Two tiny water drops can launch a mushroom spore — ChillScroll

Golden spores drifting from the pale gills of a dew-covered mushroom

Two tiny water drops can launch a mushroom spore

On some mushroom spores, two microscopic drops of water grow and merge. The sudden shift in surface tension supplies enough energy to flick the spore away from the gill and into open air.

The smallest splash under the cap becomes a perfect little send-off.

Source · Duke University ↗