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A New NASA Map Shows Spring Is Coming Earlier Each Year
Warm temperatures mean that national parks are seeing plants emerge from winter earlier.
PLANTS
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.
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.
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.
Scientists Find Two New Species of Deadly 'Bird-Catcher' Trees
The trees want birds to disperse seeds—but sometimes kill them instead.
6 Beautiful Botanical Sketches From History
Botanical Sketchbooks, a new book by Helen and William Bynum, collects some of the best drawings of the world's flora dating back to the 15th century.
In 1989, Someone Tried to Murder a 600-Year-Old Oak Tree in Texas
As Austinites processed their shock and grief, the police worked to nab the perpetrator.
Read One of the First Eyewitness Accounts of Antarctica
Joseph Dalton Hooker ate penguins and discovered volcanoes on the 1840s expedition.
How Plants Fight Back Against Predators
Unable to run away, plants have developed some vicious defense mechanisms.
5 Smart Gardening Devices to Turn Your Thumb Green
Are you forgetful about watering your houseplants? These devices can help.
Meet the Man Cloning Ancient Redwood Trees
Reforestation promises to bring back old-growth trees...very slowly.
How to Preserve Your Herbs So They Stay Fresh Longer
Don't let your leftover rosemary get dry and flavorless.
Tree-Climbing, Seed-Spitting Goats Help Trees Grow in New Places
Goats climb argan trees and eat the fruit, then return to the ground, wander off, and spit the seeds into new soil.
Farmer Sets Out to Grow a Pretty Plant—Creates World’s Hottest Pepper Instead
The Dragon's Breath chili is 1.5 times hotter than the Carolina Reaper.
Scientists Finally Crack the Sunflower’s Genetic Code
Previous attempts to dissect the full sunflower genome have all been unsuccessful.
Build an Indoor Garden With These LEGO-Like Planters
The modular blocks can be configured to fit any space.
Native Plants Helped a Colorado Neighborhood Save 15 Million Gallons of Water a Year
A Denver neighborhood managed to save millions of gallons of water by replacing juniper bushes and grass with native plants that were made to survive in the high desert.
Meet the World's Smallest Fruit
It's easy to be impressed by big things.
NASA Is Developing an Inflatable Greenhouse to Use on Mars
NASA and researchers at the University of Arizona are building a greenhouse that can mimic conditions on Earth to feed astronauts on the moon and on Mars.