Dew

weather · water · nature

Forms at night. When the ground and plants cool down after sunset, the air around them gets cold too. This chill makes water vapor in the air turn into tiny droplets, just like how your bathroom mirror fogs up with steam.

Needs cool surfaces. Dew only forms on things like grass, flowers, and spider webs because these thin objects lose heat quickly. Thicker things like pavement stay warmer and don't collect as much dew.

Disappears in the sun. When morning sunlight arrives, it warms everything up again and the dew evaporates, turning back into invisible water vapor in the air. That's why dew is usually gone by mid-morning.

Makes nature sparkle. Spider webs are perfect dew collectors because they're so thin and exposed. When covered in dewdrops, they look like strings of tiny pearls or diamonds.

Water for plants. Even though it's just a thin layer, dew provides moisture that helps plants, insects, and animals on dewy mornings, especially in dry places where rain is rare.