Genes in many organisms tend to hang around in pairs, with one member of the that comes from mum and one coming from dad. But for some species, having just two sets of genes isn’t enough- they like to double or even triple up on things.
Today we’re talking about plants who want more, and what you can do when you have too much of a good thing.… Read more
This week, we’re talking about Tegan’s favourite plant, Elizabeth Mrema, the end-of-history illusion and many fun things from the world of science!… Read more
Do you ever wonder how you would have turned out if you’d hung out with different crowds in your youth? All living things – you, me, plants – are shaped by their environments, which includes both non-living/abiotic factors (sun, sea and soil), and biotic factors – the other living things around us.
The seaweed Ulva mutabilis is no different – while growing up its shape and size heavily relies on the microbes around it. And without its bacterial friends, it will never settle down.… Read more
On today’s episode of “how it’s made”: Thorns!
The pointy defence system relied on by many plants has an interesting origin story. Thorns start out as branch-like structures that grow out of the main stem and then, all of a sudden, turn into sharp death spikes. Now, researchers have not only figured out how that happens, but also how it can be stopped. … Read more
There is an important part in recording a podcast and that is hitting the record button. As one of us missed that crucial input for this week’s episode, the sound is a bit… not great. Don’t worry though, the stories we tell are making up ten-fold for the lack audio quality. We talk about how scientists developed a way to use soap bubbles to pollinate plants! … Read more
Oh sun! How beautiful are the days when you shine, how warm is your light, and how much energy do you push into the photosystems of our plants!
Sometimes, as it turns out, that energy is a little too much. A surplus of light creates a major challenge to plants, causing damage to the core of their photosystems. Recent research shows that the simple addition of an extra copy of an important gene can prime plants to keep producing even when the heat is on.… Read more
Reproduction in the plant world isn’t always boy meets girl, or ‘pollen meets pistil’. Sure, some plants are all about the sexual reproduction, but others like to make children clonally. And others still, take the best of both worlds, changing their method of reproduction to suit their environment and needs.
A recent study reveals how the type of children a plant makes can be all about the soil they grown in. Differences in the soil nutrients can make one reproductive strategy more successful than the other, which ultimately changes the genetic makeup of local populations.… Read more
First things first: Black Lives Matter. After a short break, we’re back with a new episode, we first address the issue at hand of police brutality against people of colour and what it means to us as white plant scientists. To provide a little diversion from the horrors of the current situation of the world, we also talk about our favourite science and plant related fun facts.… Read more
When we deal with pests on crop lands, we usually stick to a few straightforward strategies. We either try to breed more resistant plants or we spray them with specific and less specific pesticides. Organic farming – while still using some spray-on pesticides – has vowed to reduce their use. And as researchers recently discovered, they might do very well without them. … Read more
It’s the 50th episode! Instead of our usual routine, we play a game of fake, fake, truth and answer your listener questions. Tag along for a fun special episode!… Read more