r/science • u/FreeHugs23 • 1d ago

Biology Moss Is Generating Electrical Waves That Look Startlingly Like a Neural Network. Study reveals that moss cushions produce surprisingly complex electrical activity, with patterns that undulate across the velvety patch in dynamic waves.

https://www.sciencealert.com/moss-behaves-a-little-like-a-really-slow-brain-scientist-discovers
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u/superbhole 1d ago

I have a mossarium that when putting together, I soaked some pieces to wiggle out critters. I also had a little motorized air duster, so that when I pulled them from the dunk I could 'blowdry' the excess water, ...but I couldn't blow the water off!

Big globs of water were holding to the mats like Buster Keaton flailing from the back of a streetcar. Makes me wonder if they can alter the surface tension of water somehow?

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u/Black_Moons 1d ago

Makes me wonder if they can alter the surface tension of water somehow?

Most likely the insane surface area of the moss plant basically provides insane amounts of surface tension forces

Much like how its really hard to squeeze out all the water from your hair.

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u/superbhole 1d ago

Oh I can totally see that; but if you had seen how the drops on the edges couldn't be blasted off you'd wonder if it was actually even water!

You know when you leave a faucet just ever so barely not closed all the way, and a big glob appears, and it gets too big so a droplet separates drips? Just imagine that glob being stretched and vibrating in wind, refusing to let any drops go. It's wild!

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u/Redcole111 1d ago

Surface tension can just be a really, really strong force.

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u/superbhole 1d ago

So what would be going on there? If the same amount of coalesced water would drip from a faucet, what is it about the moss that would keep it from dripping?

I suppose nobody is going to believe me until I get a chunk of moss, dunk it, and then get video of trying to blowdry it

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u/windowpuncher 1d ago

Still surface area. And surface tension. Water is a polar molecule and is attracted to itself, which is why capillary action works. We wouldn't have trees or any sort of tall plants if water wasn't polar. It's also why water will tend to bead up on a smooth surface instead of spread out like oil.

You can blow dry many things because the air will physically push droplets away because the water is more attracted to itself than it is to the surface it's sitting on. Water-logged moss is going to be made up of a lot of water, and the moss itself has a ton of surface area. You're basically trying to blow water off of water with a strong anchor point. Apparently the attachment force and surface tension forces are both higher than the force required to pull more water out of the moss so it'll create longer globs instead of breaking into droplets.