<a alt="image63.jpg" class="gcloudimg" href="https://storage.googleapis.com/microcosmosdelta.appspot.com/images/transfer_2217/image63.jpg">
 <img alt="Can anyone confirm what these crazy geometric structures are? " class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-2218 gcloudimg" data-attachment-id="2218" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta='{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"0","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"0"}' data-image-title="Lichens from Huckleberry State Preserve in Oakland, CA under low mag" data-recalc-dims="1" src="https://storage.googleapis.com/microcosmosdelta.appspot.com/images/transfer_2217/image63.jpg"/>
 </a>
 <a alt="image64.jpg" class="gcloudimg" href="https://storage.googleapis.com/microcosmosdelta.appspot.com/images/transfer_2217/image64.jpg">
 <img alt="image" class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-2219 gcloudimg" data-attachment-id="2219" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta='{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"0","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"0"}' data-image-title="image" data-recalc-dims="1" src="https://storage.googleapis.com/microcosmosdelta.appspot.com/images/transfer_2217/image64.jpg"/>
 </a>
 <a alt="image65.jpg" class="gcloudimg" href="https://storage.googleapis.com/microcosmosdelta.appspot.com/images/transfer_2217/image65.jpg">
 <img alt="image" class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-2220 gcloudimg" data-attachment-id="2220" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta='{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"0","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"0"}' data-image-title="image" data-recalc-dims="1" src="https://storage.googleapis.com/microcosmosdelta.appspot.com/images/transfer_2217/image65.jpg"/>
 </a>




 Decided to take the foldscope on its first outing to my favorite hiking spot: Huckleberry State Preserve in Oakland, CA. Huckleberry is part of a larger network of trails that are the result of a volcano that erupted 10,000 years ago and then fell on its side. The soil is rich in minerals that give rise to an ecosystem reminiscent of the forests in Jurassic park. Redwoods and manzanita trees are covered in moss and lichens (a symbiotic organism comprised of fungi and Cyanobacteria). I took a sample of one of the more common lichens around, and was amazed when I saw large geometric structures including squares and spikey triangles that appeared to be extremely regular. Unfortunately I lost the sample (it was windy!), but I hope to take another next time and see what it looks like under high magnification. I would love to know what these are, if anyone has any idea.

Lichens, lichens, everywhere!

aparente

More Posts from aparente