Art of Science 08

This patchwork of colors is a thermal image of tobacco plants taken at noon during mid-July. The leaf veins dominate the image foreground, while the warm soil provides the image’s backdrop. These plants have very large leaves, which means the plant has more surface area in between the veins to transpire or “sweat,” keeping the leaves cooler. Researchers are interested in the processes that keep leaves cool and preserve more moisture to inform the development of water-efficient and drought-resistant crops.