plants

Do Plants Fart?

You'll never look at your potted plants the same way again.

Anna Atkins (1799–1871), Dictyota dichotoma, in the young state & in fruit, from PartXI of Photographs of British Algae: Cyanotype Impressions, 1849-1850, cyanotype

How 19th-Century Photographer Anna Atkins Changed the Way We Look at Science

Her identity was a mystery for decades.

Florida's Red Tide Has Reached the Miami Area

The phenomenon is rare on Florida's east coast.

Scientists Have Figured Out Why Marimo Balls Only Float During the Day

Algae have circadian rhythms, too.

Rare 'Unicorn' Plant, Which Hasn't Been Seen in 131 Years, Discovered In Maine

Surprise!

An Avocado Shortage Has Triggered a Fruit Crime Wave in New Zealand

Kiwis are desperate to get their hands on the green stuff.

8 Seemingly Harmless Plants That Can Kill or Maim You

Coming in contact with one of them feels like “being burnt with hot acid and electrocuted at the same time.”

6 Unexpected Uses for Aloe Vera That Go Beyond Sunburns

It's more than a moisturizer.

How Does Catnip Work?

Not all cats love it.

Willem van Haecht. 'The Gallery of Cornelis van der Geest, 1628.' Found in the Collection of Rubenshuis.

John Tradescant, Royal Gardener and Forefather of the Natural History Museum

He created a "world of wonders in one closet shut."

This Plant Can Burn Your Skin With Its Sap—And It May Be Coming to Your Neighborhood

It's now found in 11 states.

5 Smartphone Games That Let You Tend Plants and Chill Out

These games are almost as relaxing as taking care of a real garden.

What Makes Tumbleweeds Tumble?

They didn't get that name by accident.

These Are America's 10 Worst Cities for Allergy Sufferers

Spring (a.k.a. pollen) is in the air.

Massive Tumbleweeds Invaded a California Town, Trapping Residents in Their Homes

They stand 3 to 4 feet tall.

A New NASA Map Shows Spring Is Coming Earlier Each Year

Warm temperatures mean that national parks are seeing plants emerge from winter earlier.

The Chemistry Behind the Smell of Rain

It's called petrichor, and a surprising amount of research has been done into the origins of the scent since it was first identified more than five decades ago.

Composite by Mental Floss. Illustrations, iStock.

The DEA Crackdown on Thomas Jefferson's Poppy Plants

In 1991, recreating Jefferson's legendary garden meant running afoul of federal law.

Palm Trees in Canada? It Could Happen, Thanks to Climate Change

The tropical flora could one day be a common sight at higher latitudes.

Matthias Heyde/Ministry of Agriculture and Food, Flickr // CC BY-ND 2.0

Norway's Doomsday Seed Vault Is Getting a $12.7 Million Makeover After Flood

The Svalbard Global Seed Vault is designed to safeguard the world's crops against extinction, and it's getting a major upgrade to keep it safe.

15 Confusing Plant and Animal Misnomers

As biology has developed, some of our common plant and animal names have turned out to be pretty far off the mark.

Rare Banana From Japan Comes With a Peel That's Meant to Be Eaten

Banana skins were already good for you—now they're easy to eat, too.

15 Dramatic Nature Illustrations by 19th-Century Scientist Ernst Haeckel

His artworks showed the wonders of evolution to a wide audience.

5 Trouble-Shooting Tips to Keep Your Houseplant Alive

Are the leaves of your houseplant wilting, or turning yellow? Use these five tips to help when things appear to be going south on your windowsill.