Kansas State University biologist seeks to understand the world's flora

Since the time of Darwin, biologists have sought to understand the evolution of plant species. Joseph Craine, grassland ecologist and research assistant professor of biology at Kansas State University, publishes "Resource Strategies of Wild Plants" in his ongoing work to understand how ecological forces have shaped the world's flora.

Bright future for alternative energy with greener solar cells

Research at Kansas State University's Department of Chemistry is improving dye-sensitized solar cells. This type of solar cell uses a dye to help generate energy from sunlight. By creating a less toxic dye and combining it with a bacteria, the solar cells are less toxic to the environment and living organisms.

Plant diversity is key to maintaining productive vegetation

Plant diversity yields higher productivity in prairie and forest stands. Every additional species in a plot contributed to an increase in soil fertility and biomass production over a 14-year period.

While the research study used long-lived prairie plants, it also is a model system for all vegetation, whether prairie, forest, or row crop.