<>_<>'African 'fairy circles' back in the mystery books after termite theory turned on its head'<>_<>
African 'fairy circles' back in the mystery books after termite theory turned on its head
- 8 HOURS AGO
Sending science into a spin ... Aerial view of the mysterious fairy circles of Namibia. The enigmatic, bare patches within the grassland occur in millions at the transition to the Namib Desert. Picture: Dr. Stephan Getzin/UFZ Source: Supplied
DID fairies do it? Or did termites? Well, when it comes to mysterious circles in African grasslands, the fairies are back in with a chance.
The termite explanation has been turfed.
The enigmatic arcs of Spartan earth amid African grassland regions has been puzzling scientists for decades and locals for centuries.
The "fairy circles" speckle the landscape like freckles. Arid grasslands all over southwest Africa are covered with the pock marks.
Some measure a few metres. Others span more than 20 metres in diameter.
Almost all have a particularly lush boundary of grass at their edge.
Ideas abound as to their cause.
But real answers are scarce.
For some time, those who regard themselves as being in the know have asserted the barren swirls to be the product of subterranean termite colonies.
These dastardly — but geometrically-minded — beasts supposedly nibble away at the grassroots, causing dieback.
But nobody could cite the source for this explanation.
Another authoritative explanation is that the dead ground is the top of an underground "chimney" carrying poisonous hydrocarbon gases up from deep under the earth. None has yet been detected.
"These so-called fairy circles virtually do extend an open invitation for speculation," a new report states. "What has led to the formation of these enigmatic structures?
Now, the first detailed analysis of the strange patches of dirt has been completed.
The answer?
Fairies? Or sentient plants? The sizes of fairy circles may vary, ranging from two to more than twenty metres in diameter. Picture: Dr. Stephan Getzin/UFZ Source: Supplied
Well, there isn't one — yet.
"Although scientists have been trying to answer this question for decades their mystery remains as yet unresolved", states Dr. Stephan Getzin from the Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research (UFZ) in Leipzig.
The problem: No one has been able to actually observe the formation and growth of a fairy circle.
The troublesome spots require lateral thinking to solve, researchers say.
"We have adopted an entirely novel approach in this research", a Dr Getzin states.
Aerial and satellite images have been put on the table to map the location and distribution of these barren patches and computer models have been created to explain their spacing.
"Are they arranged and positioned merely by chance — just like coins dropped accidentally and now scattered all over the place," a press release asks. "Are there signs or distinguishable patterns of clustering in certain locations? Or do these patches perhaps need to maintain a minimum distance to their respective neighbours? "
Well, yes.
"The occurrence of such patterning in nature is rather unusual" says Dr Getzin. "There must be particularly strong regulating forces at work".
His personal pet theory? That the grasslands itself is self-organising to regulate and replenish resources. But he hasn't figured out how to prove this, yet.
However, whether the cause of the circles is vegetable, animal, mineral — or magical — is still to be determined, despite 15 years of study.
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Posted by: Vipan <iamvipan@yahoo.com>
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