Nature | Blogs
Tuesday, June 12, 2012
There Are Vampires in Illinois
The fireflies are out, the smell of grilling is in the air and the sounds of the Little League game are echoing off the trees in the park. Summer is here. Imagine yourself sitting outside when suddenly you hear a persistent, annoying high-pitched buzzing in your ear. You swat it away and then you feel a slight sting on your arm. You look down and see the six-legged predator siphoning blood out of you and you slap it, killing the bug and squishing blood all over your arm. You look at the dead mosquito and know that you are going to have a red, itchy welt very soon. You have been attacked by a...
Wednesday, December 28, 2011
The Largest Freshwater Lake in the World Is...
Do you know what lake contains 20% of the fresh surface water in the world? No, it is not Lake Superior or Lake Huron, but Lake Baikal. Lake Baikal not only contains the most fresh water, but it is also the deepest lake at an average depth of 2,442 feet. Lake Baikal is the oldest lake on Earth at 30 million years old. It has more than 170 species of planets and animals, 66% can be found no where else on Earth.
Lake Baikal is located in Siberia in Russia. It is between Irkutsk Oblast and the Buryat Republic. Lake Baikal is a rift valley lake meaning that it was formed in a place where the Earth's crust pulled apart. The lake is completely...
Monday, August 1, 2011
This is Gross.
Today I read that a 33 foot long fungus has been found in China. It is estimated to weigh half a ton (1,000 pounds). That is one big mushroom! Scientists believe that this fungus has been growing for 20 years. Click here to see a picture.
The fungus likely grew to its large size for several reasons. It was found on the underside of a large fallen tree. The tree provided a sheltered environment and the rotting wood acted as a source of nutrients. Additionally, the fungus is a perennial, giving it a long life during which to grow.
The fungus is of the species Fomitporia ellipsoidea. You can read more in the Journal of Fungal Biology (I...
