'Fairy circles' of Africa baffle scientists

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Discussion Overview

The discussion centers around the phenomenon known as "fairy circles" found in Namibia and South Africa, which remain unexplained despite extensive research. Participants explore various hypotheses regarding their formation, including soil fertility variations and comparisons to other similar phenomena.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Debate/contested

Main Points Raised

  • Some participants note that previous research has ruled out several potential causes for fairy circles, including termite activity and toxic plants.
  • One participant mentions that while the soil within the circles is barren, the surrounding soil appears more fertile, suggesting a possible relationship between the two.
  • Another participant draws a comparison between fairy circles and a local phenomenon known as the "devils tramping ground," highlighting the differences in their occurrences.
  • A suggestion is made that the circles could simply require fertilizer to thrive.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants do not reach a consensus on the cause of fairy circles, with multiple competing views and hypotheses presented throughout the discussion.

Contextual Notes

Limitations include the lack of definitive evidence for any proposed explanations and the reliance on anecdotal comparisons to other phenomena.

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Twenty-five years of research fail to find the cause of a mysterious natural phenomenon, reports Tim Butcher at Wolwedans Camp

One of Africa's most mysterious natural phenomena still cannot be explained despite 25 years of research, scientists admitted yesterday.

Rings known as "fairy circles" that pockmark vast areas of desert in Namibia and South Africa have baffled botanists from the University of Pretoria and the Polytechnic of Namibia.

They have ruled out termite activity, poisoning from toxic indigenous plants, contamination from radioactive minerals and even ostrich dust baths as possible causes.

"At this stage I suppose we could say that fairies are as good an explanation as any," Gretel van Rooyen, professor of botany at Pretoria, told The Telegraph. [continued]

\http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/mai...rc10.xml&sSheet=/news/2004/05/10/ixworld.html
 
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These are real enough. Anothert really interesting thing about them is though the soil in the circle is barren there is a ring of soil just putside the circle which is seemingly more fertile than the surrounding soil.

here's a slightly better article on it:

http://www.newscientist.com/news/news.jsp?id=ns99994833

It is obviously the work of fairies.
 
Hmm, I was trying to find some pics of these things, because they sound quite similar to the devils tramping ground I've got up the street.

Here is one pic I managed to find of a fairy circle

And a pic of the tramping ground to save you the trouble

The main difference, from what I read about the fairy circles, there are many of them in africa, whereas this is the only one I know of around here.
 
They just need some fertilizer, is all.
 

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