What is mold?

Microscopic World

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by Mya Kagan (whyzz writer) >> more about the author

Behold: It’s mold!

Mold is a very special type of living creature made up of something called “fungi.” The main job of fungi such as mold is to help break down organic matter that was once living, such as dead leaves, old food, and much, much more!

Mold usually grows in places that are moist or wet, and it can take on many different appearances. Some molds are fuzzy, while others look like flat round circles. Mold can be white, brown, gray, green, and more!

While mold is natural and can be helpful at breaking down materials in our environment, it can also be unhealthy if it’s on your food or in your home. – If you ever find moldy food you should throw it away. Similarly, if there’s mold growing anywhere in your house (which is most common in bathrooms), make sure you tell a grown-up.

The good news is that mold can be easy to avoid by making sure to air out damp rooms like the bathroom, and always eating your fruits and vegetables while they’re still fresh and delicious!

Watch & Learn!

Next time you discover that you have an older fruit or vegetable which has started to grow some mold, ask a grown-up if you can try a little experiment before you throw it away!

Take the fruit or vegetable and seal it into a plastic bag, making sure not to push all the air out of the bag first. Mark the bag “MOLDY: DO NOT EAT” to make sure that no one else in your house accidentally thinks it’s okay to eat what’s inside.

Leave the bag for a few more days in a place where you can check on it once a day. Without taking it out of the bag, inspect the food inside, and watch as the mold grows bigger! Make sure you throw the experiment away after a few days when you’re done with your observations.

What are some things you noticed about the mold? What color was it? How quickly did it grow??