Clashing views of spicules and fibrils

Solar spicules are chromospheric fibrils observed at the solar limb. These thin, jet-like structures are ubiquitous but their origin is not yet understood. They are a challenge to observe and to model, yet have been the subject of a heated discussion regarding their possible role in supplying mass and energy to the corona. Are they real mass motions or just a consequence of magnetic tangential discontinuities? Why do they appear in filtergrams, and what sets them apart from the bulk of chromospheric fibrils? Here I will show recent high-resolution observations from the Swedish Solar Telescope (SST) coordinated with the Interface Region Imaging Spectrograph (IRIS), showing spicules in great spatial detail and across multiple diagnostics. I will discuss what sets spicules apart from other fibrils, how they are most likely mass motions, and how the latest observations can be used to constrain models and place us a little closer to solving this chromospheric puzzle.