A study co-led by Professor Jeff Riffell (BIO) and Professor Joel Thornton (ATMS) suggested that the presence of nitrate radicals (NO₃) degrades common wildflowers’ scent molecules, reducing the flowers’ attractiveness to pollinating insects. In the atmosphere, NO₃ is produced by chemical reactions among nitrogen oxides, which are released by gas and coal combustion from cars, power plants, and other sources. Special thanks to Professor Becky Alexander, grad student Ursula Jongebloed, and previous grad student Rachel Atlas. Read more about the study on UW News, Science, Phys.org, The Washington Post, The New York Times, ENN, Earth.com, Popular Science, New Scientist, Cosmos Magazine, Smithsonian Magazine, KUOW, and New York Post.