Dry flake wakes

A slime mould can dry into a brittle resting flake when food and water run out. When water touches it, it swells and grows into a spreading yellow network again.

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Age 9: open this week

In the picture

Dry resting flake: a brittle yellow patch curled on bark
Water droplet: a clear bead touching the dry flake
Revived network: yellow strands spreading outward after water returns

Examples

A dry sponge soaking up water and swelling.
A wilted plant standing up again after it is watered.

Key takeaways

Some living things can pause in a dry resting state for a long time.
Water can wake a dry resting flake and make it grow again.

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