Tag: soil
Hope for Mars Life Is Dashed Again
Subsequent landers discovered a high concentration of perchlorates in the soil. Perchlorates are chlorinated salts, often used in fireworks.
How Roots Become Jackhammers
How do flimsy, tiny roots get through hard soil? A root tip hitting hardpan switches on a flurry of signals that get to work on anchorage and penetration.
Earth and Mars — A Rare Gem and a Sharp Contrast
Apparently, simple living organisms must exist for eons on a planet before more advanced life can thrive.
How Earth is Designed for Human Technology
Is all this a coincidence? We think that’s a stretch. One or two fortunate parameters might be called a fluke.
Hidden Service Animals: Earthworms Are Only the Beginning
Soil biodiversity is still a black box. Some scientists are beginning to explore the global underground that services the health of plants and animals.