-
ScienceSpaceExtreme Chernobyl Fungus Could Protect Astronauts From Deadly Radiation
An experiment done aboard the International Space Station demonstrates the potential for a hardy fungus to shield astronauts from cosmic radiation. This fungus has already proved its mettle inside one of the most hostile places on Earth: the ruined Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant. Galactic cosmic radiation remains a troubling impediment to a sustained human presence … Continued
-
Tech NewsGiz AsksIs Mold Dangerous?
Pretty much everyone can agree that mold looks disgusting, or worse than disgusting. It lays claim to hummus tubs and shower curtains with what feels like intent—it looks alive, possibly because it is. But does this colonizing fungus, beyond its surface-level repellence, actually mean us harm? If you just bit into the refrigerated remains of … Continued
-
Tech NewsBest of the WeekDeadly Fungus, Fat Bear Week, PS5 Leaks, and Hot Dog Salad: Best Gizmodo Stories of the Week
No news this week could possibly compare to the “hot dog salad” abomination created by a certain Gizmodo colleague, which has taken our forbidden sandwich out back, choked it to death, and absorbed it into its goopy morass. But reader, we tried. This week, the Gizmodo team covered everything from the Federal Communications Commission’s big … Continued
By Tom McKay -
ScienceHealthA 1964 Earthquake Might Have Unleashed a Deadly Fungus on the Pacific Northwest
Two decades ago, a rare but deadly fungal infection began killing animals and people in the U.S. and Canada. To this day, no one has figured out how it arrived there in the first place. Now a pair of scientists have put forth their own theory: Tsunamis, sparked by a massive earthquake in 1964, soaked … Continued
By Ed Cara -
ScienceSpaceThe International Space Station Is a Cesspool of Bacteria and Fungi, Study Finds
An extensive survey of bacteria and fungi on surfaces inside the International Space Station has revealed an astonishing number of microorganisms living among the astronauts—the health impacts of which aren’t entirely clear. Since it was first established in 1998, the International Space Station has been visited by hundreds of astronauts (227 to be exact). These … Continued
-
Tech NewsUpsettingly Large Fungus in Michigan Weighs 440 Tons and Is 2,500 Years Old
It’s nicknamed the “humongous fungus”—an unusually large fungal growth belonging to a single genetic individual. An updated analysis of this gigantic fungal beast shows it’s substantially larger and older than scientists initially thought. This single genetic individual, known as C1, belongs to a species of fungus called Armillaria gallica, otherwise known as the honey mushroom. … Continued
-
ScienceAnimals
The Fungus That Turns Ants Into Zombies Is More Diabolical Than We Realized
Carpenter ants of the Brazilian rain forest have it rough. When one of these insects gets infected by a certain fungus, it turns into a so-called “zombie ant” and is no longer in control of its actions. Manipulated by the parasite, an infected ant will leave the cozy confines of its arboreal home and head … Continued
-
EartherConservation
One of the World’s Most Gourmet Foods Is Threatened by Climate Change
An extremely expensive truffle has been grown farther north than ever before, a phenomenon researchers attribute to altered growing conditions created by climate change. For the first time, a Mediterranean black truffle, also known as a Périgord truffle, has been grown in the United Kingdom—and not a moment too soon as global warming threatens its … Continued
By Ari Phillips -
Tech News
A Dreaded Superbug Has Officially Arrived in the United States
The US Centers for Disease Control has released a report in which it identifies over a dozen cases of a deadly, antibiotic-resistant fungus called Candida auris. It’s the first time this super-strain has been found in the US, and disturbingly, four of the first seven patients infected with it have died. Scientists have known about … Continued
-
Tech NewsThe Game of Thrones Intro Recreated with Slime Mold Is Glorious
Slime molds and fungi might not rank high on anyone’s list of favorite organisms, but there is a compelling beauty in their growth patterns. And now Transcend Rules has taken “slimeography” to a whole new level, setting those patterns to the Game of Thrones theme music. It might just be the solace fans crave after … Continued
-
Tech News
This Weed Takes Out Other Plants by Attacking Their “Gut Bacteria”
You need bacteria to help you digest your food and go about your day. It turns out that plants have their own version of this. And one weed is driving out the competition by attacking the gut bacteria of other species. Without bacteria, we’d need a great deal more food to get by. Although humans … Continued
-
Tech News
Why Does This Ice Look Exactly Like Hair
Fungi are some of the weirdest and most fascinating creatures on Earth, but they’ve really outdone themselves with this one: Hair ice. According to new research, the icy hair-sculptures that crop up overnight in forests before melting away in the sun have fungal fingerprints all over them. Hair ice is this totally weird stuff people … Continued
By Maddie Stone
