‘Prof. Plastic’ alter ego: Arabidopsis thaliana
On its own Arabidopsis thaliana, commonly referred to as “wall cress,” is just a small flowering plant. But…
Browsing Tag
Environment
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‘Madame Salt’ alter ego: Dwarf Glasswort
According to the U.N.’s Food and Agriculture Organization, nearly 20 percent of the world’s irrigated agricultural lands are…
‘Commander Carbon’ alter ego: Spekboom
Once considered just an ornamental bonsai plant outside of its home range of South Africa, the shrub Portulacaria…
‘Captain Biodiesel’ alter ego: Jatropha curcus
Google “jatropha,” specifically the species Jatropha curcus, and it’s hard to miss the hundreds of Web sites touting…
‘Dr. Pharm’ alter ego: Safflower
In what could be the beginning of plant-based pharmaceuticals, Canada’s SemBioSys Genetics Inc. has genetically modified safflower plants…
‘The Grass Giant’ alter ego: Miscanthus
Move over corn, giant Miscanthus is on track to take over your domestic renewable ethanol production commitments. Actually…
‘Rubber Root’ alter ego: Guayule
Apparently the rubber world is at a crossroads. Natural rubber, which makes products like latex gloves, predominantly comes…
Futurists Fear Droughts More Than Pandemics
Two noted futurists are less concerned about acute knockout blows from a pandemic and more fearful of diminishing water and increasing warmth.
American Idling: The Ecological Cost of Keeping the Engine Running
The quick, simple act of turning your car off instead of idling whenever possible could play an enormous role in slowing the rate of climate change.
‘Deforest Fires’ Fan Global Warming
Deforestation has long been associated with global warming, but a new paper suggests the method of deforesting — intentionally burning — may be a terrifically potent climate changer, too.