Well, okay GOLD. Apparently, gold grows on eucalyptus trees. Researchers discovered that the trees are acting as a hydraulic pump, extracting gold from the soil and moving it to their leaves and branches. The ‘nuggets’ are about one-fifth the diameter of human hair, but the leaves may be used in combination with other tools to develop better exploration techniques.

Pamukkale, meaning "cotton castle" in Turkish, is a natural water terrace site located in the Denizli Province of southwestern Turkey. The site contains several hot springs contained by stark, white limestone deposits known as travertines, that are fed by the overflowing, mineral-rich spring waters. People have been bathing here for thousands of years. ...

Ever seen 'memory metal' in action? Watch this paperclip - made from an incredible shape-shifting metal called Nitinol - be bent completely out of shape and then restored instantly as it touches a simple bowl of warm water.

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Since pearls are made mostly of calcium carbonate, the acid found in vinegar, known as acetic acid, will definitely dissolve one over a period of time. The same dissolution would occur if an egg were placed in a glass of vinegar and left to sit - the egg shell would disintegrate. Of course, the speed as which the pearl dissolves will depend on the concentration of the acid and the pearl's overall size. The reaction produces calcium acetate, water and carbon dioxide, summarized below:


More Pearly Facts:

 Mollusks actually create pearls as a form of protection from foreign particles, sand and parasites. Natural pearls, though, are very rare in modern times due to a decline in mollusks ...