Today in Nature: What Roots Really Look Like

September 18th: Here's a good look at what tree roots look like, thanks to an eroded hill in one the city's ravines. Roots are pretty cool - they weigh about as much as all the branches and leaves, making them an underground mirror. Roots tend to grow outward, like the bottom of a wine glass, providing stability. They usually don't go very deep, either, since their job is seek out and absorb water and minerals. The roots grow in a random way, often along the tracks made by worms or natural grooves in the soil.