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China is fighting desertification. More than a third of the nation’s territory is threatened by the spread of desert terrain. Scientists are turning desert into farmable land. They mix algae, moss, and lichen together and spray them on the sand. This forms what the scientists call a “cryptobiotic crust.” It stabilizes the sand and make the soil more fertile. Nearly 400 million people in China are affected by expanding areas of desert. Cryptobiotic crust is helping farmers grow crops like grapes, corn, and wheat.

Read more about cryptobiotic crust.

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