Short Wave: Meet The 'Glacier Mice.' Scientists Can't Figure Out Why They Move.

In 2006, while hiking around the Root Glacier in Alaska, glaciologist Tim Bartholomaus encountered something strange and unexpected on the ice — dozens of fuzzy, green moss balls.

It turns out, other glaciologists had come across glacial moss balls before and lovingly called them “glacier mice.”

NPR science correspondent Nell Greenfieldboyce and Short Wave reporter Emily Kwong talk about glacial moss balls and delve into the mystery of how they seem to move as a herd.

Read more of Nell’s reporting on glacier mice here.

Follow Emily Kwong on Twitter @emilykwong1234 and get the latest tweets from Nell Greenfieldboyce @nell_sci_NPR.

Email the show at shortwave@npr.org.

 

Short Wave Podcast

It’s science for everyone, using a lot of creativity and a little humor. Join host Maddie Sofia for science on a different wavelength.


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