The researchers used a data mining approach to study how global plant growth has changed over the past 50 years. They found that the increase in plant growth is mainly due to areas in the middle and high latitudes. The amount of carbon dioxide in the air was the biggest factor affecting plant growth worldwide. Other factors like leaf area, climate, and sunlight also played a role in the increase. Overall, multiple factors work together to control how much plants grow globally, and it's important to understand how these factors interact for future research.