Glacier water may contain concentrated levels of contaminates from airborne pollutants that accumulated in ice over time. While it may be tempting, never drink water from a natural source that you haven’t purified. Airborne pollutants include certain pesticides and emissions. Not only may the water contain pollutants but it may also have bacteria, viruses, and …
The Waitomo Glowworm Caves in New Zealand are known for their populations of Arachnocampa luminosa, a glowworm species exclusive to New Zealand. The glowworms, which are not actual worms but the larvae of a type of fungus gnat, emit a phosphorescent glow. This glow comes from their waste and snot that is then used to …
Wanna be a Martian? In preparation for IRL Mars exploration, the simulated mission involves a four-person volunteer crew living and working inside a 1,700-square-foot, 3D-printed habitat based at NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston. Starting in Spring 2025, crew tasks include simulated spacewalks, robotic operations, habitat maintenance, exercise, and crop growth. The habitat, called the …
Glow-in-dark mushrooms are called “ghost mushrooms.” There are over 70 species of bioluminescent mushrooms. Ghost mushrooms were often mistaken as a mystical fire or a ghastly ghost when seen in the forest at night—called Foxfire or Fairy Fire. Ghost mushrooms produce a light that can be seen from a distance ranging in color from green, …
The oldest known longleaf pine (Pinus palustris) is located in the Weymouth Woods Sandhills Nature Preserve in North Carolina. This tree is estimated to be over 470 years old, making it one of the oldest living longleaf pines in existence. How to find the world’s oldest longleaf pine The oldest known longleaf pine can be …