Keeping it Sunny in Nature

The sun helps power us every day. It keeps the planet warm and lights up the sky. We even use its powerful rays to generate electricity. The plant and animal kingdoms also use the sun in clever ways. Let’s take a look at some examples.

Have you ever seen a turtle sitting on a log in the sun? What about a frog hanging out and catching some rays? They are actually using the heat from the sun to warm up. Reptiles and amphibians are ectotherms (or cold-blooded). This means their body temperature changes with the temperature outside. If they get too cold, a nice spot in the sun is the answer.

And of course, we can’t forget about plants! They definitely need solar power—as anyone who grows plants knows. That’s because plants use sunlight for photosynthesis. This is a process that lets them turn sunlight into nutrients. Plants use the nutrients to grow big and healthy.

Now let’s look at solar-powered flight. No, we’re not talking about airplanes here. We’re talking about migrating birds! Some birds use the position of the sun (among other cues) to help keep them on the right track as they fly. Some other animals that use the sun for directions are sandhoppers, desert ants, and even some sea turtles. Isn’t solar power cool?

Want to harness the power of the sun? Check out the We’ve Got the Power Mission on the Earth Rangers app to learn all about solar power (along with other types of green energy) and discover how to make some sweet s’mores along the way!