New Genus of Self-Destructive Palm Found in Madagascar - Scientists have discovered a new genus of palm trees in Madagascar that comes with a surprising twist. What’s the twist? Well, there’s two, actually. One, these palm trees are very large (5m palm, 18m high - they can be seen from Google Earth!) and two, they essentially self-destruct once they reach the fruit-bearing stage of their life cycle, dramatically collapsing in a heap. The collapsing results when nutrients stored within the tree are quickly depleted once the tree enters the fruit-bearing stage. Conservationists are trying to find a way to preserve this species of palm, but the tree doesn’t flower very often, and when it does, the end result is quite clear. Madagascar is home to over ten thousand different species of plants, ninety percent of which, like this species of palm, are found only on the small island. The finding is published in Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society.

Team Finds an Economical Way to Boost the Vitamin A Content of Maize - Researchers from a number of institutes have developed a new method of screening for plants that contain a naturally occurring mutated enzyme that enhances the provitamin A content. (Provitamin A is converted into vitamin A after being consumed). It is the hope that this new economical method will lead to a decrease in eye diseases and other health problems that are caused by a lack of vitamin A. The new screening procedure involves cost-effective tests such as PCR (polymerase chain reaction) that can identify plants that contain the version of the gene that enhances provitamin A content. Research published in Science.

Ecology
Life-saving plants at risk of extinction - Deforestation and urban expansion have remained constant concerns for the last several years. Now, scientists warn that continued habitat loss may lead to the extinction of nearly four hundred medically important plants. It is believed that several of these at risk plants may hold the cures to diseases like cancer or HIV.

Discovery Unlocks Tree Genetics, Gives New Hope for Pine Beetle Defense - Researchers at the University of British Columbia have identified some of the genetic secrets that enable various trees to fight off pests and disease. The study was conducted on fir trees in response to a growing concern over the destructive capabilities of the region’s bark beetles. Researchers hope that trees with the increased immunities can be bred and introduced in forests to help strengthen the overall resistance to pests. The study appears in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

Health
Got carrots? Vegetables May Have Bone to Pick as Calcium Providers - Science (and for some, experience) has taught us that eating several carrots daily can change the hue of your skin to a more orange color. Researchers at the Baylor College of Medicine and Texas A&M University have developed a carrot that allows people to absorb more calcium. While this new benefit might not be able to stop your skin from changing colors, it can help strengthen bones and prevent bone diseases such as osteoporosis. Currently, researchers are working to bring this development to more fruits and vegetables so that people may consume the proper daily amount of fruits and vegetables and obtain the needed daily amount of calcium, presumably without turning orange.