Living Snowflakes - Fantastic Fact 08

Subtitles

We generally think of water as

just...water and maybe a little

dirt and bacteria added in if

the water isn't clean. But there

is something absolutely incredible

in most water that is rarely seen

by the average person. Diatoms.

Diatoms are single celled organisms

which live in water. In fact,

they may even be in the water

you drink ! They come in some

of the most unnatural looking

shapes and designs you can find

in the natural world! Unlike snowflakes,

these aren't just inanimate crystals!

These are living organisms!

Of course, besides the living

ones, there are also trillions

upon trillions of dead ones as

they generally only live for a few days!

And the size of these incredible

constructions are generally only

about 2 to 200 micrometers, which

is about the thickness of a single

human hair!

So what is the purpose of these

living, microscopic mansions?

Well, diatoms are responsible

for creating up to 50% of the

oxygen produced on Earth each year!

Nearly double the amount of oxygen

produced by trees!