Ideal Bite

Why we humans think we can improve on nature - which was had millions of years to hone its processes - is beyond me. But if you can't beat 'em, join 'em, right?

The New York Times blogged last Friday about a Minnesota company that looked around at its state's 10k crystal-clear lakes and had an epiphany: It's the moss.

Most folks with pools dump chlorine in periodically to kill the bacteria and keep it clean (even though there are other options, ahem). But chlorine, though potent, isn't exactly gentle - and you have to keep adding it because it gets eaten up by things called bacterial biofilms.

The beauty of the moss treatment? It helps control the biofilms, so you don't have to add as much chlorine, and you can cut down on some of the other chemicals you have to add as well.

Thanks, nature. We swear we're starting to pay attention.

-Senior Editor Mike...off to wish he had a swimming pool...