The Namib Desert lies along the southwestern coast of Africa. In the Nama language, “Namib” means “a land of nothing.”
There, a special beetle makes a remarkable effort whenever fog rolls in. On foggy mornings, the beetle climbs steep sand dunes—no small feat for a creature only about 2 cm long. To the beetle, the dune is like a massive mountain. But it must reach the top before the morning sun burns the fog away, so it climbs without rest.
Once at the top, the beetle does something surprising—it performs a headstand. Facing into the fog, it lifts its body upside down and stays completely still. This is how it gathers water. Tiny droplets from the fog cling to the bumpy surface of its shell. As more moisture collects, the droplets grow larger and eventually run down the beetle’s back and into its mouth.
In a desert so dry and hot that the only trace of water comes in with the breeze, the beetle gives its all for a single drop. And that precious drop becomes the key to its survival.