Mumbai, September 29: Recent discoveries of more 'Fair Circles' have puzzled scientists across the globe. In the dry landscapes of Namibia and Australia, the existence of captivating natural phenomena called “fairy circles” has been a trending topic among researchers. These peculiar circular patches are characterized by barren soil encircled by rings of lush vegetation. Scientists and nature enthusiasts have been fascinated by this enigmatic phenomenon for many years. Until now, fairy circles were believed to be confined to the terrains of Namibia and Australia.

Recent research has brought the phenomenon of “fairy circles” into the global spotlight. These mysterious circular patches have been mapped in over 250 locations in 15 countries. The recent global assessment has identified 263 sites with bald spots exhibiting intricate patterns. These sites are distributed across three continents and 15 countries, including Sahel, Madagascar, and Middle-West Asia. New Continent Found? Scientists Discover Zealandia, Eighth Continent Missing for Nearly 375 Years.

What are fairy circles?

“Fairy circles” are intriguing circular patches found in arid landscapes, such as Namibia and Australia. These patches consist of bare soil surrounded by rings of vibrant vegetation. The exact cause of fairy circles is still a subject of scientific debate, with several theories proposed to explain their formation. One hypothesis suggests that the circles are created by the self-organisation of plants competing for limited resources, such as water and nutrients. Sperm or Egg or Womb Required for Baby? Whole Human Embryo Model Made Using Stem Cells by Scientists in Israel.

Scientists from Universidad de Alicante (UA) in Spain and other institutions used artificial intelligence to analyse satellite images of fairy circles. Their findings, published in the prestigious journal PNAS1, have revealed that these captivating formations are far more widespread than previously believed.

The researchers have delved into the combination of the soil and climate characteristics around the fairy circles to understand their formation. It is said that factors such as low nitrogen content and an average annual rainfall of less than 200 mm were identified as key contributors to the formation of these natural wonders.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Sep 29, 2023 05:46 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).