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
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A light on National Hispanic Heritage Month
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It’s not a pinecone, it’s a pangolin
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A city, a cliff, a canyon…and cheese
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Reflecting on Black History Month
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Day of the Dead
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A plot was afoot
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Misool Island, Indonesia
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Halo around the sun
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A universe underground
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The tortoise and the finch
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Beware the Ides of March
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This view is brought to you by…
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A day to celebrate the sun
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Gemsbok in Namibian sand dunes
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Discovery Day in Yukon, Canada
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The power of the forest
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Sanxiantai Dragon Bridge in Taitung, Taiwan
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Spring awakens
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Fall for birding
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Our Lady of the Rocks
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World Rhinoceros Day
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World Elephant Day
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Pi Day
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Winter at Valley Forge
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Bird’s-eye view of the Golden Gate Bridge, San Francisco, California
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Bright and colorful peacock feathers
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Glowworm caves in Australia
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Polar Bear Week
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Shenandoah National Park, Virginia
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The National Museum of the American Indian