New research from the Federal University of Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte (Brazil), sheds new light on the evolution of land plants, and specifically in one of the mechanisms underlying plant terrestrialization (the...
Side-view of the human eye, viewed approximately 90 degrees temporal, illustrating how the iris and pupil appear rotated towards the viewer due to the optical properties of the cornea, by Paul Savage Plant blindness...
Bloom: From food to fuel, the epic story of how algae can save our world by Ruth Kassinger 2019. Elliott & Thompson. As a Botanist, especially one who has taught an undergraduate module on marine biology for over 12...
Every so often you chance upon a scientific study that makes you think “What? That’s new or worthy of study (and publication…)?” I had that reaction when I saw the paper entitled, “Photosynthesis and circadian rhythms...
A polysaccharide found in the cell walls of land plants has now been found outside the cell. This chemical, Xyloglucan, could be one of clues as to how plants moved onto land.
For International Women’s Day 2018, we celebrate the life and work of Anna Atkins, a pioneer of photography. She pushed the technology of her day to its limit, breaking new ground and created cyanotypes that remain...
For International Women's Day 2017, we asked plant biologist Dr Zoë Popper to write about a typical day in her working life. Here, she reflects on the importance of diversity in her job.
The majority of available data on phytohormone profiles and metabolism concerns vascular plants. Žižková et al. monitor the mechanisms by which two main groups of phytohormones, cytokinins and auxins, control...
High light activates the xanthophyll cycle and increases the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS), such as hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), but the interrelationships between these parameters is poorly understood. Using...