Issue link: https://owlkids.uberflip.com/i/1542780
TEXT: JOY BELTRAN, BECKIE MORRISON, MANDY NG. ILLUSTRATIONS: BELLE WUTHRICH PHOTOS: GETTYISTOCK (SUBWAY); ALL OTHERS DREAMSTIME Below-Ground Animal Found! In a deep dark cave in Eastern Europe, a new animal has been discovered. Scientists named this critter Plutomurus ortobalaganensis (say: pluh-toh-MEW-rus or-toh-bal-ah-gan-EN-sis). It is a springtail, an insect-like creature that thrives in dark places. This cave dweller has no eyes, a greyish body, and an antenna on its head. Since it lives about 600 storeys below ground, it eats only fungi and decomposing matter. Earth's Deepest Hole The Kola Superdeep Borehole is the deepest human-made hole on Earth! In 1970, scientists in Russia wanted to find out how far they could dig into the ground. Using a special drill, they dug over 12 km (7.5 mi.) deep—about the length of 1,000 utility poles! The scientists wanted to dig even deeper, but the temperature got too hot to keep going. The hole is now sealed up, but during the experiment, they learned a lot about Earth's rocks and layers. Rock Music The biggest instrument in the world is made partly out of stalactites! Stalactites (say: stah-LAK-tites) are created when water and minerals drip from the ceiling of a cave and harden over thousands of years. The Great Stalacpipe Organ is found in the Luray Caverns in Tennessee, US. The creator installed an organ in the cavern and connected each key to a tiny hammer close to a stalactite. When a key is pressed, the hammer strikes a stalactite and the vibration makes a musical note. Da-da-da-DUM! The sealed cover over the Kola Superdeep Borehole. The Great Stalacpipe Organ was created by a mathemetician named Leland W. Sprinkle. 9