# What would Anthrax spores look like (in bulk, to the naked eye)

**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-anthrax-spores-look-like-in-bulk-to-the-naked-eye/86805
**Category:** Factual Questions
**Created:** [October 11, 2001, 3:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-anthrax-spores-look-like-in-bulk-to-the-naked-eye/86805 "2001-10-11T15:06:01Z")
**Posts on this page:** 2
**Page:** 1

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### Author: ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)
#### Post date: [October 11, 2001, 3:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-anthrax-spores-look-like-in-bulk-to-the-naked-eye/86805/1 "2001-10-11T15:06:01Z")

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Of course, i understand that they are individually microscopic, but since we seem to be living in fear of the idea of somebody preparing them on a large scale in order to spray from a crop dusting plane or something.

So what would a container of anthrax spores look like, would they be suspended in liquid or would it just lokk like a fine powder?, what colour would they be?

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### Author: ![Whack-a-Mole](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/whack-a-mole/32/141_2.png) [@Whack-a-Mole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Whack-a-Mole)
#### Post date: [October 11, 2001, 3:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-anthrax-spores-look-like-in-bulk-to-the-naked-eye/86805/2 "2001-10-11T15:21:15Z")

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I’ve heard (but can give no verification for this) that Anthrax spores in quantity would look like a fine, white powder.

Anthrax can take a variety of form however. It’s spore form is one of the things that allows it to survive for long periods of time outside. I’m not sure what it would be like in its other form(s).