biodiversity

Often described as the Nobel of food and agriculture, the $500,000 prize this year shines a light on the role of seed banks and their stewards, including some in the Midwest.

The first English word for “lawn” dates back to the early 1500s, described as an “open space among trees.” Lawns today are a far cry from that description, but they’ve come to dominate our physical — and cultural — landscapes. Now concerns over environmental impacts are propelling yet another redefinition.

Entomologists say insects are declining at alarming rates — one major study estimates we’re losing 2% in total insect biomass every year. Now, the National Academy of Sciences is preparing to embark on a study to understand insect trends across North America.

Cities in Kansas and Missouri are finding that they often have too many of the same kind of trees, making them extra vulnerable to pests and diseases. Plus: Three companies in the Midwest want to capture carbon dioxide from ethanol plants and store it underground, but that idea worries some landowners.

Native plants are crucial to the "web of life" in any environment or habitat. So, the Missouri Prairie Foundation is holding a plant sale to help people incorporate those plants into their gardens and yards.

The ivory-billed woodpecker and the tubercled-blossom pearly mussel were recently delisted from the endangered species list.