What's this about?
Three 16-year-olds from Kinsale, Ireland pulled up a pea plant covered in warty nodules, investigated the bacteria responsible, and showed the naturally occurring rhizobia could accelerate crop germination — winning the Google Science Fair.
What exactly are those warts?
Root nodules: homes the plant builds for nitrogen-fixing bacteria that turn air into fertilizer. The girls tested whether applying the bacteria to cereal crops speeds growth — it did, dramatically.
Why is this worth noting?
HN 150 points, 61 comments. Peak wholesome science: observation, curiosity, world-relevant result (natural fertilizer for food security) — from a school project. The thread mostly just enjoyed it.