The article “Scientists find immune molecule that supercharges plant growth” has been rewritten to provide clarity, structure, and style while maintaining its core ideas. The rewritten version is as follows:

Unlocking Nature’s Potential: Scientists Discover Key Molecule to Supercharge Plant Growth

For years, researchers have known about a molecule called itaconate that plays a vital role in the human immune system. However, its presence and functions in plants remained largely unexplored – until now. Biologists at the University of California San Diego have conducted the first comprehensive study on itaconate’s functions in plants, revealing its significant role in stimulating plant growth.

“We found that itaconate is made in plants, particularly in growing cells,” said Jazz Dickinson, a senior author of the study and an assistant professor in the Department of Cell and Developmental Biology. “Watering maize (corn) plants with itaconate made seedlings grow taller, which was exciting and encouraged us to investigate this metabolite further and understand how it interacts with plant proteins.”

The researchers used chemical imaging and measurement techniques to confirm that plants produce itaconate. They also discovered that itaconate plays multiple key roles in plant physiology, including involvement in primary metabolism and oxygen-related stress response.

Optimizing the natural benefits of itaconate could be crucial for safely maximizing crop growth to support growing global populations. “This discovery could lead to nature-inspired solutions to improve the growth of crops, like corn,” said Dickinson. “We also hope that developing a better understanding of the connections between plant and animal biology will reveal new insights that can help both plant and human health.”

The study, supported in part by funding from the National Science Foundation and the National Institutes of Health, was published in the journal Science Advances on June 6, 2025. The findings have exciting implications for improving crop growth using nature-inspired solutions, while also offering fresh information for understanding the molecule’s role in human development and growth.

Standardizing Psychedelic Research: A Breakthrough in Understanding the True Potential of Mind-Altering Drugs

The use of psychedelics as potential treatments for mental health disorders has gained significant traction in recent years. However, a critical flaw in psychedelic clinical trials has hindered their progress – the failure to properly account for how a person’s mindset and surroundings influence the effects of these substances.

A group of international researchers from McGill University, Imperial College London, and the University of Exeter have tackled this issue by developing a set of guidelines to standardize psychedelic clinical trials. The Reporting of Setting in Psychedelic Clinical Trials (ReSPCT) guidelines are a 30-item checklist that represents the first global agreement on which psychosocial factors have the greatest impact on a psychedelic experience.

“For decades, we’ve known that psychedelics don’t work in isolation,” said co-lead author Chloé Pronovost-Morgan. “The person’s mindset, the therapy room, even the music playing all influence outcomes.” This approach challenges the traditional way psychoactive drugs are typically studied, where scientists try to control or eliminate outside variables to isolate a drug’s effects.

These guidelines recognize that context is crucial and should be studied directly. By offering a standard framework for evaluating and reporting these variables, the ReSPCT guidelines aim to make trial outcomes more consistent and comparable across studies.

Having clear guidelines for contextual considerations is essential to understand the effects of psychedelics and how they work differently from other psychiatric medications,” said co-senior author Leor Roseman. “Our guidelines will also help in replicating results and understanding the true therapeutic potential of psychedelics.”

The lack of standards has had consequences beyond the research lab, Pronovost-Morgan explained. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration recently rejected MDMA-assisted therapy for post-traumatic stress disorder, citing inconsistent reporting across trials as a key reason for the decision.

“There is immense public interest in psychedelic therapies, particularly for individuals suffering from debilitating mental health conditions like PTSD, depression and anxiety, which have not responded to existing treatments,” said co-senior author Kyle Greenway. “Our guidelines offer a new gold standard for psychedelic research, helping bring these treatments to those who need them most.”

The research team is organizing a three-day workshop in October, funded by McGill’s Healthy Brains, Healthy Lives initiative, where leading experts in psychedelics and neuroscience will discuss how the guidelines can be integrated into research and clinical practice.

The article highlights groundbreaking research conducted by Colorado State University and Cornell University that demonstrates how solar arrays can aid grasslands during drought. The study, published in Environmental Research Letters, reveals that photovoltaic (PV) arrays located in grassland ecosystems can reduce water stress, improve soil moisture levels, and increase plant growth by up to 20% or more compared to open fields.

Researchers found that plants beneath and around the solar systems benefited from partial shading and additional water that collects on panels. During a dry year, grass growth on the east side of panels was significantly higher than in neighboring open sites. This positive response was reduced during wet and normal years but still demonstrated the potential benefits of co-locating solar power infrastructure with ecosystem preservation.

The study’s lead author, Matthew Sturchio, emphasizes that small changes in array design, configuration, and management could unlock untapped benefits, particularly those related to water use. The researchers are now exploring ways to optimize solar array placement and design to maximize the benefits for grassland ecosystems.

Alan Knapp, a University Distinguished Professor at CSU, notes that their research has significant implications for restoring grassland ecosystems in arid and semi-arid regions. He suggests that building solar facilities in areas where they can benefit from strategic placement is an obvious win-win. The team plans to investigate the functional underpinnings of this idea at a newly constructed research facility.

This pioneering study showcases the potential for solar arrays to support grassland conservation, especially during drought-prone seasons. As researchers continue to explore and refine this concept, it may provide valuable insights into creating more resilient and sustainable ecosystems for generations to come.