Saving The Invisible World
fly under the radar: to stay unnoticed or not attract attention
When people talk about protecting nature, they usually think of animals or forests, or oceans. But now, some scientists are trying to save something so small that we cannot see it. They want to protect the world’s microbes.
Microbes live almost everywhere. They are in the soil, in oceans, in the air, and even inside us. There may be 100 billion kinds of microbes, but scientists have studied only a few. These tiny creatures are the hidden workers on our planet. They help plants grow, keep coral reefs healthy, and even clean the air.
The Microbial Conservation Specialist Group is working to protect them. Its members want to find places where many kinds of microbes live and keep samples safe from extinction. For many years, microbes have flown under the radar of conservation. Now, scientists say it’s time to pay attention to the smallest life on Earth before it disappears.
Sample sentences
For years, the small bakery flew under the radar until the New York Times wrote about it.
The new rule change flew under the radar because few people read the email.
The team’s success flew under the radar until they won the big competition.
Origin
This expression comes from the world of airplanes and radar. A military plane flying low could avoid being seen on radar screens. Today, people use it to describe anything that goes unnoticed or is not getting much attention.
Read More:
Save the Whales. But Save the Microbes, Too.
Alternate Link: Save the Whales. But Save the Microbes, Too.