In some ways, plants are a lot like us. They need water to survive. They love the sun but not too much of it. And as 黑料吃瓜资源 (CSHL) Associate Professor Ullas Pedmale jokes, 鈥淭hey like social distancing. Before it got popular during the pandemic, they always practiced social distancing.鈥� Ever notice that trees growing next to each other never seem to touch? That鈥檚 what Pedmale is talking about.
How do plants manage to maintain proper 鈥渟ocial distancing鈥� without eyes to see what鈥檚 around them? For that matter, how do they adapt to changes in their environment鈥攍ike, say, a sudden 16-inch snowfall鈥攚ithout a brain for planning and decision-making? Press play to see Pedmale break down the incredible ancient biology that enables plant life to survive and thrive on planet Earth.
Regular viewers will notice a few changes in our latest Cocktails & Chromosomes video. We鈥檝e moved up the street to Six Harbors Brewing Company in Huntington, New York. (Hence, the kegs in the background!) And we鈥檙e happy to say that even with over a foot of snow on the ground, dozens of our curious neighbors joined CSHL for our first public event of 2026. Thank you to everyone who braved the cold!