Mini Matter: Clones

The Clones box explores the the fascinating world of replication, from natural clones in ecosystems to human innovations inspired by copying life’s patterns.

The Clones box contains these items and an info card:

• Bryozoan Colony Fossil: Over 385 million years old, this fossil is an intricate relic of ancient seas. Each tiny circle once housed a clonal aquatic animal called a bryozoan. This fossil is a fragment of a vast colony that helped build the reefs shaping Earth’s primordial oceans.
• Quaking Aspen Seeds: From the largest known living organism on Earth, these seeds are a piece of Pando, the 80,000-year-old quaking aspen colony spanning over 100 acres. Each seed carries the potential to replicate the genetically identical trees that form this sprawling, interconnected network.
• DIY Blueprints: Cyanotype paper lets you replicate images using sunlight and science. Coated with light-sensitive chemicals, it captures shadows when exposed to UV light. Place objects on its surface, expose for a minute, and rinse with water to reveal striking blue-and-white prints.

Mini Matter is the smaller version of our Matter subscription box. These kits explore the stuff that makes up our world (and beyond) through surprising connections. Shop the full collection here.