Chile Freezes its Future to Protect Plants in World's Driest Desert
VICUÑA, Chile – In the heart of the Atacama Desert, the driest nonpolar desert on Earth, Chile is taking proactive steps to safeguard its plant biodiversity by freezing seeds in seed banks. The initiative, highlighted on NPR's Weekend Edition Sunday on February 1, 2026, focuses on preserving plant life in a region increasingly threatened by climate change.
The effort is centered at the Initihuasi Seed Bank, where researchers like Ana Sandoval are dedicated to nurturing and preserving seeds. According to NPR, Vicuña, the town where the seed bank is located, is also the birthplace of Gabriela Mistral, Chile's first Nobel laureate.
The seed banks serve as a critical resource for protecting plant species that are uniquely adapted to the harsh desert environment. These plants hold potential for future research and adaptation strategies in the face of growing environmental challenges.
In other news, a recent article in Ars Technica highlighted a range of scientific stories, including evidence suggesting that humans, not glaciers, were responsible for transporting the stones used to build Stonehenge from Wales and northern Scotland. Meanwhile, The Verge recommended M83's album "Dead Cities, Red Seas & Lost Ghosts," noting its resemblance to the band Mogwai before M83 shifted towards an 80s-inspired pop sound. Wired explored the physics behind escaping an ice bowl, detailing possible strategies and models for navigating the slippery challenge.
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