One of my favourite study subjects is all over the news this week! Yet, it is a bit in an unusual manner: I am talking about the dandelion (Taraxacum officinale), the symbol of the upcoming Eurovision Song Contest!
There is not much that I have to do with the Eurovision, except that they chose the dandelion for its well-known ability to spread super fast with its tiny little parachutes.
Let that be exactly the reason why they are so interesting for me as well: they use their tiny parachutes to stay at the forefront of climate change ànd to invade new ranges all over the world!
Or as they say it themselves: “most people can relate to it. It has an enormous growth potential, it is widespread across Europe and it can move”. They do let the parachutes fly in reverse, though, back to the mother plant, which rarely happens in my research, but let us just be happy for the little plant’s week of fame.
The 3D lab 