Rusticle
Rusticle is a funny word used to describe something that happens to metal underwater. Do you know what rust is? It's what happens when metal gets all orange and crumbly from being exposed to water and air. Well, when metal is in saltwater, something even more special happens. Tiny little organisms called bacteria eat away at the metal and create what look like weird icicles made out of rust. They're called rusticles!
Now, rusticles might seem like something cool to look at while you're scuba diving, but they can actually be dangerous. If a metal ship or structure is covered in rusticles, it might not be strong enough to hold anything up anymore. So scientists study rusticles to figure out how they work and how they can keep metal structures from rusting away. By understanding rusticles, we can help keep things like boats and bridges safe for people to use!
Now, rusticles might seem like something cool to look at while you're scuba diving, but they can actually be dangerous. If a metal ship or structure is covered in rusticles, it might not be strong enough to hold anything up anymore. So scientists study rusticles to figure out how they work and how they can keep metal structures from rusting away. By understanding rusticles, we can help keep things like boats and bridges safe for people to use!