The Academy grows concerned over the recent metallization of large swathes of forest on the northern hemisphere. This rare condition, caused by fusion-powered microorganisms, quickly turns all foliage to metal alloy.
'It's a sight to behold', says Lab Technician Rhonda Vallis from The Academy. 'A coniferous forest rendered in steel, including the trees, the grass, even mistletoe. Although the trees are no longer able to photosynthesize, they still grow thanks to the enormous energy stored in their cells.'
Unfortunately, beautiful as they may be, these 'steel forests' carry large amounts of energy and may explode violently when damaged. Forest fires are particularly dangerous, as they easily make trees go critical and detonate, spreading the damage further.
All citizens are strongly discouraged from approaching such areas. Let the professionals deal with it!