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Scientists have identified a new Amazonian species from an ancient lineage of cycads. The new species thrives year-round in permanently flooded forests, even with part of its stem underwater Its unusual survival in oxygen-starved swamps expands where such ancient seed plants are known to live and intensifies pressure to protect the wetlands that sustain them. Life in flooded forests In the permanently flooded forests of Peru’s northern Loreto region, the new species of cycad stood rooted in saturated soil where most of its relatives would fail to survive During fieldwork in 2025, Dr. Ricardo Zarate-Gomez from the Peruvian Amazon Research Institute (IIAP) documented healthy specimens growing with their lower stems submerged, confirming that this lineage endures conditions once thought inhospitable to it. Unlike other members of its group that depend on well-drained ground, this species remained viable in soil that stays waterlogged throughout the year. That extreme habitat n...

Plants fight disease every day, but that fight often comes at a cost. When a plant turns on its immune system, growth usually slows down. For farmers who depend on strong, healthy crops, this trade-off can mean lower food production Now, researchers at Colorado State University have found a way to help plants stay protected without sacrificing growth. This discovery could shape the future of global food production PLANTS GET SICK TOO Plants have a defense system, just like people do. When insects attack or a disease infects a plant, the plant quickly turns on its protection system. To fight the threat, it releases certain hormones that help it survive But there is a catch. When the plant focuses on protecting itself, it invests less energy into growing. It is similar to how a person might feel weak or tired while fighting an illness. Food crops like wheat, corn, and soybeans need to keep growing steadily to produce a large harvest. If growth slows down because the plant is ...