Scavengers possibly Arctic foxes and ravens devoured Khroma's heart and lungs as well as parts of the trunk and skull between the time she was discovered in 2008
and tried to blow it out of her trunk. Because the nasal passages narrow in the trunk she only managed to get the mud stuck even more.
It moved straight into her trachea and bronchi and by that time she was exhausted too
While Feeding Like an herbivorous Count Dracula a snakelike vine coils around its leafy victim punctures its stem
Old Trees Grow Fastest Like a fairytale beanstalk a tree can grow and grow until it scrapes the sky.
Trees store carbon in their tissues such as wood bark and leaves. So scientists assumed the older trees were growing more slowly
but the biggest oldest trees can swell their wood bark and leaf mass by 1300 lbs.
about 600 kilograms) in one year the researchers report. I think one of the reasons the idea that older trees grew more slowly had such staying power is
#The divers had told us that groups of juvenile cod flit in and out of cracks in a nearby ice wall.
On this trip the dive team gathered about 200 juvenile emerald rock cod primarily using little green fishing nets the kind you d use in a child s aquarium.
This time of year green seems to be everywhere from the warmer weather that encourages spring blooms to St patrick's day to Earth Day.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) boys and girls in this age group should be eating a minimum of one cup of fruits and a cup of vegetables per day.
#and moon#having the same roots. Like many civilizations the Romans transitioned away from a lunar calendar to one that better reflected the seasons:
Soil carbon comprises roots from plants dead matter and waste from plants and animals and a vast population of microbes.
but also from dead roots as well as stems branches and tree trunks that have fallen to the ground. The carbon in the organic matter largely stays locked away in the soil like an enormous reservoir.
Over time carbon is released as greenhouse gases carbon dioxide and methane when the matter is degraded by soil microbes.
They found that the invasion actually increased the amount of leaf material contributed to the soil
Simply put kudzu leaves and stems are easy for microbes to degrade pine needles and stems are not.
This means that carbon is locked in with waste from pines; whereas it gets released by kudzu.
When kudzu invades its leaves stems and roots become the major plant contributors to the soil organic matter replacing pines'contribution.
This has a threefold effect. First over time the hard-to-degrade pine matter decreases in abundance.
That is where I had marked a spot for some moist leaf litter. I crouched and dug around in the litter to find an inch-long creature chestnut-brown with pink highlights curled up on top of the dirt.
because they contain potatoes said study researcher Samara Joy Nielsen a nutritional epidemiologist at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
The researchers analyzed leaf mass per area which indicates how much carbon a plant invests in growing a leaf.
whether the leaf was a chunky expensive one to make for the plant or whether it was a more flimsy cheap one Blonder said.
The scientists also looked at leaf vein density a measure of how fast a plant takes up carbon.
which can be subject to existing methods of genetic testing to verify their origins cacao has been a tougher nut to crack.
#Zhang who worked at a cacao research center in Peru for a decade decided to use the seed coat of the cacao bean to extract the DNA needed to make a positive identification of the plant's origins.
Farmers would freely exchange their seed with others in order to identify characteristics that could be beneficial in their particular soil or climate conditions.
and free exchange of seeds and the freedom to use them for the breeding of additional varieties has been a key component of agricultural progress.
Taking inspiration from this we have created a similar organisation the Open source Seed Initiative (OSSI) whose aim is to free the seed that is to make sure that the genes in at least some plant seeds can never be locked away from use by intellectual property rights.
OSSI kicked off its outreach activities on the University of Wisconsin campus on April 17 this year with members plant breeders seed companies
and sustainability advocates rallying to share seeds with each other and with the community. They then took a pledge to keep that seed freely available to anyone who wants to use it.
We chose April 17 as it had been designated as the International Day of Struggles in Defence of Peasants
and Farmers Seeds announced by landless and peasant farmers groups worldwide in response to the growing struggles they face with commercialised agriculture
and the increased patenting of seeds. OSSI s Open source Seed Pledge commits anyone who receives
and uses OSSI seed to keep that seed and any seed derivatives that are bred from that seed freely available for use by others:
By opening this packet you pledge that you will not restrict others'use of these seeds and their derivatives by patents licenses or any other means.
You pledge that if you transfer these seeds or their derivatives you will acknowledge the source of these seeds
and accompany your transfer with this pledge. This pledge is OSSI s equivalent of the idea that underpins the open source software movement in the form of the General Public Licence or GPL.
The GPL states that the software is free to use but any modifications to it or other software derived from it must be licensed under the GPL too ensuring the benefits accrue to the public
and continue to be free. Importantly that s free#as in freedom not free#as in you don t have to pay for it.
Because just as we need free speech to be able to say what needs to be said we also need free seed to be breed able to
what needs to be bred. This OSSI pledge to freely share is essential. A patented seed cannot be saved
or replanted or shared by farmers and gardeners. There is no standard research exemption for patented material
so plant breeders at universities and small seed companies usually cannot use patented seed to breed the new crop varieties that should be sustainable alternatives to the conventional cultivars of the big commercial firms.
The fruits of their research the seed were freely available to all. Today much research work is being done by major agro-tech businesses
But increasingly that access is being limited due to seed patenting and licensing. OSSI creates a pool of genetic resources that are freely available for all to use share save replant
which seeds can be widely distributed. These seeds can never be owned wholly or their use restricted.
In addition OSSI serves an educational mission to promote awareness of germplasm access for farmers gardeners
#Among the 36 varieties of 14 species shared on April 17 Were wrinkled Crinkled Crumpled cress from Frank Morton of Wild Garden Seed in Oregon Full Pint malting barley from Pat Hayes of Oregon
State university Midnight Lightning zucchini from Vermont s High Mowing Organic Seeds and Sovereign carrots from the University of Wisconsin s Irwin Goldman.
Most of the OSSI varieties are available as organic seed and were bred with organic growers and gardeners in mind.
Clearly there is a hunger for seed that is not just agronomically good but also fair. In the future OSSI hopes to offer a certified brand that can be used in seed catalogues to identify free seed#to those who agree that what the world needs is more free
and open source seeds not patented and indentured seeds. OSSI is seed itself a that we have planted
and we wait with hope to see how it grows. Irwin Goldman is on the board of the Open source Seed Initiative
which is in the process of obtaining not-for-profit status in the US. Jack Kloppenburg does not work for consult to own shares in
Most of the fungus grows below the ground in a vast network of root-like tubes called hyphae.
and meat Although they prefer plants especially roots seeds and leaves they also eat locusts lizards snakes and rodents according to the San diego Zoo.
10 Iconic Hairstyles That Took Root Those skulls with brown hair often had rings or coils around their ears a style that was popular at Amarna she found.
#19 New Swift & Clever Praying mantises Discovered Swift deadly hunters lurk in the trees many camouflaged to look like lichen or bark.
Svenson discovered the new mantises part of a group called bark mantises in museum collections and in tropical forests.
or development encroached on habitat. 6 Strange Species Discovered in Museums Neotropical bark mantises live on tree branches
and tree trunks Svenson said. They're fleet of foot dashing around tree trunks like lizards when spotted.
The mantises have flattened mottled bodies that mimic bark moss lichen or dead leaves. They fly poorly so their last line of escape is to leap to the ground
and blend in with the detritus on the forest floor. The 19 newfound species triple the previously known diversity of this group.
but new bulbs do a better job of mimicking the sun. The lights use less electricity
Patented seeds represent a hot topic in agriculture because they are sold under the agreement that farmers will not save
and replant seeds from the resulting plants. Companies like seed producer Monsanto sometimes sue farmers who violate these agreements.
High up in the forest canopy the animals interlace strong stems and foliage into a basketweave creating a thick springy mattress that sinks in the middle.
Scientists have known that chimpanzees build these sleeping platforms since Jane Goodall famously studied the apes in Tanzania's Gombe Stream National park in the 1960s.
and more comfortable to sleep on than the branches of other local tree species which can have sparse protruding stems.
Ugandan ironwood might even keep bugs at bay. In a study published last year in the journal Primates Samson and Hunt found that mosquitos were less likely to congregate around C. alexandri
and leaf surface area and that they select species that provide the widest range of advantages including predator avoidance postural stability thermoregulation
(and sometimes kill) and trade restrictions due to unsafe meat perhaps it's time to start looking at the root of the problem.
and carpeted in corn stalks and soybean rows. Farmers here know that sooner or later commodity prices fuel prices seed prices
and in the past 50 got this spindly trunk in the center because it got warmer at the top of this mountainside there's something that's a very literal depiction of climate change happening right in front of you.
By looking at a cross-section cut through the bark of a tree scientists can count up the rings
Also known as coffee leaf rust or Hemileia vastatrix the fungus spreads easily through the air on spores.
The study researchers found snakes use a much greater force to grip tree trunks and other surfaces they're climbing than is necessary.
Tough growing conditions and rising demand are leading some coffee producers to mix in wheat soybean brown sugar rye barley acai seeds corn twigs and even dirt.
and grinding the beans it becomes impossible to spot any twigs berries or even dirt that blend in with the dark grounds.
which aims to improve various aspects of photosynthesis such as leaf structure and enzyme characteristics in order to boost yield.
It's a very tough epidemiological nut to break Baler said. Additionally researchers looking to study long-term marijuana use have had difficulty in finding people who regularly smoke marijuana
when sugar obtained from sugar cane beet and corn became very cheap to produce. It s a completely unnecessary part of our calorie intake:
and into the yard or garden you can still use some simple plant science experiments to sharpen your little ones interest in seeds and plants.
Identify which forms of produce are classified scientifically as fruits (the female parts of plants that have seeds) and
which are vegetables (edible roots leaves or stems). ) Use the information provided by the store to find out where the produce was grown
or juicy mesocarp (which is often the edible part of the fruit) and the seed. Ask the children why they think the fruit has these different layers.
Ask older children to count the number of seeds they find in each type of fruit.
and the number of seeds they counted. Help younger children compare the fruits by showing you
or smaller seeds whether the seeds are inside or outside of the fruit whether the seeds seem to be hard or soft.
Many children are surprised that the tiny black dots in bananas are actually the seeds; reassure timid youngsters that eating the seeds is perfectly okay.
Create a collection of seeds from different types of fruits and vegetable. What you will need:
What to do: Variation For younger children use one type of seed (I suggest the lima beans as they are large enough for little hands to grasp easily).
Instead of a jar put the seeds and paper towels into plastic bags with a zip closure.
Leave a small corner of the top open for air circulation. Prepare three seed bags.
Place one in the refrigerator; tape one to the inside of a sunny window and put one on a shelf inside the room.
Ask the children to predict which seeds will sprout first. Talk about the conditions that seeds need for germination.
Ask children what a plant needs to grow. Obtain several small flowerpots and a packet of fast-sprouting seeds (see suggestions above).
Plant seeds in several pots kept under different conditions and compare the growth of the plants.
Suggested conditions: Many seed packets instruct the gardener to sow the seeds and then thin out the seedlings to a given distance.
Have your child plant identical seeds in two different pots. In one pot plant the seeds the recommended distance apart
or thin the seedlings when they come up. In the second pot plant several seeds very close together
or allow the seedlings to grow without thinning. Keep the pots in a warm sunny location and keep the soil moist.
Observe how crowding affects the growing plants. Plants and gardening can provide endless opportunities for observation and experimentation.
Try some of these activities indoors. When the weather finally warms expand your observations to the great outdoors!
They are known to drop from branches onto their prey below. All are solitary snakes. Jameson s mamba This is a slender snake that lives in trees
and colleagues assembled most of the sequence from part of a single pine nut#a haploid part of the seed with just one set of chromosomes to piece together.
and now that it's finally warming up trees are expected to bloom at the same time as grasses causing a dramatic rise in pollen allergy experts said.
They use their long claws to hang onto branches while they feast on the leaves that other animals can't reach.
They also like to sleep hanging by their claws from tree branches. For the most part a sloth's life revolves around sleeping
Males will fight for her by hanging from branches by their feet and pawing at each other.
To get to the rivers for a swim sloths will drop themselves off of branches into the water.
The flood was timed for the spring seed release from these trees to provide moist ground for seedlings.
and seeds but they also eat insects and bird eggs when they get the chance.
Corks are made from the bark of Quercus suber trees commonly called cork oaks which grow only in southwest Europe and northwest Africa.
More and more low-quality cork trees with thin bark are sprouting up. 6 Unexpected Effects of Climate Change Now scientists think rising temperatures
and increased exposure to ultraviolet or UV light brought on by climate change may be behind chemical changes in the bark of cork oaks.
The change in bark quality may be the trees'way of adapting. Bark acts as the protective outer layer on trees that protects the plant from drought and shields against radiation.
Cork oaks have been growing thinner and more porous layers of bark. Cork producers need bark that's at least 27 millimeters (1 inch) thick to make a good cork
but most of the trees are now producing bark between 3 mm and 10 mm (0. 1 inches and 0. 4 inches) Teixeira and colleagues write in their study
To figure out what might be causing the changes Teixeira and a team of researchers analyzed genes in the bark of five high-quality cork trees and five low-quality cork trees growing in Portugal.
The scientists discovered that heat shock proteins are essential to the bark of high-quality cork trees. These proteins help the tree grow normally even under stressful conditions like drought
and high temperatures and promote cell division that makes the bark grow thicker. Bad cork trees have fewer of these shock proteins
but they have more genes that produce huge amounts of phenolic compounds UV-absorbing chemicals that collect inside the bark.
The researchers also discovered that the trees with thin layers of bark have lots of lenticular channels small airways that allow gas exchange between the bark and the outside air.
Corks made from this kind of bark are considered low quality because the lenticular channels allow more air to enter the bottle.
In the future it may even be possible to genetically engineer cork oaks with high-quality bark.
and pectoral fins were supported by several long thin bones powered by muscles largely within the trunk.
Archaeopteris could grow up to 98 feet (30 meters) tall with a trunk diameter of more than 3 feet.
It had a softwood trunk similar to modern conifers that grew in sequential rings. It did not have true leaves
but fernlike structures connected directly to the branches (lacking the stems of true leaves). There is evidence that they were deciduous as the most common fossils are shed branches.
Reproduction was by male and female spores that are accepted as being the precursors to seed-bearing plants.
By the end of the Devonian period the proliferation of plants increased the oxygen content of the atmosphere considerably
Finally Australia provides a home for the last new creature on the list the leaf-tailed gecko (Saltuarius eximius.
which even in winter have some carbohydrates mostly sucrose) in the vascular tissue beneath their bark had been gnawed by rats all the way around the base of the trunk a practice called girdling that usually kills a tree.
I'm probably one of the few people that really roots for an extremely cold day because
New research conducted from the top of a 131-foot-tall (40 meters) crane suggests the secret is in their leaf plumbing.
In modern tropical forests sun-loving trees grab the most energy with tightly packed leaf veins
This leaf vein density is a hallmark of photosynthesis or how fast a leaf can transport water
and take in carbon dioxide. The scientists also looked at leaf litter the detritus that falls to the forest floor.
This was particularly important because a litter assemblage is the closest analog to a fossil flora the leaves that have fallen from the trees accumulated on the ground
The modern leaf grouping was most similar to fossils from forests that grew 58 million years ago Crifã reports in the September 2014 issue of the journal Geology.
Plants grown in the hydrogel membrane spread their roots throughout the top of the film.
Years later these tree trunks were in pretty good shape. If a tree had fallen in my backyard it would be sawdust in 10 years or so.
The pair noticed that the tree trunks seemed largely unchanged even after a few decades. Apart from a few ants the dead tree trunks were unscathed largely
when we first encountered them Mousseau who is also co-director of the Chernobyl and Fukushima Research Initiatives at the University of South carolina told Smithsonian.
To find out what was happening or more accurately what wasn't happening the research team collected hundreds of samples of leaf litter from forest floors that were contaminated not by radiation
Samples of leaf litter that were placed in highly contaminated areas showed 40 percent less decomposition than samples that were placed in uncontaminated sites.
and other researchers are concerned that the buildup of leaf litter on the forest floor presents a real danger.
Most parrots eat a diet that contains nuts flowers fruit buds seeds and insects. Seeds are their favorite food.
They have strong jaws that allow them to snap open nutshells to get to the seed that's inside.
Keas use their longer beaks to dig insects out of the ground for a meal
Whole seeds will pass through your digestive system relatively untouched but if you chew the seeds you may be exposed to the toxins.
One or two will not be harmful as the body can handle small doses of cyanide
and swallows a lot of seeds you should seek medical attention immediately. A very large helping of apple seeds may be fatal.
How many seeds are harmful? According to John Fry a consultant in food science about 1 milligram of cyanide per kilogram of body weight will kill an adult person.
Apples seeds contain about 700 mg of cyanide per kilogram; so about 100 grams of apple seeds would be enough to kill a 70-kg (154-pound) adult.
However a seed weighs 0. 7 grams so you would have to munch on 143 seeds to get that amount of cyanide.
Apples typically have about eight pips so you'd have to eat the seeds of 18 apples in one sitting to get a fatal dose.
According to the University of Illinois Extension service: Writer Jessie Szalay contributed to this article e
#Guan Yu Biography: Revered Chinese Warrior Guan Yu was a Chinese military general whose martial prowess was so great that after his death he was deified as a god.
In modern times he is revered for his bravery and loyalty. He has also become a popular figure in historical fiction movies and video games.
The year of his birth is unknown; he died in A d. 219 or 220. Guan lived at a time when the Han Dynasty
In her upcoming documentary Fed up headed to theatrical release on May 9 co-producer Laurie David explores the roots
A 2010 study in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences identified microfossils of plants such as date palms legumes and grass seeds stuck in Neanderthal teeth.
or tubers Sistiaga told Live Science in an email. Speculative results Other experts were skeptical about
The lofty leaves seem more resistant to tension from water pressure from the tree working to pull water from its roots
At the root level sequoias influence the surrounding soil researchers have discovered. On the downhill side of the trees where more leaves
and branches pile up the ph is compared higher to soil beneath nearby sugar pines Stephen Hart an ecologist at the University of California Merced reported at the meeting.
They have characteristic long noses or trunks; large floppy ears; and wide thick legs. There are two species of elephant.
Elephants eat grasses roots fruit and bark. They use their tusks to pull the bark from trees
and dig roots out of the ground. An elephant has an appetite that matches its size.
For example when they are meeting each other they expect the other elephant to extend its trunk in greeting.
When it gets too hot African elephants will suck water into their trunks and then blow it back out to shower themselves with a cool mist.
An elephant's trunk has more than 100000 muscles according to National geographic. They use it to breathe pick things up make noises drink and smell.
Opera has its roots in Italy and many famous operas including Aida and La Traviata both by Giuseppe Verdi and Pagliacci by Ruggero Leoncavallo were written in Italian
and its seeds or beans are the source of the 4m metric tonnes of chocolate produced each year and much of it from countries like the Ivory coast and Indonesia.
Just as today they roasted the fermented seeds from cocoa pods grinding the roast to a powder
Researchers have shown also corn seedlings lean toward sounds with a 220-Hertz frequency the same tune emitted by the plants'roots
so they can maximize photosynthesis with networks of branches and roots. Chamovitz calls rootedness the primary principle of plant biology.
For example they move toward the sunlight by elongating cells on the dark side of the stem.
Those abilities derive from the way plants are structured and their access to stem cells. Arranged in modular body plans plants can grow limbs in different directions
Plant stem cells are found in meristems small groups of cells that stay perpetually embryonic Gilroy said.
and root tips these plant stem cells are pluripotent meaning they can develop into any type of plant cell.
Animals by contrast lack meristems and stem cells are much harder to come by as shown by the difficulties faced by cloning efforts Rayburn said.
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