Audio
Archive
2013
January
February
March
April
May
2012
January
February
March
April
May
June
July
August
September
October
November
December
2011
January
February
March
April
May
June
July
August
September
October
November
December
2010
January
February
March
April
May
June
July
August
September
October
November
December
2009
January
February
March
April
May
June
July
August
September
October
November
December
2008
January
February
March
April
May
June
July
August
September
October
November
December
2007
June
July
August
September
October
November
December
Subscribe
Dec. 10, 2010
The Hidden Science of Christmas Trees
Click 
to enlarge images
to enlarge images
|
|
Tweet |
| Researchers report that they've been able to block the decay process that causes cut Christmas trees to shed their needles. Writing in the journal Trees, a team of researchers at at Université Laval and Nova Scotia Agricultural College report that by blocking ethylene from reaching receptors in the balsam fir, they can keep trees green, tender, and fresh-looking long after untreated trees have lost their needles. We'll talk about the work, and other tips for keeping a cut evergreen looking its best. |
Produced by Christopher Intagliata, Associate Senior Producer
Guests
-
Raj Lada
Professor and Founding Director
Christmas Tree Research Center
Nova Scotia Agricultural College
Truro, Nova Scotia,
Canada
FEATURED READING
Brilliant Blunders
by Mario Livio
ADVERTISEMENT
RELATED BLOG POSTS
- Three Insect Recipes to Help the Arthropods Go Down
Insects pack a protein punch. Get the most of your meal with these recipes.
- Alien Invaders, Baby Seal Brains, and More
Each week we’ll round up links to science stories or studies that blow our mind, tickle our funny bone, or generally strike our ...
- The Buzz on Flies
There's more to flies than meets the eye.
- Book Review: Britain's Hoverflies
Recently we were sent a book on hoverflies to review. And it was epic.
Discussion