March 29, 2007
Blog Entry: Diatom Diatribe cont.
Who would have thought that so many out there share my love for these astonishing microscopic lifeforms. But what’s not to love? Diatoms, like my other all-time favourite, slime mould, are neither fish nor fowl. Which is to say that they are neither plants nor animals, and are not bacteria or fungi either.
In fact they are one-celled protists which, like plants, contain chlorophyll but, uniquely, diatoms are encased in an asymmetric silica shell...
Not only are there more than 100000 species of the cute little critters, they are found everywhere that there’s water including on and in soil.
I could go on and on about them – especially since pointy-headed science types are now looking at using them as components of nano-machines, but it was the mural and diatoms use in cultural activities that have excited most of my correspondents..."
more/links http://museumofdust.blogspot.com/2007/02/diatom-diatribe-cont.html | Museum of Dust
Posted by Stubbornson at March 29, 2007 04:42 PM