10/08/2024
10 Nature Facts That Might Just Blow Your Mind
Every day, we discover new things about the environment around us. From symbiotic relationships to new species being discovered, the wonder of nature never ceases to amaze us. Sometimes, in the midst of accelerating climate change and emerging environmental threats, it’s important to take a step back and appreciate just how awesome nature is.
So without further ado, here are 10 fun nature facts that will be sure to blow your mind
1. Trees Can Communicate with Each Other
Now, we know what you’re thinking: how can trees talk to one another? Well, while trees certainly can communicate with each other, it actually can’t be seen with the naked eye, making it impossible to detect on an everyday stroll through nature.
Trees “talk” to one another through an intricate network of fungi in the soil dubbed the “Wood Wide Web”. It connects trees at their roots, allowing them to communicate by sending signals about upcoming threats like droughts or disease — and that’s just the tip of the iceberg. This allows trees to alter their behavior upon receiving the signal.
2. Dolphins Have Names for Each Other
Just when you thought your favorite underwater mammal couldn’t get any cuter, we have some news for you.
It’s a well-known fact that dolphins are highly social creatures. They typically travel in what we call pods, which can include anywhere from 2 to 30 dolphins. It’s also another well-known fact that dolphins are extremely intelligent. If you’ve ever had the pleasure of meeting a dolphin, you know this first-hand.
Turns out, dolphins actually have names for one another. Scientists have found that these marine mammals use a distinctive whistle to identify each other. When a dolphin hears their own “name” called to them, they respond
3. African Buffaloes Make Decisions By Voting
Turns out, Democracy isn’t just a human behavior. Animals take part in it as well! The African buffalo is one of the animals most well-known for using a voting tactic to make travel decisions.
African buffalo herds actually use a form of voting when trying to decide which direction to travel in. One at a time, adult females will stand up and look in a certain direction before sitting down. Whichever direction gets the most amount of looks is typically where the herd travels.
4. Bamboo Is the World's Fastest Growing Plant
Bamboo is a fast-growing grass with a hollow stem. It’s used to create a number of sustainable products, but it’s best known for being a food source for giant pandas.
5. Bees Dance to Communicate
It’s hard to think bees could get more interesting, but turns out, they can! Just like many other species, bees communicate with one another. They live in a hive together and must all work together, so communication is certainly key. However, what sets bees apart from other species is that they actually communicate by dancing!
6. There Are More Trees on Earth Than Stars in the Milky Way
There are so many trees covering our planet that scientists had to figure out a new method to quantify them, and they’ve actually calculated that there are more trees on Earth than stars in the Milky Way.
7. Birds Are Descended From Dinosaurs
When we think of dinosaurs, we often think of large, reptile-like creatures. The Tyrannosaurus Rex is often thought of as a scaled-up, ferocious lizard, but that might not be the case for all other dinosaurs
8. The Blue Whale Is the Largest Animal to Exist
Speaking of dinosaurs, when people think of these extinct animals, we often think of towering creatures. Surely, the dinosaurs were the biggest animals that roamed the Earth? Well, that’s actually not the case at all
9. Forests Can Make Rain
Forests actually move so much water from the soil into the atmosphere that they end up creating rain. It’s called the Biotic Pump Theory.
10. Elephants "Never" Forget
Have you ever heard the phrase, “memory like an elephant?” It turns out that elephants actually do have a better memory than most living things.
All mammals, including humans, have four different lobes in their cortex: occipital, parietal, temporal, and frontal lobes. All four of these lobes play a key role in the functioning of our brain. From language acquisition to processing auditory information, each lobe is crucial.
