trained to 'remember' a specific shape and, if deformed, revert to it upon being heated.

Visualize the purpose of stomata in photosynthesis

These openings on the underside of leaves can be opened and closed by specialized guard cells to regulate the movement of carbon dioxide into and oxygen out of cells, thus impacting the rate of photosynthesis. At night, when the light-dependent reactions in photosynthesis are not possible, the stomata close to prevent the plant from losing water through transpiration.

Rodent research suggests goose bumps may play a role in hair growth—raising questions about if this knowledge could be used to reactive sympathetic nerves in hair follicles to boost hair growth in people.

When experiencing turbulence, fluid elements undergo stretching and folding

Simulations show patches of fluid particles, such as splashes of milk, bend under turbulent flow, creating curvature that grows linearly then exponentially. This accelerated deformation enhances folding and mixing faster than other methods, such as stirring or beating.

How MIT researchers have used genetic mutations to improve photosynthesis efficiency

Recognizing that RuBisCO—a protein that binds carbon dioxide to other compounds to produce the building blocks of organic molecules—often mistakenly binds oxygen, scientists performed directed evolution experiments to modify the geometry of a bacterial version of the protein to cause it to preferentially interact with carbon dioxide over oxygen.

A weed from the mustard family facilitated the molecular era of botany

The small genome and rapid growth cycle of Arabidopsis thaliana have made it an ideal organism for genetic studies, with over 100,000 research papers exploring topics such as disease resistance, stress tolerance, and response to light. The first studies were done on plants that grew from seeds saved during the Hungarian Uprising of 1956.

Why do dreamers twitch?

This thought-provoking piece highlights newer research suggesting sleep twitches may not be random dream leftovers, but instead a crucial way our brains map and understand our bodies. From sleeping rat pups to dreaming octopi, this biological mapping system appears universal across animal species.

Watch a time-lapse from space of photosynthesis across Earth

Using NASA satellite imagery, carbon absorption can be tracked and serves as a proxy for photosynthetic activity on land and in the oceans. Over the course of a year, seasonal changes can be observed as plants become dormant in the fall and active again in the spring.

Because rising temperatures cause materials to expand, bridges and other infrastructure are built with gaps called expansion joints to accommodate the resulting lengthening.

Limb regeneration research may lead to treatments for arthritis

For scientists pursuing the cure for arthritis, the holy grail of discoveries lies in how to regrow healthy cartilage inside human joints. While this feat has so far resisted our best scientific attempts, there are plenty of other human tissues—such as the liver and fingertips—that will successfully regenerate.

Biological terraforming studies have been conducted at Biosphere 2

The experiments involve populating barren hillslopes within the Landscape Evolution Observatory with microbes that react with air and rock to produce molecules needed by more complex organisms. Mosses and other simple plants can then grow in these spaces, gradually making them more hospitable to humans.

Electrogenic animals generate their own electricity within an electric organ by changing the pattern of electrical charges in disc-shaped cells called electrocytes.