Did you know that lichens can grow on glass, plastic and metals, as well as their more typical wood, stone, leaf and dirt substrates? Did you know that scientists have done experiments on the International Space Station where lichens have been exposed to space for weeks at a time — enduring the vacuum, solar radiation, and frigid temperatures outside of the station — and that these lichens have then photosynthesized normally when returned to earth? Did you know that lichens cover more than 7 percent of the earth's surface, and that some live permanently submerged underwater? Join us to help improve Wikipedia's coverage of these amazing organisms. There's plenty to write about!

Articles of note

New GA article:

• Lichen growth forms

DYK appearances:

• Amazonotrema (January 10)

Project news

With the (hopefully temporary) loss of our most prolific editor, things were decidedly slower in January, with fewer recent changes to report.

• MerielGJones has added to her admirable list of articles on important lichenologists with one about Oliver Gilbert and another about Arthur Edward Wade.
• MeegsC took lichen growth forms to GA status. Verrucariaceae, which Esculenta expanded, is currently being reviewed for potential GA status as well.
• Jengod created a nice composite photo for the project to use. (See it at right)
• Various WikiGnomes have continued to fix spelling and grammar issues in the recently-expanded glossary of lichen terms.