Tuesday, November 5, 2019

Can You See Me Now...?

Nature is always surprising us with something we can't quite figure out. Such is the case of these little jewels I found on Listverse.

Luminous Mushrooms



Photo credit: blog.mycology.cornell.edu

Many fungi are bioluminescent and produce light, but no one is entirely certain just why they do it. The dominant idea is that the light is used to lure insects in much the same way that stinkhorns use their odor. Like bugs around a porch light, these insects hit the mushrooms and help to spread spores.

The phenomenon of glowing fungi has been noted for millennia. The eerie green glow of rotting wood (actually produced by the fungi consuming it) has been called fox fire and faerie fire. The light is caused by an enzyme called luciferase. Now that we know how the fungi produce light, there have been suggestions that genetic engineering could be used to make trees that glow in the dark to light paths.

I really don't mind a few surprises from Mother Nature, especially nice ones such as this.

Coffee out on the patio this morning. Temps are back to the high 70s.

9 comments:

Mamahen said...

That's interesting. 70s sounds good. See you on the patio:))

linda m said...

That is such a cool phenomenon!

HermitJim said...

Hey Mamahen...
Feels pretty good as well. I don't like the cold.
Thanks for coming by this morning!

Hey Linda...
I have to agree with ya on that!
Thanks for stopping by today!

JO said...

I would love to find these and take photos. But since I don't wander around in the dark in the forest I guess I won't be finding them. But glad you found this article.

Another camping trip down the drain going to rain here. See you all on the patio

HermitJim said...

Hey Jo...
Sorry that the camping trip is off again. Maybe it will happen soon.
Thanks, dear, for dropping by today!

Rob said...

Trees that glow in the dark made in a laboratory. The final product sounds like a good one but messing around (like that) with life in lab doesn't sound "right".

Barney, The Old Fat Man said...

Warm enough to sweat a little here in Rockport, Tx. The mosquitoes are really energized by the warm weather this morning.

Sixbears said...

It can be a weird thing to see while out in the woods at night.
Enjoying some California style coffee this morning.

HermitJim said...

Hey Rob...
I fear that we are going to see more of that "lab work" in the near future, and that scares me.
Thanks for the visit today!

Hey Barney...
Going up to the 80s here as well at some point today. I'm sure the skeeters are not far behind.
Thanks for stopping by today, my friend!

Hey Sixbears...
I can imagine it would be, at that.
Thanks for coming over today!