Add Yahoo as a preferred source to see more of our stories on Google. A new DNA method lets scientists measure plant roots underground, opening doors for climate research and smarter farming.

Few of us ever think about what happens beneath our feet when we walk through a field of wheat or clover. We see the stalks, leaves, and flowers, but in practice we have no direct access to the roots.

To feed a hotter and drier planet, Stanford scientists are building a smarter plant. The team has genetically reprogrammed plants, nurtured in a laboratory chamber, to grow roots that are long or ...

Controlling gene activity is important for engineering plants for improved bioenergy crops and other applications. This research developed synthetic genes that use Boolean logic gates to achieve ...

After centuries of neglect, botanists are using new techniques to understand roots Maddie Bender - Freelance writer Picture a plant—your favorite flower, an herb from an outdoor garden or a stately ...

Upon first glance, plant roots seem distinct from animal guts. However, like the intestines, roots are responsible for nutrient acquisition, they interact with robust microbial communities, and both ...

You walk through a field of wheat, ryegrass, or clover and notice the sway of stems and leaves. What you cannot see is where most of the action happens. Beneath the soil surface, roots spread, compete ...