Plants
Plants are one of the kingdoms of life, and they are everywhere, from the grass and flowers in our gardens, to the trees and shrubs of the woodland, to the vines and carnivorous plants of the rainforest. Plants provide us with our fruits and vegetables, and of course coffee and chocolate! They are a vital part of our food chain, providing food for herbivores, often in return for pollination. Plants provide more than just food for us: they photosynthesise, producing the very oxygen that we breathe.
The secret way insects (and their poop) are spreading plants around the world
New evidence is showing that bugs are playing a much larger role in seed dispersal than we thought.
How can embracing biophilia lead to a richer, happier life?
Just don't forget to water them.
Why 'no-dig' gardening is the zero-effort way to improve your garden
Put the spade down – science recommends going easy on your soil.
Here's how life would actually mutate after nuclear fallout
Don’t expect ghouls or radroaches in a real nuclear apocalypse.
How do peanuts grow?
Peanuts have an alias: Ground nuts. And here’s how they got it.
The strange science behind the 'rainbow' tree
This stunning, brightly coloured tree has neon stripes running along its trunk making it look as if it has been painted.
Why scientists are now racing to stop a mass plant extinction
The race is on to document and protect the world’s plant and fungi species... and everything is at stake if we lose.
The world’s largest pumpkin is ridiculously large… But is far from its biological limit
Pumpkins keep getting bigger thanks to time spent in cell division, specialised tissue, and selective breeding.
What is guttation?
The build-up of water inside plants is released via sap through specialist pores in the leaf.
Nature’s weirdest: This (ugly) shampoo ginger lily plant can make your hair look beautiful
The staggering benefits of the house plant, explained.
10 surprisingly poisonous plants you should avoid in the UK
If you go down to the woods today, don't start treating it like a salad bar...
How does carbon dating work?
It's used to determine the age of organic materials (e.g. wood, charcoal, and bone) by measuring the amount of the radioactive isotope, carbon-14, remaining in the sample.
Plants let out secret high-pitch screams when stressed
They sound a bit like bubble wrap being popped, apparently.
The strange science of 'edimentals’: Edible plants that will satisfy your eyes and stomach
Fun fact: common garden flowers can enrich your diet.
The 7 biggest gardening myths, debunked by science
Why you should never use a spade in your garden, and why common slug traps don't work.
Do houseplants actually improve air quality?
With more and more of us working from home, are there any benefits in bringing the outdoors, in?
What is ash dieback?
It's a disease that affects the UK’s native ash species, the European ash.
Wildfires: A climatologist explains what you need to know
Wildfires are unplanned, uncontrolled and unpredictable. Here's what you need to know.
Vertical farming: Why stacking crops high could be the future of agriculture
It drastically reduces the space needed to grow crops.
Instant Genius Podcast | How plants solve crimes, with David Gibson
Professor David Gibson sits down to explain how forensic botany - the study of plants to help solve crimes - has helped to solve real cases.
Why do trees have such shallow root systems?
A tree's feeder roots are often found in the top 20-30cm of the ground.
A Kew botanist reveals what to plant to keep your garden looking lush during the next heatwave
Droughts and heatwaves will keep ravaging our gardens in years to come. These are the plants that can cope well with high temperatures and drier conditions.
Botanists' tips on how to plant for heatwaves
This year has seen hot weather, droughts and hosepipe bans, which have left our green spaces looking miserable. Gardening experts from Kew reveal what we should plant for future heatwaves.
Photosynthesis: What is it and how does it work?
Photosynthesis is essential for almost all life, and it’s the primary source of oxygen in the atmosphere.