You may be surprised to learn that this elegant plant dappled with water droplets is a variety of moss: Tortula muralis, better known as wall screw-moss. It"s found all over the world, even in urban areas where more sensitive mosses have a hard time thriving because of dry soil and air pollution. Mosses in general are accurate monitors of air pollution—they absorb air and water, so contaminants can also be measured in their cells.
Tortula moss, Netherlands
Today in History
More Desktop Wallpapers:
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The migrating monarchs of Michoacán
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The aftermath of a meteorite
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Our Lady of the Rocks
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Arenal Volcano, Costa Rica
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Sunbeams across Tartu County, Estonia
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Fin whales: A success story
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A rest stop for the birds
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San Blas Islands, Panama
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Hezké svátky
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One giant leap for penguins
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Steyr River, Austria
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Autumn’s swan song
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Paradise, found
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Dark skies over New Mexico
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A cry for independence
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Chocolate Hills
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Big wheels on a big mountain
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Castle on a hill
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Cetacean Saturday
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Happy Independence Day!
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A hero for the 21st century
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Góða ólavsøku, from the Faroes!
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Hello, harbinger of spring
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Travel Sunday: Flamenco in Granada, Andalusia, Spain
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Papa was a flightless bird
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Tesla, the visionary
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Regional Park of Migliarino, San Rossore, Massaciuccoli, Italy
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Acadia transformed
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Devetashka Cave, Devetaki, Bulgaria
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Women s History Month