A variable-stiffness tendril-like soft robot based on reversible osmotic actuation

Creepy, crawly tendrils meet soft robotics.

This soft robot mimics plant tendrils to creep and climb

Creepy Crawly Robots

A new kind of soft robot mimics the way plant vines grow in order to creep, crawl, and climb over obstacles in its environment.

This Soft Robot Mimics Plant Tendrils To Creep and Climb

This little sprout has got places to go! 🌱

Extreme weather is preventing plants from processing carbon

CO2 Overload

New research shines a light on the importance of soil moisture in plants' ability to trap CO2 — and extreme weather events could hinder that ability.

Extreme Weather Is Preventing Plants From Processing Carbon

We could be on the brink of a climate tipping point.

Instead of ruining your paint job, your car could act like a big Etch-a-Sketch.

New self-repairing material could let you key your car just for fun

It's Alive

A new material harnesses photosynthesis to automatically plug holes and repair scratches with just air and sunlight. But it's not quite useful yet.

New Self-Repairing Material Could Let You Key Your Car Just for Fun

A new material regrows itself with air and sunlight by hijacking a plant's photosynthetic abilities.

The supposed benefit of climate change probably isn’t a benefit at all.

Spring might come earlier, but food shortages will still happen

Earth & Energy

Climate change affects food production by lengthening growing seasons, but shorter winters can do more harm than good in some instances.

Spring Might Come Earlier, but Food Shortages Will Still Happen

Longer growing seasons don't necessarily mean more crops. 

Air pollution has major impacts on human health.

China will plant 32,400 square miles of trees to combat air pollution

China has tasked 60,000 soldiers to increase the country's total forest coverage in an attempt to combat its serious air pollution problem.

China Will Plant 32,400 Square Miles of Trees to Combat Air Pollution

China has tasked nearly 60,000 soldiers to handle the job.

Humans have proteins that are structurally similar to LRR-receptor kinases, so new insights into the biological mechanisms of plants could help us, too.

Researchers have mapped out how plants sense our world

Hard Science

In a new study, researchers mapped out the interactions of around 200 of the proteins essential to plants complex sensory processing.

Researchers Have Mapped Out How Plants Sense Our World

While the sensory processes of plants are complex and mysterious, researchers gleaned insights into 200 of the proteins involved.

Anesthetics have become a critical part of medical systems around the world.

Scientists discover plants respond to anesthetics — which could end animal testing

Health & Medicine

Researchers have discovered that plants respond to anesthetics the same way that humans and animals do, opening potential avenues for drug testing.

Scientists Discover Plants Respond to Anesthetics — Which Could End Animal Testing

This finding could drastically change how we test drugs. 

It looks like a polio virus and acts like a polio virus, but it was made in a plant.

The new method out of the John Innes Centre creates a virus that looks and acts like the polio virus, but carries no risk of passing on the disease.

Plants Have Been “Hijacked” to Create a Vaccine — And it Could Eradicate Polio

Polio has been nearly eradicated, but it is still a potential threat.

As we explore our galaxy for planets that may host alien life, scientists imagine how different features of a planet would impact the plant life there.

/Plants

Creepy Crawly Robots

This Soft Robot Mimics Plant Tendrils To Creep and Climb

CO2 Overload

Extreme Weather Is Preventing Plants From Processing Carbon

It's Alive

New Self-Repairing Material Could Let You Key Your Car Just for Fun

Earth & Energy

Spring Might Come Earlier, but Food Shortages Will Still Happen

Earth & Energy

China Will Plant 32,400 Square Miles of Trees to Combat Air Pollution

Hard Science

Researchers Have Mapped Out How Plants Sense Our World

Health & Medicine

Scientists Discover Plants Respond to Anesthetics — Which Could End Animal Testing

Health & Medicine

Plants Have Been “Hijacked” to Create a Vaccine — And it Could Eradicate Polio

Hard Science

Scientists Imagine What Plants Would Look Like on Alien Worlds

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