Moss Spores

            Sphagnum moss uses the power of vortices to launch their spores to extreme heights. The vortex-power is the same mechanism employed by jellyfish and squid, who use it to move through water. Moss seems to defy the laws of physics. Sphagnum moss are known to have exploding  capsules that shoot spores into the air some centimeters high, but now the acceleration of the explosions have been calculated to reach 36,000 times Earth's gravity, which is a lot of speed. However, the spores are small and light, allowing the air to slow them down a couple of centimeters above the exploding capsule. The wind can blow the spores easily, carrying them far and wide across the planet. Recently, a turbulent vortex ring was spotted. The moss can use these turbulent vortex rings to further their spores' distances travelled. It was the first time a plant ever used a turbulent vortex ring. The evolution of the moss has allowed another way for it to disperse it's spores further and higher.

            This article relates to science concepts because of evolution. Evolution is the main cause of the transformation in moss where they now have an alternative way of dispersing their spores more efficiently. Evolution occurs over time, changing so that a specie can better adapt to certain environments, so that it will be able to have a higher percent of succesfully reproducing. This is what happened to the moss. The moss now has a better way to spread its spores to grow new moss.

            We should care about this because it is important to know how this moss plant disperses. The Sphagnum moss covers one percent of all terrestrial land, and it also counts for thirty percent of all the carbon stored in soil ground. Without the moss, the carbon budget would be unstable. Sphagnum moss is important for scientists to study so that they may understand the carbon budget of Earth. Also, excessive carbon in the atmosphere causes climate changes, which can be dangerous.

http://news.discovery.com/earth/exploding-moss-launch-system.html