ELI5: Explain Like I'm 5

Fairy circle (Africa)

Have you ever seen a circle of mushrooms growing in the grass? The African fairy circle is a bit like that - it's a special circle that forms in the ground in the African savanna.

But these fairy circles are a bit different from mushroom rings. They're made when the grass in the savanna dies in a circular pattern, leaving a bare patch of earth in the center. This circle can be anywhere from a few feet to almost 100 feet wide!

Scientists have been studying fairy circles for a long time, but they still don't know exactly how they form. Some people think that termites might be responsible - they might eat the roots of the grass in a circle, leaving the center barren. Other people think that the circle might be caused by a natural cycle in the grass.

Whatever causes fairy circles, they're kind of magical! People in Africa have even told stories about how they're created by spirits or fairies. So if you ever see a fairy circle, remember - it's a special and mysterious part of nature!