A newly found Atacama Desert soil community survives on sips of fog

Lichens and other fungi and algae unite to form this ‘grit-crust’ on parched soil

Pan de Azúcar National Park

Scientists have discovered a hardy form of biological soil crust that survives on coastal fog in northern Chile. This “grit-crust” creates black and white splotches across the land in Pan de Azúcar National Park (shown).

P. Jung

Perhaps the hardiest assemblage of lichens and other fungi and algae yet found has been hiding in plain sight in northern Chile’s Atacama Desert.