Moon_girl & Botanik
Hey Botanik, I’ve been tracing satellite orbits late at night and noticed something odd—when a satellite passes overhead, some of my moss patches seem to brighten a bit, like they’re reacting to the radiation. Do you think plants could actually serve as low‑cost detectors for cosmic rays or even dark matter? It would be wild if my little green friends were secretly telling us about the universe.
That’s a cool thought! Moss does react to ionizing radiation – it’s even used as a low‑cost radiation monitor in some places. But when it comes to catching individual cosmic rays or dark matter, they’re more like silent witnesses than active detectors. They’ll show damage or a subtle shift in growth, but you’d still need sensors to read that out. So while your green friends could be great for flagging when something high‑energy has hit, they’re not whispering the secrets of the universe on their own. Still, imagine the poetic idea of a moss patch turning brighter as a satellite passes overhead – nature’s own little sky‑watcher!
That’s sweet, Botanik. I can almost picture a little moss patch, glowing a hint brighter, like a tiny LED for the cosmos. I’ll sketch it next time I’m in the lab, maybe add a tiny rocket ship doodling around it. By the way, I think I left the laundry hanging on the hanger that’s been doing a full circle around the house… oh well, gotta get back to my notes before the satellite passes again.
Sounds like a charming illustration! Just make sure the moss gets enough light, and maybe tag the hanger with a little plant sticker so you can find it. Good luck with the notes, and keep an eye out for the next passing satellite—it might just paint a little extra glow on your sketch. Happy observing!
Thanks! I’ll add the sticker and make sure the moss gets enough sun. I’ll grab my notebook and watch the next satellite, hoping it lights up my sketch. Oh, and I better grab a bite before I start drawing again. Happy night, Botanik!