Hello, welcome along. Wednesday's just got smarter with the Fun Kids Science Midweekly. It's your mini science special. Let's explore the universe. My name is Dan. This week, Oishin asks why mushrooms come out in autumn. Molly's wondering what the largest star is that we know of.

Callum is asking about the longest snake in the world.

We've got Bethan who's intrigued about why snock comes out of your nose when you cry.

And Martha asking what the hottest chili pepper in the world is.

And let's start with one of those from Oyshin.

Why do mushrooms come out in autumn?

Well, it's because conditions are perfect for mushrooms in autumn.

Firstly, a lot of fungi in the UK have evolved their life cycles to go with the seasons

so that mushrooms will spread

their spores just before winter to make sure there is enough of them to survive through the chill,

through the frost, so they can make the most of the hot months through spring and summer.

Normally there's more rain in autumn too, which makes the forest floor damp and moist. The soil gets wet and the mushrooms need that moisture to thrive. They absorb the water through the network of fungi threads like their roots which go underground. Also, it's cooler in autumn, which is the perfect temperature for them, really. And through autumn,

a lot of wild material dies and decays. There is fallen leaves, there's dead plants, there's rotting

wood which ends up on the forest floor, and they are rich in nutrients. They seep into the soil

so the mushrooms can pick them up and feed on them. Also, there's not as much

light through autumn and many mushrooms have evolved to grow in low light conditions. So all of those

reasons, more rain, cooler, more wild things that they can eat and not as much light. All of those

combine to mean conditions are perfect for mushrooms in autumn and that's

why they tend to come out, particularly in the UK through the autumn months.

Oishon, thank you so much for your question.

Here is one from Molly who wants to know what is the largest star that we know of.

Well, Molly, let me introduce you to the very catchy name of Stevenson 218.

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