On this day in 1954, Michigan State University got its name. The Detroit Free Press reported that Michigan Attorney General Thomas Kavanagh ruled there was no constitutional provision prohibiting Michigan State College from changing its name to Michigan State University. And on this day in 1992, scientists announced the discovery of one of Earth’s largest and oldest organisms living in Michigan—a giant fungus near Crystal Falls, covering 38 acres and weighing roughly 100 tons.
TRANSCRIPT
On this day in 1954, Michigan State University got its name. the Detroit Free Press reported that it required that Michigan Attorney General Thomas Kavanagh ruled that there was no state constitutional provision prohibiting Michigan State College from changing its name to Michigan State University.
And on this day in 1992, one of Earth’s largest and oldest organisms was announced as being living in Michigan. In the early 1990’s scientists discovered a giant fungus growing outside of Crystal Falls, near the Wisconsin border. The fungus was likely spawned by a single spore and currently covers an area of thirty eight acres and weighs roughly 100 tons. Scientists have estimated that this fungus is at least 1500 years old and is both one of the largest and oldest living things on Earth. The fungus is living underground and cannot be seen except for small honey mushrooms that appear in the fall. The giant mass helps to clean up the environment, feeding on decayed wood and producing oxygen.