In Phytoremediation, Plants Extract Toxins from Soils
Researchers have a cheap, easy way for cleaning up oil spills: letting plants do the work. Why isn’t it used more often?
Plant of the Month: Heliconia
Heliconias can distinguish among pollinators like hummingbirds and respond selectively to their visits.
Are Honey Bees Bad for Wild Bees?
Recently, the health of the honey bees has been a topic of some concern. But many scientists think we should actually be worrying about wild bees instead.
How to Be the Fattest Bear
Gaining enough weight to survive a winter of hibernation is actually very hard work.
The Busy, Beneficial Beaver
Americans have long viewed beavers as nuisances. But their dams are important for water management, helping to store and recharge depleted groundwater.
The Ecosystem of the Used Mattress
Recently, EPA administrator Scott Pruitt directed staff to arrange for the purchase of a used mattress from a hotel. What's in a used mattress, anyway?
Bees’ and Orchids’ Pseudo-Romance Broken by Climate Change
Rising temperatures are upsetting the bee-orchid pollinating schedule, threatening to snuff out the flower.
Natural and Man-Made Disasters, from Atom Weather to Fire Ants
Mother Nature’s wrath can be unpredictable and random, but history shows that humankind is ultimately responsible for many "natural disasters."
The Ecology of Death
In nature, death creates its own unique ecosystem. These carcass-based mini-ecosystems are extremely dynamic.
Climate Change, Fungal Change
Climate change is having an effect on the fungal communities in the soil that trees and other plants depend on.