Paul Smiths, NY, Nov 22, 2012 — Burl wood, the knobs of complex grain that some trees form, is prized by woodworkers for its beauty and utility. What causes wood grain to deviate from the straight and narrow in this way is something of a mystery. Martha Foley and Curt Stager try to untangle the knot.  Go to full article

Paul Smiths, NY, Oct 25, 2012 — Mushrooms grow out of the soil like plants, but are fungi. Lichens may look leafy, but they are symbiotic colonies of fungi and algae. Seaweed looks like a plant, but is an algae colony. And Indian Pipe looks like a fungi, but is a plant. Martha Foley and Dr. Curt Stager discuss the ins and outs of botany.  Go to full article

Paul Smiths, NY, Oct 04, 2012 — What if people gave birth to puppies, and those puppies in turn gave birth to people? That's similar to what some species, such as haircap moss, do. Each alternate generation has a different form and function. Dr Curt Stager and Martha Foley explore the biological oddity "alternation of generations."  Go to full article

Paul Smiths, NY, May 24, 2012 — Do plants have blood? How does the human circulatory system compare to that of plants and trees? Martha Foley and Dr. Curt Stager tackle the question.  Go to full article

Paul Smiths, NY, May 19, 2011 — Dr. Curt Stager and Martha Foley discuss plants that have outlived the animals they co-evolved with.  Go to full article

Paul Smiths, NY, Mar 24, 2011 — "Leaves of three, let it be." Martha Foley and Dr. Curt Stager talk about poison ivy. They discuss whether it's really an ivy, why we call it "poison," and how humans and animals react differently to the plant.  Go to full article

Paul Smiths, NY, May 27, 2010 — Tall trees may be the kings of the forest, but there is another kingdom of forest life that passes unnoticed. Dr. Curt Stager and Martha Foley talk about the arboreal network of fungus.  Go to full article

Dec 06, 2007 — This hollow reed, prized for everything from fishing poles to furniture, may grow to tree height, but as Dr Curt Stager and Martha Foley explain, is actually a grass.  Go to full article

Oct 25, 2007 — Martha Foley and Dr. Curt Stager explain how tree shapes, like our own physical shapes, are determined by both genetics and environment.  Go to full article

Oct 18, 2007 — Plants have a number of ways of defending themselves from predation and parasites. Martha Foley and Curt Stager talk about some of them, including wild tobacco which, in addition to its toxic nicotine content, emits chemicals into the air which repel attackers.  Go to full article