Plants

From self-pollination to bogs, cranberries are a Thanksgiving classic with many fascinating botanical and genetic features

Trees can outsmart animals such as squirrels and birds by synchronizing their seed production

 “Pepper X” is officially the hottest pepper in the world, weighing in with 2.693 million Scoville heat units. The creator reveals his process and experience tasting the pepper

In addition to finding where citrus come from, researchers have pinpointed the genetic origins of the fruits’ tart taste

These mysterious spots of barren soil have fascinated scientists for years. Now evidence of their existence beyond two known locations is stirring up a fresh round of contention

When trees get too hot, energy production in their leaves breaks down

The world’s oldest moss has survived Earth’s shifting landscapes for more than 400 million years, but climate change is happening faster than it can adapt

Just seeing nature in VR brings some health benefits—and helps scientists learn why we need the real thing

Scientists have used quantum technology to track individual particles of light as they begin the process of photosynthesis

A tiny, orange Brazilian tree frog may be the first known amphibian pollinator, further broadening our understanding of which animals perform this crucial biological function

Hidden beneath the surface of the treasured strawberry is a unique branch of the evolutionary tree, where eight sets of chromosomes are better than two

Lañilawal, a Patagonian cypress that may be one of the oldest trees on Earth, needs greater protection if scientists are to understand its secrets of survival, an environmental scientist says