From the archive
Dung-dwelling fungi fire their spores with accelerations of 20,000 to 180,000 g, flinging them up to 2.5 meters; high-speed cameras show these are the fastest launches measured in nature.
The hat-throwing fungus Pilobolus must shoot its spores clear of the dung pile so grazing animals will eat them and continue the cycle.
Source: Nature Education Scitable, Spore Ballistics
Today’s design
Womb Chair
Saarinen made it for people who like to curl up — 'a chair you could really sit in.'
See the real Womb Chair →A new fact every morning.Tuesday, 6 October 2026