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Bruce Maisy - Lists at Ranker

Lists to celebrate and educate about some of the earth's most beautiful creations: flowers, trees, mosses, fungi, and even carnivorous plants.

Natural Botanicals

Weird Nature

<a href="https://books.google.com/books?id=Wcg50WcWJT4C&amp;q=moss+about&amp;dq=moss+about&amp;hl=en&amp;sa=X&amp;ved=0ahUKEwjL1-Gg_IPUAhWqq1QKHQxLANsQ6AEIIjAA">Mosses</a> are a fascinating division of plants distinct from more commonly recognized groups such as trees, grasses, and&nbsp;ferns. Mosses are&nbsp;also known as Bryophyta and&nbsp;are one among three groups of <a href="https://books.google.com/books?id=5_2JCwAAQBAJ&amp;pg=PT127&amp;dq=moss+bryophyte+all+continents&amp;hl=en&amp;sa=X&amp;ved=0ahUKEwjlnOHN_IPUAhXK0FQKHW0MCNEQ6AEIIjAA#v=onepage&amp;q=moss%20bryophyte%20all%20continents&amp;f=false">bryophytes</a>, which are non-vascular plants with wholly enclosed reproductive systems. There are more than 14,000 species of Bryophyta that grow in an array of colors and can be found on <a href="https://bogology.org/2013/10/16/how-do-mosses-survive-in-antarctica/">all seven continents</a>. While most species prefer damp and shaded environments -&nbsp;often woodlands - some mosses thrive in desert areas, as well as ice-covered regions such as Antarctica.&nbsp;Mosses are typically 0.1–3.9&nbsp;inches (0.2–10&nbsp;cm) in height, though select species can grow up to 20 inches (50 cm) tall. Bryophyta <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Herbaceous_plant">lack the root structure</a> characteristic of many plants, instead attaching themselves to their environment via hairy protrusions called rhizoids. Most Bryophyta collect water and compounds through the air, using them in conjunction with the sun to create food by way of photosynthesis. Mosses don’t have flowers or seeds, but reproduce via spores.&nbsp;Contrary to popular myth, mosses don’t just grow on the north side of trees,&nbsp;though many Bryophyta do avoid southern exposure due to the sun’s intense rays. Fallacious lore aside, there are actually some truly bizarre and amazing moss facts that surround these little, unassuming green clumps. So, with most of the basics out of the way,&nbsp;read on to take a deeper dive into some of the crazy things Bryophyta can do.&nbsp;

13 Facts About Moss That Make You Say, Woah - Really?

General

13 Facts About Moss That Are Actually Really Interesting

Bruce Maisy

Did dinosaurs have feathers? Scales? Deep voices or shrill, piercing squawks? Australian accents? Sarcastic lilts? Check out these lists about the many bird-like reptiles that roamed and ruled over Planet Earth between 66 and 230 million years ago.

Raaaarrr!!

All birds, great and small, from the freaking enormous ostrich to the itty bitty hummingbird and every feathered flapper in between.

Avian Aficionados

Animals

Dinosaurs might not really exist anymore, but it doesn't mean their relatives don't. Yes, it's true - cute, chirpy birds bouncing around in parks and backyards across the nation are related to giant, ferocious dinosaurs of the past.&nbsp;To be fair,&nbsp;it’s not accurate to say all of the dinosaurs who dominated our planet for millions of years evolved into birds. Many dinosaurs died off through natural means, with the vast majority going completely extinct when a <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cretaceous–Paleogene_extinction_event">giant asteroid struck the Earth</a> around 66 million years ago. So, how are birds and dinosaurs connected, exactly? Some smaller dinosaurs from the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Theropoda">theropod suborder </a>-&nbsp;which Tyrannosaurus and Velociraptor are also classified under -&nbsp;survived the dark days of the planet. And some of this theropod subset, with their proto-avian characteristics, eventually led to the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Origin_of_birds">evolution of birds</a>.These modern dinosaur relatives might seem relatively boring and harmless, but once you realize all the things these two have in common, it might destroy some of the <a href="http://www.ranker.com/list/dinosaur-myths-that-arent-true/ranker-science">myths you've always believed about dinosaurs</a>.

Compelling Evidence Birds Are Just Dinosaurs Living Among Us

Lists about the infinite expanses of space and time. Read up to open your mind so wide, it explodes.

Theories of the Universe

Interesting

Time&nbsp;impacts every aspect of our lives. Yet, despite our seemingly intimate relationship with time, many would be hard-pressed to define it. So, exactly what is time?For millennia, philosophers and scientists have proposed and argued theories about time, but very few have resulted in any kind of consensus. And while there still remains no complete definition, in its strictest sense, <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Time">time is a unit of measure</a>. We use it to describe an event, or the duration of or between them. This is true both in everyday matters, as well as in&nbsp;mathematics. Colloquially, we might say something like “time marches on” when speaking about life’s forward movement, while physicists&nbsp;would characterize this perceived experience as the “arrow of time.”Beyond time’s symptomatic effects, however, the true essence of the phenomenon remains controversial and mysterious. While physicists can use units of time within their equations, questions such as &quot;How does time work?&quot;&nbsp;continue to confound the scientific community. Indeed, as the superficial layers of time get pulled back, <a href="http://www.ranker.com/list/most-widely-misunderstood-scientific-concepts/bruce-maisy">common sense and intuitive ideas are challenged</a>, making it difficult to talk about the existential without flirting with something more metaphysical. As a result, the riddle of time has actually led some philosophers and scientists to rethink the entire model of our universe.In that spirit, let’s explore some scientific theories about time that challenge our own views about reality.

Scientific Theories And Facts That Prove Time Is Way Weirder Than You Think

14 Scientific Theories That Prove Time Is Way Weirder Than You Think

Stories, pics, trivia, and interesting tidbits about all creatures, great and small.

Enter the Animal Kingdom

&quot;Immaculate conception&quot;&nbsp;is a central theme in many religious stories, whereby a woman brings an unfathered child into the world via divine intervention. But virgin births aren’t actually possible amongst Homo sapiens, nor are they known to occur naturally <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parthenogenesis#Mammals">in any species of mammal</a>. But can other animals give virgin births? Surprisingly, immaculate animal conception does occur, though it remains somewhat rare, with only about 0.1% of vertebrates exhibiting the characteristic.<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parthenogenesis">Parthenogenesis</a>,&nbsp;as it’s scientifically known, is a form of asexual reproduction that can manifest in both plants and animals. In the latter, it means an embryo develops from an unfertilized egg.&nbsp;Sometimes, animal virgin births are a species exclusive way of&nbsp;reproducing. Other times it’s a survival feature that allows females&nbsp;to propagate when male suitors are limited or nonexistent. Interesting, however, parthenogenesis can also be incited by external means, such as infectious disease or artificial mediation. So read on if you would like to know about the wild world of propagating animal virgins and their G-rated ways of reproducing.

Immaculate Conception: Animals That Have Virgin Births

Animal/Plant

Lists about the gazillions of things spinning around the whole infinite universe.

Space: The Final Frontier

Space

Saturn’s&nbsp;moon Titan has been the subject of innumerable science fiction works, including Kurt Vonnegut’s classic The Sirens of Titan and Philip K. Dick's The Game-Players of Titan. References to it show up in movies, on TV shows, and on rock albums. Titan might just be the most famous moon in the <a href="http://www.ranker.com/list/planets-in-the-solar-system/jtdesaulnier">solar system</a>. But why is Titan so cool? The short answer: because it's more like Earth than you might expect.Titan has fascinated star-gazers since it was <a href="http://www.ranker.com/list/firsts-in-space/ranker-science">first discovered</a> by Dutch astronomer Christiaan Huygens in 1655. Huygens called the moon Saturni Luna, but it was later renamed by John Herschel for the Titans of Greek mythology.Despite its relatively early discovery, Titan stumped the scientific community over the next few hundred years.&nbsp;The moon’s hazy atmosphere&nbsp;made it difficult&nbsp;to discern many facts about Titan or unravel its enticing mysteries. More recently, however, thanks to visits by spacecraft like Cassini-Huygens,&nbsp;researchers are learning the exciting truth: Titan has many <a href="http://www.ranker.com/list/pictures-of-earth-from-space/ashley-reign">Earth</a>-like qualities, including flowing liquids, organic compounds and, possibly even&nbsp;a prebiotic environment.There are plenty of extraordinary things you didn't know about Titan. The fact that it might one day be able to support life is just one of them.

16 Facts About Saturn's Moon Titan, The Closest Thing We Have To A Second Earth

Everything You Should Know About Titan: Our Best Bet for a New Home in the Stars

Lists about astronauts, space exploration, and what we've learned about the effects of space travel on the human body.

Life in Outer Space

What happens to your body in a black hole? Luckily, that question is purely hypothetical - humans currently have no way of reaching these mysterious cosmic bodies, and even if they could they wouldn't be able to enjoy the experience for long. Can people die in black holes? Yes, although not in the ways you might expect.The answers to these questions are both mind-boggling and fascinating. But before you can delve deeper into the mysteries of death by black hole, you need to know about the event horizon, or the boundary of a black hole. Commonly known as the “point of no return,” the event horizon&nbsp;can be imagined as the edge of a waterfall, where gravity becomes a monopolizing&nbsp;force. In fact, gravity is so strong along the event horizon that it’s impossible for even light to escape.But what happens to you on the event horizon of a black hole is actually up for debate. Some physicists contend that it would be a peaceful crossing, while others describe an incredibly gruesome and horrifying death. Despite the differing opinions, one thing everyone seems to agree upon is that surviving a black hole would be impossible. If you're ready to learn more, keep reading - and thank your lucky stars you're not currently drifting towards the event horizon yourself.

5 Gnarly Things That Happen To Your Body When You Get Sucked Into A Black Hole

What Would Happen To Your Body On The Event Horizon Of A Black Hole

Psst! Hey, kid: wanna see something cool? Check out these lists of neato facts, pics, and vids of science working around you, all day in every way.

That's Just Science

Science

In an attempt to fulfill our insatiable curiosity, we humans use&nbsp;something known as the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scientific_method">scientific method</a> to help unravel ourselves, the world, and the universe. The information amassed by this method constitutes science and, expanding in scope and content over the last several centuries, it has risen above all other schools of thought to become humankind’s preeminent source of knowledge. Today, scientific principles allow us to send communications around our planet at the speed of light, as well as interpret the ancient light emitted by unfathomably distant stars.<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scientific_theory">Scientific theories</a> have also led to discoveries that continue to improve the quality and duration of our lives via medical breakthroughs, technological advancements, and the debunking of dangerous myths. Despite this, many myths actually persist around science itself—perpetrated by those who ignore, fail to understand, and/or misrepresent the method’s purpose and guiding principles.Among the most commonly misunderstood scientific theories are some of the most fundamental. For example, many dismiss the Big Bang theory because it doesn’t explain what came before it. This <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moving_the_goalposts">fallacy</a> doesn’t just illustrate confusion around what the Big Bang attempts to describe, but points to the larger, troubling trend of <a href="http://www.ranker.com/list/inaccurate-pop-psychology-findings/rylee_en">science illiteracy</a> in our culture.One of the keys to better understanding science is to realize that it has no political agenda, no formal hierarchy, no dogmatic institution steering its plight. Instead, science is an emotionally agnostic, course-correcting, ever-expanding body of knowledge committed to the revelation of truth.Below is a list of commonly misunderstood scientific concepts accompanied by explanations that will help disprove <a href="http://www.ranker.com/list/top-ten-common-science-myths/nicolebreanne">science myths</a>&nbsp;and improve your overall science game.

7 lists