About this universe
Sylvora is the wide clearing where animals and leaves whisper their secrets. From a cat's purr to a hummingbird's wingbeat, every living thing carries its own why.
The whys of this universe
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Why do leaves turn red in autumn?
Because once a tree stops making chlorophyll, the yellows hiding underneath finally show, and certain species also build a brand-new red just before letting their leaves go.
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Why do dogs circle before lying down?
Because it's a leftover from their wolf ancestors: turning in circles flattened the grass, hollowed out a sleeping spot, scared off insects and snakes, and let the dog face into the wind. The need disappeared; the ritual didn't.
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Why aren't fungi plants or animals?
Because they don't photosynthesise like plants and have no digestive system like animals, and their DNA places them in a kingdom of their own, closer to us than to any tree.
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Why don't trees grow infinitely tall?
Past a certain height, a tree can no longer lift water to its highest leaves: the column of water snaps inside its channels before it reaches the crown.