Plants

Portable sensors and artificial intelligence are helping researchers decode animal communication—and begin to talk back to nonhumans

Mycologist Flora Patterson helped make the USDA fungus collection into the world’s largest. She also made a mean mushroom “catsup”

A rare flower encased in amber is the largest one ever found and dates from around 40 million years ago

A biological “spring” helps a pitcher plant fling insects to their doom

Prizewinning great pumpkins are approaching 3,000 pounds as growers perfect the process

Prevent your jack-o’-lantern from turning into moldy, maggoty mush before Halloween

No life on the moon; safe gas at home

A new study explores how the flying spider-monkey tree fern might hoard chromosomes

From the depths of the ocean to the peaks of mountains, species are moving out of their historical homes in search of cooler conditions

Science in meter and verse

“Sexually transmitted” plant viruses may be on the rise because of agricultural activity

New work shows how grass could have developed its distinctive sheath