Notes from the Editor
What’s happening with all these News in Brief posts?
Creative grumpiness is changing how we blog and post to social media.
Ecosystems
Can You Grow An Instant Pollinator Paradise?
New research reveals how to create diverse, transplantable pollinator gardens quickly.
Plants & People
Teaching Botany: the Taylor Swift method applied to plants
Are you looking for a strategy to teach botany in a more captivating way? In this post, we interview Glaucia Silva, a young Brazilian botanist who got inspiration from botanical references found in Taylor Swift’s songs and made up a brilliant method to grab the attention of tired and bored biology s
Cells, Genes & Molecules
Rafflesia’s Stinky Secret under the Spotlight
Scientists discover when and where the world’s largest flower produces its infamous rotting smell.
Ecosystems
Connected City Gardens Create Havens for Vital Insect Pollinators
New study reveals how connected green areas in cities can boost pollinator populations, paving the way for urban agriculture.
Growth & Development
Algae Perform Photosynthetic Manoeuvres In The Dark
Arctic microalgae can grow in light levels 100 times lower than previously thought.
Cells, Genes & Molecules
Heather Species Reveal Surprising Evolutionary Secrets
Cape heathers show rapid shifts between bird and insect pollination, despite ongoing hybridisation.
News in Brief
How Green Are Schools?
School gardens boost learning and wellbeing, but research reveals gaps in our understanding of these vital green spaces.
News in Brief
Herbaria Hold Hidden Treasures for Biodiversity Research
Old plant specimens hold the key to understanding Canada’s diverse plant life better than smartphone apps.
Ecosystems
Forest Fringes Supercharge Hoverfly Populations in Farmland
Treed field borders export over 82,000 more hoverflies per km weekly into canola crops than herbaceous borders, regardless of crop bloom.
Ecosystems
Fire Raged Through Earth’s Ancient Forests
Middle Devonian plants burned frequently, reshaping our view of early oxygen levels.
Ecosystems
Manatees Are The Underwater Gardeners Of The Amazon
Seeds and seedlings found in manatee poop reveal their crucial role in spreading aquatic plants across the Amazon.