- #1
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I found this funny pattern in a slightly damp concrete paved parking area. Any ideas what it is?
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Strange pattern on a concrete paved surface
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Discussion Overview
The discussion revolves around a peculiar pattern observed on a damp concrete paved surface in a parking area. Participants explore various hypotheses regarding the nature of the pattern, considering biological and chemical explanations.
Discussion Character
- Exploratory
- Debate/contested
- Technical explanation
Main Points Raised
- Some participants suggest the pattern could be caused by fungus or lichen, noting its unusual appearance.
- Others propose it may be white mold or efflorescence, with one participant indicating that the former seems more likely due to its organic look.
- A suggestion is made that it could be slime mold, which is known for its organized growth patterns.
- One participant draws a comparison to Lichtenberg figures and mentions the possibility of bacterial growth exhibiting fractal geometry.
- Concerns are raised about handling the material without gloves due to potential safety issues.
- Some participants believe it appears to be salt efflorescence, describing it as not unusual or strange.
- Another participant expresses interest in the aesthetic quality of the pattern and suggests monitoring its growth over time.
- There are discussions about conducting experiments, such as applying bleach or testing solubility in water to differentiate between organic and inorganic substances.
- One participant speculates on the formation of globules if it is mineral efflorescence, suggesting a possible mechanism involving dew and salt.
- Another participant notes the differences in texture between slime molds and efflorescence, proposing a test for solubility in water.
Areas of Agreement / Disagreement
Participants do not reach a consensus on the nature of the pattern, with multiple competing views and hypotheses remaining throughout the discussion.
Contextual Notes
Participants express uncertainty regarding the identification of the organism or material, highlighting the need for further testing and observation. There are unresolved questions about the specific characteristics of the pattern and its formation process.
- #2
mcastillo356
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https://forum.biologyonline.com/
Fungus, lichen?. Never saw anything similar.
Fungus, lichen?. Never saw anything similar.
- #3
Rive
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Can be either white mold (growing from some organic remains below the concrete) or efflorescence. Can't tell by that picture. Maybe the former, since looks organic and kind of organized too.
- #4
Borek
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Slime mold?
- #5
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Reminded me of Lichtenberg figures.
Looks like some living organism, but it is following a great pattern while growing. I can see some blue spots elsewhere on the concrete surface.
A Google search reveals that bacterial growth may sometimes follow fractal geometry.
Do you know any lab where you can send a sample for finding out what organism it is?
Looks like some living organism, but it is following a great pattern while growing. I can see some blue spots elsewhere on the concrete surface.
A Google search reveals that bacterial growth may sometimes follow fractal geometry.
Do you know any lab where you can send a sample for finding out what organism it is?
- #6
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Maybe I can contact the biology department at Gujarat University (I'm in Ahmedabad, India).Wrichik Basu said:
But that may take a while, so I could try putting a sample into a dish with some soil and humus to keep the colony active. But it may not be there when I go there tomorrow because it's a place where people are likely to step on it (it's between two parking bays).
- #7
mcastillo356
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Don't handle without gloves. It might be unsafe
- #8
Roberto Teso
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Appear to be a salt efflorescence, nothing unusual or strange.
- #9
BillTre
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I like it. Very photogenic.
I'm betting its organic, but can't tell from the pictures.
See what it looks like in a day or two.
In the picture, it looks like it is on top of the cement rather than within it. Yes?
It may be getting bigger, possibly growing but could be an inorganic getting larger too.
If its a slime mold aggregating (or perhaps a fungus coming together to make a mushroom or other fruiting body), it could get smaller and more concentrated where it is converging to.
It might be fluorescent, try a black lite at night.
Biological stains would also be interesting if you have any around.
I like @Swamp Thing's idea of putting a sample on potential media.
Put some dilute bleach on a small part of it and see what happens. Should kill live things.
Does water dissolve it? Inorganic salts?
Have a decent microscope? If so put some under that and look for cells.
I'm betting its organic, but can't tell from the pictures.
See what it looks like in a day or two.
In the picture, it looks like it is on top of the cement rather than within it. Yes?
It may be getting bigger, possibly growing but could be an inorganic getting larger too.
If its a slime mold aggregating (or perhaps a fungus coming together to make a mushroom or other fruiting body), it could get smaller and more concentrated where it is converging to.
It might be fluorescent, try a black lite at night.
Biological stains would also be interesting if you have any around.
I like @Swamp Thing's idea of putting a sample on potential media.
Put some dilute bleach on a small part of it and see what happens. Should kill live things.
Does water dissolve it? Inorganic salts?
Have a decent microscope? If so put some under that and look for cells.
- #10
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I managed to shoot this makeshift macro:
If it is mineral efflorescence, how would those globules form? One possibility is that the tree branches out into whiskery dendrites, but at some point some droplets of dew nucleate onto the tips of the whiskers. A little salt could dissolve into the dew, which leaves a globule when it evaporates.
Or maybe it's just that the COVID has teamed up with some fungus or mold ... the Day of the Dendrids?
If it is mineral efflorescence, how would those globules form? One possibility is that the tree branches out into whiskery dendrites, but at some point some droplets of dew nucleate onto the tips of the whiskers. A little salt could dissolve into the dew, which leaves a globule when it evaporates.
Or maybe it's just that the COVID has teamed up with some fungus or mold ... the Day of the Dendrids?
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- #11
256bits
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Looks organic to me.
- #12
Spinnor
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A Google image search for 'slime molds" came up with,
Some similarities.
See if it dissolves in water, I don't think a slime mold would but the efflorescence would. The textures of both would be quite different, one is slimy the other is a dryish powder?
Some similarities.
See if it dissolves in water, I don't think a slime mold would but the efflorescence would. The textures of both would be quite different, one is slimy the other is a dryish powder?
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