By Peter Gray Ph.D. Freedom to Learn Some doctors are prescribing gardening for stress disorders, instead of drugs. I’ve been vegetable gardening pretty much my whole adult life, so it’s fun to see research revealing its benefits. Perhaps you’ve read about the Blue Zones, areas of the world, described by […]
Maple trees are just the beginning. You can tap, boil, and brew tree syrup from many other species too. Maple syrup ready for pancakes and waffles. LadyDragonFlyCC via Wiki This story was originally featured on Outdoor Life. There are windows of opportunity in nature, and one of my annual favorites is […]
Almond trees are at full bloom in late February. Most almond fields have two or more varieties within the field and require cross pollination by bees. Credit: Sat Darshan Khalsa A favorite healthy snack, almonds are a staple on grocery store shelves worldwide. More than 80% of these almonds are […]
Rufous hummingbirds use numerical order to figure out which flower in line is the juiciest. DONALD M. JONES/MINDEN PICTURES Tiny, feisty rufous hummingbirds are known for their long migrations, which take them up and down the length of North America each year. Now, they have a new claim to fame: […]
The daytime temperatures in Hyderabad can exceed 40C (100F), making shade from trees essential S.BASU Street vendors are being denied the “right to shade” under street trees in Hyderabad, India, a study suggests. Urban trees play an important role in providing a comfortable work environment for the city’s outdoor traders, […]
In first extensive study of commercial avocado oil quality and purity, UC Davis researchers find majority impure or stale. Food scientist says standards needed to protect consumers and industry. Consumer demand is rising for all things avocado, including oil made from the fruit. Avocado oil is a great source of […]
A mixture of dinoflagellates and diatoms from the L4 coastal monitoring site off Plymouth, England. Credit: Claire Widdicombe A shortage of summer nutrients as a result of our changing climate has contributed to a 50% decline in important North East Atlantic plankton over the past 60 years. New research, published […]
A microscopic view of spiny pollen from a native wild dandelion species in the southern Rocky Mountains. Credit: University of Missouri University of Missouri researchers discover wildflower’s spiny pollen adapts to help plants reproduce. Have pollen. Must travel. Over 80% of the world’s flowering plants must reproduce in order to […]
Research team from the University of Göttingen investigates the influence of storage on the flavor of ripe tomatoes. There is much debate about the correct storage of tomatoes. There are two main options available to consumers: storage in the refrigerator or at room temperature. A research team from the University […]
Different grades will find different uses. Not all syrup is suitable for those breakfast pancakes GETTY IMAGES Scientists have developed a “golden tongue” to help producers test the quality of maple syrup. A team of researchers from Canada used the precious metal to develop a way of checking whether samples […]