Those rows of orange cluster under a fern leaf are spores waiting to be catapulted away.

Watch Ferns Get Freaky Deep Look

Premiered April 16, 2024
Watch Ferns Get Freaky

Look at the underside of a fern leaf. Those rows of orange clusters aren’t tiny insects; they’re spores waiting to be catapulted away. Once a spore lands, it grows into a tiny plant, from which fern sperm swim away, searching for an egg to fertilize. Think of *that* next time you’re hiking in the forest.

About the Program

Deep Look

See the unseen at the very edge of our visible world. Get a new perspective on our place in the universe and meet extraordinary new friends. Explore big scientific mysteries by going incredibly small.

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