H. Jochen Schenk
@rivertothesky.bsky.social
Prof at California State University Fullerton; PI of the Plants & H2O lab; research and education on water movement in plants and how plants connect us to the atmosphere. Born at 316 ppm https://rivertothesky.substack.com #plantscience
A new entry for my series on the subject of plants and light in history. This one is about the sun and plants in ancient creation myths. Check it it out!
open.substack.com/pub/rivertot...
open.substack.com/pub/rivertot...
Here comes the sun
The sun and plants in ancient creation myths
open.substack.com
November 1, 2025 at 10:50 PM
A new entry for my series on the subject of plants and light in history. This one is about the sun and plants in ancient creation myths. Check it it out!
open.substack.com/pub/rivertot...
open.substack.com/pub/rivertot...
New paper out on how polar lipids protect plant xylem against cavitation. Based on molecular dynamics simulations of hydrophobic interfaces under negative pressure. Plant biologists check it out!
doi.org/10.1016/j.jc...
doi.org/10.1016/j.jc...
October 21, 2025 at 3:05 PM
New paper out on how polar lipids protect plant xylem against cavitation. Based on molecular dynamics simulations of hydrophobic interfaces under negative pressure. Plant biologists check it out!
doi.org/10.1016/j.jc...
doi.org/10.1016/j.jc...
At the ccolorful No Kings rally in Pasadena
#NoKingsPasadenaCA
#NoKingsPasadenaCA
October 18, 2025 at 11:11 PM
At the ccolorful No Kings rally in Pasadena
#NoKingsPasadenaCA
#NoKingsPasadenaCA
Time-travel to the year 1700 to learn about leaf transpiration and about the challenges of time travel. New post on the River to the Sky Substack.
open.substack.com/pub/rivertot...
open.substack.com/pub/rivertot...
What transpired?
A visit with John Woodward to discuss leaf transpiration
open.substack.com
September 21, 2025 at 3:29 AM
Time-travel to the year 1700 to learn about leaf transpiration and about the challenges of time travel. New post on the River to the Sky Substack.
open.substack.com/pub/rivertot...
open.substack.com/pub/rivertot...
A different kind of post on this week's River to the Sky Substack. A song about trees, global warming, and some other things. Check it out!
open.substack.com/pub/rivertot...
open.substack.com/pub/rivertot...
Trees are made out of air
A song about connections to plants, global warming, and other things
open.substack.com
August 30, 2025 at 2:49 AM
A different kind of post on this week's River to the Sky Substack. A song about trees, global warming, and some other things. Check it out!
open.substack.com/pub/rivertot...
open.substack.com/pub/rivertot...
Why write about ancient science history when the planet is literally on fire and authoritarian governments and invading armies threaten the safety and well-being of a large part of humanity? Shouldn’t we all be worrying and writing about those pressing issues?
August 15, 2025 at 11:03 PM
Why write about ancient science history when the planet is literally on fire and authoritarian governments and invading armies threaten the safety and well-being of a large part of humanity? Shouldn’t we all be worrying and writing about those pressing issues?
My new post on the River to the Sky Substack channel, among other things, features a recipe for using a banana to combat erectile dysfunction. Do I have your attention? Also featured are the big bang, rhinos, and the book of Genesis.
open.substack.com/pub/rivertot...
open.substack.com/pub/rivertot...
This plant is trying to tell you something
The doctrine of signatures and our connections with plants
open.substack.com
August 6, 2025 at 5:59 PM
My new post on the River to the Sky Substack channel, among other things, features a recipe for using a banana to combat erectile dysfunction. Do I have your attention? Also featured are the big bang, rhinos, and the book of Genesis.
open.substack.com/pub/rivertot...
open.substack.com/pub/rivertot...
My new Substack post on River to the Sky introduces Guy de la Brosse, a largely forgotten 17th century French scholar who had some amazing insights into plants. And made some epic blunders. Check it out and consider subscribing.
open.substack.com/pub/rivertot...
open.substack.com/pub/rivertot...
That plants breathe the air!
Thoughts on the breath and soul of plants by Guy de la Brosse (17th Century)
open.substack.com
August 1, 2025 at 3:02 AM
My new Substack post on River to the Sky introduces Guy de la Brosse, a largely forgotten 17th century French scholar who had some amazing insights into plants. And made some epic blunders. Check it out and consider subscribing.
open.substack.com/pub/rivertot...
open.substack.com/pub/rivertot...
Oh, Leonardo!
How da Vinci was both right and also very wrong about plants
open.substack.com
July 16, 2025 at 7:53 PM
Check out my new Substack post about what people thought about plant water use and leaf transpiration >2,000 years ago. They had pretty much figured it out!
open.substack.com/pub/rivertot...
open.substack.com/pub/rivertot...
'About Plants' – A 2,000-year-old text explains how plants use water
It is still a common belief that plants acquire most of their mass by taking up nutrients from the soil.
open.substack.com
June 26, 2025 at 12:38 PM
Check out my new Substack post about what people thought about plant water use and leaf transpiration >2,000 years ago. They had pretty much figured it out!
open.substack.com/pub/rivertot...
open.substack.com/pub/rivertot...
Here is a new science history post about plants and the carbon cycle from my River to the Sky Substack. Check it out and consider subscribing.
open.substack.com/pub/rivertot...
open.substack.com/pub/rivertot...
Where do plants come from?
A conversation with the poet Lucretius
open.substack.com
June 8, 2025 at 9:40 AM
Here is a new science history post about plants and the carbon cycle from my River to the Sky Substack. Check it out and consider subscribing.
open.substack.com/pub/rivertot...
open.substack.com/pub/rivertot...
My new Substack post features a rare conversation with Aristotle about plants and the nature of air. Check it out and consider subscribing. It's free!
open.substack.com/pub/rivertot...
open.substack.com/pub/rivertot...
A time-traveler’s conversation with Aristotle about plants and air
Ancient thoughts about the river to the sky
open.substack.com
June 2, 2025 at 12:29 PM
My new Substack post features a rare conversation with Aristotle about plants and the nature of air. Check it out and consider subscribing. It's free!
open.substack.com/pub/rivertot...
open.substack.com/pub/rivertot...
New River to the Sky Substack post. Check it out, and please subscribe. It's free!
open.substack.com/pub/rivertot...
open.substack.com/pub/rivertot...
Picture yourself on a boat on a river
Introduction to the River to the Sky Substack, part II
open.substack.com
May 31, 2025 at 11:36 AM
New River to the Sky Substack post. Check it out, and please subscribe. It's free!
open.substack.com/pub/rivertot...
open.substack.com/pub/rivertot...
Check out my new 'River to the Sky' Substack at rivertothesky.substack.com/p/a-conversa...
A conversation
Introducing the river to the sky
rivertothesky.substack.com
May 26, 2025 at 9:56 AM
Check out my new 'River to the Sky' Substack at rivertothesky.substack.com/p/a-conversa...
Reposted by H. Jochen Schenk
Celebrating the arrival of Marion Boisseaux for a year in our lab, the end of the semester, an amazing team, wonderful friends/mentors, and @rivertothesky.bsky.social ' European adventure next semester 🎉
December 14, 2024 at 6:21 AM
Celebrating the arrival of Marion Boisseaux for a year in our lab, the end of the semester, an amazing team, wonderful friends/mentors, and @rivertothesky.bsky.social ' European adventure next semester 🎉
For a presentation on plant water transport, I managed for the first time to get images out of ChatGPT that looked like what I wanted. Either AI is getting better, or I am.
December 5, 2024 at 9:33 PM
For a presentation on plant water transport, I managed for the first time to get images out of ChatGPT that looked like what I wanted. Either AI is getting better, or I am.
Reposted by H. Jochen Schenk
I am looking for 1-2 new master's students in the summer/fall 2025 or spring 2026. Research can either tie to our current work on phloem physiology or plant phenology. Please email me if you want to know more!
November 12, 2024 at 9:41 PM
I am looking for 1-2 new master's students in the summer/fall 2025 or spring 2026. Research can either tie to our current work on phloem physiology or plant phenology. Please email me if you want to know more!
"What plants do for us and for the climate" Public outreach projects of students in my Global Change Biology class at the Arboretum and Botanic Garden at Cal State Fullerton. I am so proud of them all!
November 10, 2024 at 3:08 AM
"What plants do for us and for the climate" Public outreach projects of students in my Global Change Biology class at the Arboretum and Botanic Garden at Cal State Fullerton. I am so proud of them all!
Please let me know if you are looking for a postdoc who is great at doing anything related to plant water relations besides being a professional drummer and ukulele player. I know just the guy! (not me, I play guitar and keyboards)
November 10, 2024 at 2:56 AM
Please let me know if you are looking for a postdoc who is great at doing anything related to plant water relations besides being a professional drummer and ukulele player. I know just the guy! (not me, I play guitar and keyboards)
Whow, it is so cool to meet all you plant scientists who are freshly arriving in the blue skies! Welcome! The more we are, the more we'll like it. Let's cultivate our garden!
November 10, 2024 at 2:52 AM
Whow, it is so cool to meet all you plant scientists who are freshly arriving in the blue skies! Welcome! The more we are, the more we'll like it. Let's cultivate our garden!
A philosopher, a historian, and a biologist walk into a bar. And decide to teach a course on Truth at Cal State Fullerton.
news.fullerton.edu/2024/10/new-...
news.fullerton.edu/2024/10/new-...
New Course Teaches Students How to Find Truth, Inspired by Rise of Alternative Facts
CSUF's new Truth course brings together perspectives from the humanities, social studies and natural sciences.
news.fullerton.edu
November 1, 2024 at 10:03 PM
A philosopher, a historian, and a biologist walk into a bar. And decide to teach a course on Truth at Cal State Fullerton.
news.fullerton.edu/2024/10/new-...
news.fullerton.edu/2024/10/new-...
We really shouldn't be in the situation where we need this stuff. But we are. Methadone treatment for our addiction to fossil fuels.
Half a pound of this powder can remove as much CO₂ from the air as a tree, scientists say
www.latimes.com/environment/...
Half a pound of this powder can remove as much CO₂ from the air as a tree, scientists say
www.latimes.com/environment/...
Half a pound of this powder can remove as much CO₂ from the air as a tree, scientists say
Berkeley chemists have created a reusable material that pulls carbon dioxide from the air and holds onto it until it can be stored.
www.latimes.com
October 24, 2024 at 12:40 AM
We really shouldn't be in the situation where we need this stuff. But we are. Methadone treatment for our addiction to fossil fuels.
Half a pound of this powder can remove as much CO₂ from the air as a tree, scientists say
www.latimes.com/environment/...
Half a pound of this powder can remove as much CO₂ from the air as a tree, scientists say
www.latimes.com/environment/...
My tribute to Kris Kristofferson. His 1970 debut album had Me an Bobby McGee, Sunday Morning Coming Down, For the Good Times, Help Me Make It Through The Night, Best of All Possible Worlds, To Beat the Devil, and many other truly great songs.
September 30, 2024 at 9:07 PM
My tribute to Kris Kristofferson. His 1970 debut album had Me an Bobby McGee, Sunday Morning Coming Down, For the Good Times, Help Me Make It Through The Night, Best of All Possible Worlds, To Beat the Devil, and many other truly great songs.