Even a TREE knows its family tree! This is Sandra Tsing Loh with the Loh Down on Science. Sibling plants are cuttings from the same “mother” plant. But does mama plant recognize her kin? And do plants have “sibling rivalry” – like we humans? Susan Dudley and Amanda File
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It’s said that cockroaches can live through the apocalypse! Why can’t my garden be that resilient? This is Sandra Tsing Loh with the Loh Down on Science. When the mercury hits a new high, we humans can deal with it – we just stay indoors! But plants and animals are
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It’s flu season… for PLANTS?!? This is Sandra Tsing Loh with the Loh Down on Science. Like us, plants catch viruses. Their home remedy? Plants use molecular scissors to break viruses into tiny pieces. These bits of genetic material are replicated, creating small interfering RNA’s — or siRNA’s. These act
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Are pests destroying your garden? Maybe you should just. . . move! This is Sandra Tsing Loh with the Loh Down on Science. Biologists know there are more species of everything near the lush equator. Which means lots of plants — and animals to eat them, like hungry caterpillars! So
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Plants with bugs? And not the creepy crawly kind! This is Sandra Tsing Loh with the Loh Down on Science. Plants use sunlight and carbon dioxide to make their food through a process called photosynthesis. But the process is buggy! Plants can accidentally grab oxygen INSTEAD of carbon dioxide. And
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The Easter bunny is here… with a basket full of fresh air? This is Sandra Tsing Loh with the Loh Down on Science. Urban homes often contain high levels of pollutants, known as volatile organic carcinogens. These VOC’s include formaldehyde, benzene, and chloroform. Yuck! Certain house plants are a good,
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Can plants think? Would you believe… yes? This is Sandra Tsing Loh with the Loh Down on Science. Consider barberry, a European shrub. It produces bean-sized fruits, each with one or two seeds. Its biggest threat is a tiny fruit fly. The fly injects its eggs into one of the
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No one wants rotten tomatoes. But do you want cold ones? This is Sandra Tsing Loh with the Loh Down on Science. Sure, tomatoes stay fresh longer in the fridge. But as frustrated chefs and picky eaters know, they also lose their flavor! Why? Harry Klee from the Plant Innovation
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Spinach! Excellent source of vitamins, minerals — bomb detection? This is Sandra Tsing Loh with the Loh Down on Science, and with the latest twist on your favorite superfood. Plants are constantly taking in information from their surroundings. Their roots act like telephone wires that communicate and receive signals from
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How’d you like to wear your shirt —and eat it, too? This is Sandra Tsing Loh with the Loh with the Loh Down on Science. When fibers are plucked from a cotton plant, what’s left behind is pile of seeds practically bursting with protein. Unfortunately they’re also bursting with a
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