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January 2025 marks the 10 year anniversary (!!!) of the In Defense of Plants Podcast. To celebrate, I thought it would be fun to revisit the first episode of the podcast. Travel back a decade to a tiny, old Buffalo NY apartment where a young and naive Matt waxes poetic about his love for jewel orchi…
203

Good news is hard to come by in the world of plant conservation, but it is out there! Take, for instance, some recent examples on Santa Cruz Island in which the recovery of a handful of endangered plants, including island bedstraw (Galium buxifolium) and Santa Cruz Island Dudleya (Dudleya nesiotica)…
120

The Marine Biological Association’s Microbiome Centre is home to unique and cutting-edge facilities which allow us to explore the cellular processes that shape the unique biology of marine life. Our world class microscopy equipment, including the Mesolens microscope, allow us to study marine organis…
220

Manta rays consist of two species: reef manta rays (mobula alfredi), and their larger, more elusive counterparts, giant manta rays (mobula birostris). Today’s blog spotlights the giant manta ray, the true titan of the open ocean.  DISTRIBUTION Manta rays live in most tropical, subtropical, and tempe…
12

Did you know that nearly 40 different dolphin species swim in oceans and rivers all around the world? While all dolphins are known for their social, playful, and intelligent nature, their appearances and habitats can be surprisingly diverse.  Let’s take a closer look at two remarkable species: the p…
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The MBA’s IT department has significantly upgraded the data connectivity and computing facilities on the Sepia vessel, resulting in enhanced cybersecurity, operational efficiency, and resilience. Internet connectivity To fully leverage our MBA 365 ecosystem capabilities, we needed to enhance our dat…
210

Aspen (Populus tremuloides) are synonymous with many habitats throughout North America. This tree is a species of superlatives, but its grandeur doesn't mean it is immune to threats. In fact, in many areas of its range, aspen is in decline. Join me and Dr. Connor Crouch as we explore what he and his…
209

The Appalachian region may not readily seem like a fire-prone region, but parts of it certainly are. Fire can be an important tool in sustaining biodiversity, but modern understanding of its role is limited. That is why people like Dr. Don Hagan study the effects of prescribed fire in the Appalachia…
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Senior Research Fellow Dr Bryce Stewart and the Marine Biological Association’s (MBA) research vessel ‘Sepia’ played a vital role in helping to create key sequences in the film and ensuring its scientific accuracy. Dr Bryce Stewart, Senior Research Fellow for Fisheries and Conservation at the Marine…
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Love is in the ocean air…or should we say, water? Many marine animals have their own unique ways of showing affection, from penguins that woo with pebbles to seahorses that sway with their mates. Dive in and discover these heartwarming partnerships beneath the waves.  A PASSION FOR PEBBLES Gentoo pe…
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Coral reefs are some of the most extraordinary ecosystems on the planet. They support a quarter of all marine life, provide food and income to over a billion people, and offer a natural barrier protecting coastlines from storms and erosion. But these vibrant underwater cities face increasing pressur…
443

For Mike Bone, propagating and growing plants is not just a hobby or a job, it's a way of life. Mike is the curator of the steppe collections at the Denver Botanic Gardens and his love affair with these plants rings true in everything he does. Steppes are important ecosystems, both ecological and cu…
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The Marine Biological Association (MBA) is proud to celebrate the outstanding success of its postgraduate students, who secured an impressive five awards at the Annual PlyMSEF2025 Postgraduate Student Conference held at Plymouth Marine Laboratory. The conference, organised by the Plymouth Marine Sci…
211

Every April, Earth Month invites us to celebrate the planet—and take meaningful action to protect it. Whether planting a tree, picking up trash, or switching to a reusable water bottle, every small step adds up. But here’s a lesser-known truth: if you care about the planet, you should care about cor…
111

The herbarium world is a fascinating one. These botanical repositories are goldmines of data and help us understand the present by looking at the past. But what kind of future questions can herbaria help solve? Experts say the opportunities are endless, but we will need new technologies to take full…
210

Protecting and restoring biodiversity in a place as biodiverse as Ecuador is no small task. You have to work hard and collaborate and that is exactly what the folks at Jocotoco Conservation Foundation. From protecting land and engaging communities, to research and restoration, their multifaceted eff…
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It is hard to believe, but you are about to listen to the 500th episode of the In Defense of Plants Podcast. So much has happened over the nearly 10 years this podcast has been running, and none of it would be what it is today without YOU, the listener. So, in celebration of the big 5 0 0, the wonde…
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Coral reefs are at a tipping point—and so is the movement to save them. Today, the Coral Reef Alliance (CORAL) is proud to launch our new 2025-2030 strategic plan: a bold, actionable strategy designed to ensure tomorrow’s reefs are stronger, more resilient, and better protected than ever before. Thi…
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"Benefitting pollinators" is a phrase that gets used a lot, especially in gardening circles. While most of us will agree with the sentiment, what does it mean in practice? How does one "benefit" pollinators in their community? There are a lot of great ways to do this, especially when it comes to nat…
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The Southeast is one of North America's biodiversity hotspots. Any trip through this region will be rewarded with lots of botanical splendor if you know where to look. Join Conservation Biologist Sara Johnson and me as we reminisce about a recent botanical excursion and learn about a fraction of the…
202

The Marine Biological Association proudly congratulates Professor Richard Thompson OBE FRS, long-standing MBA Professional Member and globally renowned marine scientist, on being named one of TIME magazine’s 100 Most Influential People of 2025. This prestigious accolade recognises Professor Thompson…
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The BC Ministry of Environment and Parks has officially confirmed that provincial parks are off-limits to commercial logging, responding to a formal inquiry from the AFA & EEA.
The post BC Government Confirms No Commercial Logging in Provincial Parks Amid Rising Concerns in General for Protected Are…
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The woolly devil (Ovicula biradiata) is a fascinating and unique member of the daisy family (Asteraceae) that was only recently described to science. It was first found in Big Bend National Park in Texas and serves as an important reminder of not only the need for protecting wild places but also how…
212

On July 1, 2025, Greif, Inc. announced it will sell its containerboard business to Packaging Corporation of America (PCA) for $1.8 billion. This headline-making deal marks another milestone in a period of accelerated consolidation across the paper packaging industry.
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History was made in Clayoquot Sound one year ago with the most significant expansion of old-growth protection in decades, when
 the Ahousaht and Tla-o-qui-aht First Nation declared the protection of 760 km2 of land in 10 new conservancies.
The post One-Year Anniversary of Clayoquot Sound Old-Growth …
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In a letter to the Ancient Forest Alliance and Endangered Ecosystems Alliance, Minister of Environment and Parks Tamara Davidson confirmed that there’s no commercial logging happening in provincial parks and it isn’t permitted under the BC Parks Act. The letter comes following reports of potential c…
220

BenchValue – Benchmarking wood material value chains against non-renewable value chains by using and expanding assessment tool “ToSIA”
Rach.Colling
Thu, 01.04.2018 - 12:44























Renewable wood-based materials can help to reduce GHG emissions i…
111

AFINET – Agroforestry Innovation Networks
Rach.Colling
Thu, 01.04.2018 - 10:31








Agroforestry is the practice of deliberately integrating woody vegetation (trees or shrubs) with crop and/or animal systems to benefit from the resulting ecological and economic interactions. Researc…
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As advocates of the world of marine observation and conservation gather in Nice for the Third United Nations Ocean Conference (UNOC3) and the One Ocean Science Congress (OOSC), the Marine Biological Association (MBA), led by CEO Professor Willie Wilson, will play a central role in shaping the global…
30

A beautiful highlight in endangered Garry oak meadows is the shooting star, with its vivid purple and swept-back wing-like petals.
The post Shooting Stars appeared first on Ancient Forest Alliance.
223

In honor of the revelation today, that Koonin, Christy and Spencer have been made Special Government Employees at the Dept. of Energy, we present a quick round up of our commentary on the caliber of their arguments we’ve posted here over the last decade or so. TL;DR? The arguments are not very good.…
111

Illinois engineers fused ultrafast imaging with smart algorithms to peek at living brain chemistry, turning routine MRIs into metabolic microscopes. The system distinguishes healthy regions, grades tumors, and forecasts MS flare-ups long before structural MRI can. Precision-medicine neurology just m…
223

Stanford researchers discovered that dialing down an overactive enzyme, LRRK2, can regrow lost cellular “antennae” in key brain cells, restoring vital dopamine communication and neuroprotective signals in a mouse model of genetic Parkinson’s. After three months on the LRRK2-blocking drug MLi-2, dama…
111

A multinational team has cracked a long-standing barrier to reliable quantum computing by inventing an algorithm that lets ordinary computers faithfully mimic a fault-tolerant quantum circuit built on the notoriously tricky GKP bosonic code, promising a crucial test-bed for future quantum hardware.
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No more sour milk or sweaty cheese: these are the cool boxes that keep their chill when it matters• The best tents for camping: 10 expert picks for every outdoor adventureWhether you’re heading to a festival or pitching up at a campsite with the whole family, nothing spoils a trip faster than a bott…
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Researchers at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) have demonstrated a new and faster method for detecting and measuring the radioactivity of minuscule amounts of radioactive material. The innovative technique, known as cryogenic decay energy spectrometry (DES), could have far-…