Month: February 2024
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Pollution produces photosynthetic part-timers…
The post discusses how plants work harder than commonly believed and how atmospheric aerosol pollution affects their productivity.
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Plants, when two dimensions are enough…
“The beauty of the flower” by Stephen A. Harris explores botanical illustration as an art form and scientific tool. The book delves into the history and significance of botanical illustration, showcasing its role in documenting plant diversity and scientific knowledge. With rich illustrations and insightful narratives, Harris presents a comprehensive…
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A deep dive into chewing-gum: Part 2
The post discusses the history, present, and potential future of chewing-gum. Amongst the topics covered are: its role in fighting COVID-19, the energetic costs of chewing it (and its relevance to human evolution), America’s ‘gum wall’, its targeted use in the Korean war, and unconventional portraiture…
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A deep dive into chewing-gum: Part 1
The post discusses 2 studies that analyse DNA from Stone Age ‘chewing-gum’ [birch pitch]. The Swedish study sheds light on the oral health and diet of prehistoric individuals, the Danish study allows the reconstruction of the features of an individual, named Lola. Mr Cuttings also muses on the roles of…
Plant Cuttings 