The grey patches are likely lichen, a combination of a fungus and an algae. It is harmless to you and the tree. It is common ...

A walk in the desert and a curious discovery could have revealed that the secrets of alien life grow in the harshest ...

Landing on Mars once felt like a distant dream. Now, space agencies have sent rovers and landers to explore the Red Planet ...

Have you ever noticed the strange, colorful splotches clinging to rocks, tree bark, or even old fences after a rainy day?

Can desert lichen survive extreme UV radiation? Study shows it might hold clues to how life could exist on distant, high-radiation planets.

DRI researcher Henry Sun gathers lichen from the Mojave Desert. (Image credit: Henry Sun/DRI) Lichen is composed of algae or cyanobacteria that exist symbiotically with fungi.

The question of whether Earth is alone in harboring life has captivated humanity for millennia. In recent years, scientists have turned to Earth-like ...

With 101 species, Kerala recorded highest number of fauna discoveries, followed by Karnataka — 82; Tamil Nadu recorded 63 ...

The young conqueror fell suddenly and fatally ill at an all-night feast. Now, a Stanford historian has found a potential ...

A thin layer found in the top few centimeters of soil plays a big role in its ecology. Biocrust is built, maintained and ...

Synthetic lichens could transform Martian dust into self-growing habitats for future Mars bases and 3D printed buildings.

Despite resembling plants, lichens are actually colonies of fungi and either algae or cyanobacteria living symbiotically. Many lichens can thrive in harsh environments, including the arctic tundra, ...