Wow, hard to believe we’ve made it to 100 issues of this little, mushroom-loving newsletter. Could’ve been done faster, to be quite honest, but then again that wouldn’t have been our path. We’ve got another good one here for you today. Cheers to the next 100, hope we have more mushrooms to show you by then ;) Enjoy!
In today’s email:
Forget veggie burgers, let’s talk mushroom protein
If mushrooms to eat aren’t enough, how about mushrooms to live in?
How did mushrooms end up containing psilocybin anyway?
Iowa Fungi’s Update of the Week
The boys were all out of town last weekend, so I hit the farm on Thursday before we left. Humidity looked GREAT! Airflow is the next piece to this puzzle we need to master, but it’s close. During the check-in, just ended up refilling the humidifier and the plan is to hopefully move the whole first crop to fruiting this upcoming weekend.
Two of us will be down there Saturday prepping the second crop as well, so be on the lookout for hopefully more pictures in next week’s update!
What is mycoprotein—the meat made from fungi?
Move over veggie burgers, there's a new contender in town! Mycoprotein, a meaty made from mushrooms, is taking the food world by storm. This protein powerhouse was actually invented back in the 60s, but with new, more affordable production methods, it's finally having its moment. Forget rubbery tofu and bland veggie patties, mycoprotein packs a serious protein punch and lands way better on the taste bud scale. It's popping up in everything from burgers to fancy restaurant dishes, making it a delicious and versatile option.
But mycoprotein isn't just about taste. It's also a champion for the environment. Growing fungi requires way less land and resources than raising livestock, making it a sustainable solution for future food needs. So next time you're craving a burger, consider giving mycoprotein a try. You might be surprised at how delicious the future of food can be!
Psychedelic Spotlight
Psychedelics present potential solutions to mental health concerns
California Set to Decriminalize Psychedelics After Lawmakers Approve Historic Bill
Ditch the boring bricks and mortar, because fungi are about to revolutionize the way we build our houses! This article's got the dirt on a super cool scientific discovery that could change construction forever. We all know concrete isn't exactly kind to the environment, but scientists might have found a funky solution – mushrooms!
Yep, you read that right. Mushrooms, or more specifically, their root network called mycelium, are being used to create a new building material called mycocrete. Mycelium acts like a superglue, binding together organic materials to form a strong and lightweight composite. This means mycocrete could potentially replace concrete in some construction projects! Imagine houses built with materials that are grown, not mined – pretty cool, huh?
More Mushroom Mentions
How did magic mushrooms evolve to contain psilocybin?
Forget boring science journals, this article is here to drop some knowledge on how magic mushrooms cook up their mojo. Psilocybin, the psychedelic compound that's turning heads in the medical world, is synthesized by these funky fungi using an enzyme called PsiM. This enzyme is like the secret ingredient, taking things over for the last two steps in psilocybin production.
Here's the kicker: PsiM has some surprising similarities to enzymes that modify RNA, the molecule that helps your cells build proteins. This connection hints that PsiM might have evolved from an entirely different role, but shrooms repurposed it for psychedelic potion-making.
The potential benefits of psilocybin are vast, with research showing promise for treating depression, addiction, and anxiety. While magic mushrooms are still illegal in most places (thanks Schedule I classification!), this discovery could pave the way for new psilocybin-based medicines and a deeper understanding of these fascinating fungi.
That’s all, folks… but before we let you go, leave a comment below on how we can make the publication even better! And if you haven’t yet, smash that SUBSCRIBE button below.
Thanks for reading as always,
BowTiedMushroom