Enter the Garden of Eyewire!
There is nothing in the world like stepping into a lush, serene garden that cocoons you in beautiful flowers and tall trees. And at Eyewire HQ, this month of May is one of the most perfect times of year for drinking in such decadent sights and letting your toes feel the green grass beneath them. We also might have a particular fondness for plants; some of them look a lot like neurons, and the science of plants, usually known as botany, is a particularly vital subject nowadays.
Why should we love plants? Let us count the ways!
The biggest reason has to be plant photosynthesis: the absorption of light rays by proteins that are then signaled to convert water and carbon dioxide (CO2) and into sugars and oxygen (O2). Photosynthesis is responsible for how practically every ecosystem on Earth is powered, whether by land plants or by aquatic algae. Plants are the solar power generators for life itself, consumed by herbivores and then across the food chain; and what’s more, the process of photosynthesis beginning hundreds of millions of years ago changed the very composition of Earth’s atmosphere into an oxygen-rich air that animals require to breathe and flourish. And in turn, animals introduce carbon products back into the environment for plants to absorb. It’s a symbiotic relationship!
That’s not all, though. Depending on the species, plants also play an enormous role in things like the water cycle, the nitrogen cycle, and the life cycles of pollinators like bees and butterflies. Most plants are hosts for special fungi in their root networks, and many provide unique habitats for larger life forms that have evolved to function right there. Humans can be particularly grateful to not just 7,000 edible plant species, but also to plants that can be used for shelter, clothing, oils, pigments, and medicine— remember that even modern pharmaceuticals are usually derived from compounds found in plants!
Care to join us in an online botanical garden? This month’s challenge week has been dubbed the Garden of Eyewire. Step into our neuron landscape and prepare to cultivate your scientific knowledge about trees, moss, and everything in between. On May 21st, the garden gate will open and the games will be underway!
*All times are Eastern Daylight Time (EDT).*
Accuracy Happy Hours
First session runs from 8:00 AM to 10:00 AM on Thursday 5/21
Second session runs from 2:00 PM to 4:00 PM on Friday 5/22
Third session runs from 10:00 PM to midnight on Friday 5/22
What makes a plant a plant? For our first botany lesson, we’ll show you how to accurately identify plants compared to fungi or certain “stationary” animals. And in the spirit of accuracy, you can test your tracing accuracy on Eyewire!
Swag: Most accurate player completing at least 20 cubes wins their choice of a mug or notebook, plus their choice of a sticker or magnet! Second and third place may each also choose between sticker or magnet. (And thanks to @susi for sponsoring this year’s swag again!)
Bonuses:
1st Place Accuracy – 10,000 points
2nd Place Accuracy – 8,000 points
3rd Place Accuracy – 6,000 points
Achieve 95% Accuracy – 5,000 points
Achieve 90% Accuracy – 3,000 points
Achieve 80% Accuracy – 2,000 points
1,000 points for anyone under 80% who still plays at least 20 cubes in either slot.
(These bonus thresholds are non-cumulative, i.e. they will not combine. If you earn 3rd place, for instance, and presumably got over 95% accuracy, you still earn a 6,000 point bonus, not 11,000.)
Fractal Hunt
Begins at 12:00 AM (midnight) on Saturday 5/23
Ends at 12:00 PM (noon) on Thursday 5/28
What’s one thing plants and neurons have in common? Fractal geometry! As you search through the Hunt cell for mergers, we’ll also help you discover why cells branches can look like tree branches, and vice versa.
Swag: The top scoring player will win their choice of a mug or notebook, plus their choice of a sticker or magnet! Second and third place may each also choose between sticker or magnet.
Bonuses:
Each merger found – 1,000 points
7,500 additional points if all 12 are found
200 point bonus available on each merger to the player whose guess is closest
250 point bonus available to any player who guesses within 10 voxels of a merger
Trivia
Begins at 11:00 AM on Sunday 5/24
Continues until 11:00 AM on Tuesday 5/26
Finishes with Power Hour from 11:00 AM to 12:00 PM on Tuesday 5/26
It’s time for our amateur botanists to shine. We’ll have our usual science topics for trivia, but with a special plant-based focus. How much do you know about this magical kingdom of life?
Swag: The top scoring player will win their choice of a mug or notebook, plus their choice of a sticker or magnet! Second and third place may each also choose between sticker or magnet.
Bonuses:
For every question —
1st to answer – 300 points
2nd to answer – 200 points
3rd to answer – 100 points
Deciduous vs. Evergreen
Begins at 11:00 AM on Monday 5/25
Ends at 11:00 AM on Wednesday 5/27
Let’s talk about trees: namely, two of the main tree types! While you learn about what makes some trees lose their leaves while others keep their foliage year-round, pick your favorite for a dendritic duel.
Swag: The top scoring player on the winning team wins their choice of a mug or notebook! Also, among the top 50% of players on the winning team, 1 player will be raffled the choice of a mug or notebook, and 3 more players will be raffled the choice of sticker or magnet.
Bonuses:
Starting Lineup – top 3 players on each team, who earn 75% of their score in bonus points
All Other Players – earn 50% of their score in bonus points
Winning Team – 20,000 additional points
Each Team’s MVP – 5,000 additional points
(The winning team is determined by average points per player, with 2x weight given to Starting Lineup players. To qualify for any of the above bonuses or affect the team score, players must earn a minimum baseline of 2,000 points.)
Mother Earth Marathon
Begins at 8:00 AM on Wednesday 5/27
Ends at 8:00 AM on Thursday 5/28
Our last botany lesson covers how Earth’s precious ecosystems are threatened right now by effects of human activity on plant life. Time is of the essence for making changes that will secure this beautiful green planet’s future! While you play this month’s marathon, we’ll offer some tips for how we can all make a difference (and it’s not just about recycling!).
Swag: The top player (defined by number of points earned during the marathon time period) will win their choice of a mug or notebook! Also, among the top 25% of players, 2 players will each be raffled their choice of a mug or notebook, and 3 more players will be raffled the choice of sticker or magnet.
Bonuses:
One live cell will be designated the “marathon cell,” with a 3x points multiplier!
Cube count bonuses: 3500 points per cube traced.
SC bonuses are doubled on all cells.
Every 3 SCs counts for 1 cube toward naming eligibility & per-cell completion bonus.
50 cubes = 5,000 points per completed cell, plus rights to vote on a new name for the marathon cell
200 cubes = 10,000 points per completed cell, plus rights to nominate a new name for the marathon cell
Garden of Eyewire Closing Ceremony
Begins at 4:00 PM on Friday 5/29
Come celebrate the end of this competition, where admins will recognize everyone’s achievements. As always, we will include a round of promotions for Scouts, Scythes, Mystics, Moderators, and Mentors. If you’d like a promotion, you can request them here.
Artwork by Daniela Gamba