Not every plant needs "improvement." But when hybridizers make breakthroughs in color and heat and disease resistance, summer gardening can become easier and more enjoyable. Not every plant needs ...

For the new study, the Stanford team developed a new paint that could significantly block heat, keeping the interior of buildings warmer or cooler as needed without chewing up so much energy.

The color-changing, heat-sensitive fiber researchers plan to weave into bandages (Image: Louise van der Werff/CSIRO) 2 / 2. ... By comparing the color of the fibers with a calibrated chart, ...