Plano Library is set to host an interactive STEM workshop, brought to you by Aurora’s SciTech Museum. This event is all about exploring the science behind flight. Kids will get to design and test their own paper helicopters in a wind tunnel. It's a fun way to see how things fly and how they can be i
Plants have a clever chemical called salicylic acid that acts like an alarm system when attackers arrive. In the common lab plant Arabidopsis, scientists first mapped out how this alarm works: a special route called the isochorismate pathway makes salicylic acid, proteins named NPR bind to it, an
Plants use a tagging system called ubiquitination to control the life span of many proteins. In the case of phenylpropanoid production, which supplies important compounds like lignin and flavonoids, several enzymes are marked for destruction by this system. F‑box proteins act as the taggers. They
Plants do not instantly snap back to their normal state after a tough season. They keep biochemical signs of past hardships that change how they act when new challenges appear. This lasting imprint is called biochemical memory. It shows up as shifts in protective molecules, balance of oxidants and a
Plants and the microbes that help them survive harsh weather can be made stronger by boosting a natural compound called glycine betaine. This molecule helps cells keep the right balance of water and protects them from heat, salt or drought. Traditionally, betaine comes from plants grown in specific
Plug-in hybrids are often seen as the eco-friendly choice for drivers. They are designed to run on both electricity and gas, reducing emissions. But there's a catch. Many owners don't plug them in. This means they are not using the electric power they were made for. Without plugging in, these cars r
Plants have a clever way to fight off diseases. They can mix and match genes to create new, powerful defenses. This process is called gene fusion. It happens when two separate genes join together to form a new one. Scientists have been studying this in plants, but they're still figuring out how it
Plants have clever ways to protect themselves. When bacteria attack, they make special chemicals called hydroxycinnamoyl tyramine conjugates. These chemicals can hurt the bacteria, strengthen the plant's walls, and send signals to prepare for more stress. Scientists wanted to understand how these c
Plastic waste is a big problem in our oceans. To understand how it breaks down, scientists tested three common plastics: polyethylene (PE), polypropylene (PP), and Nylon-6 (N6). They put these plastics in seawater with hydrogen peroxide and exposed them to UV light and heat. Over time, they checked
Plants are amazing. They change and adapt to their surroundings. One key way they do this is by adjusting the density of their wood. This trait, wood density, is crucial for understanding how much carbon plants store and how they function in their ecosystems. A recent study gathered a massive amoun
