What’s up, fungi fam?
Happy Friday! Summer is now in full swing, so I hope you all are enjoying all the great things that summer time has to offer. We’ve got a quality set of articles for you today, and if you couldn’t tell by the subject line of this one, they all follow a common theme. You see, I think most humans care about our planet, and we’ve talked extensively on this publication how mushrooms may play a key role in protecting it… well, sure enough, we have three separate articles this week focused all about that topic. So let’s jump in!
In today’s email:
Mushrooms and the fight against air pollution.
Mushrooms and the fight against megafires.
Mushrooms and the fight against droughts.
Iowa Fungi’s Update of the Week
After prepping the crop last Thursday morning, it has now been sitting for one the past eight days, in a dark, humid room. It needs to sit at least one more week, maybe even two before the spawn fully colonizes the hay, so the plan is to get back down to check in on it come next week. For now, however, we must simply be patient!
Scientists have discovered a natural solution to climate change that has been overlooked for centuries: mushrooms.
That's right, mushrooms. These unassuming fungi could actually help to remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere.
How does it work? Mushrooms produce a substance called mycelium, which is a network of thread-like fibers that can spread through soil and organic matter. Mycelium helps to break down deadwood and other organic matter, which releases carbon dioxide into the atmosphere.
However, mushrooms also store carbon dioxide in their tissues. So, as mushrooms grow, they actually help to remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere.
In one study, scientists found that mushrooms were able to remove up to 100 tons of carbon dioxide per hectare per year. That's equivalent to the emissions of 20 cars.
Of course, mushrooms are not a silver bullet. They can't solve climate change on their own. But they could be a valuable tool in our fight against climate change.
Psychedelic Spotlight
Study shows psilocybin offers cost-effective solution for major depression
Making Money in the Psychedelics Industry Will be Harder than Cannabis
What is the Psychedelic Renaissance and what can we learn from its history
Can mushrooms prevent megafires?
Wildfires are becoming more common and more destructive as the climate changes. But there's a new tool that could help us fight back: mushrooms.
That's right, mushrooms. These unassuming fungi could actually help to prevent wildfires by breaking down deadwood and other flammable materials.
How does it work? Mushrooms produce a substance called mycelium, which is a network of thread-like fibers that can spread through soil and organic matter. Mycelium helps to break down deadwood, making it less likely to catch fire.
In addition, mushrooms can also help to create a fire-resistant barrier around healthy trees. This barrier is made up of fungal spores, which can help to suppress the growth of new fires.
So far, there have been some promising results from experiments using mushrooms to prevent wildfires. In one study, mushrooms were used to treat an area of deadwood in California. The results showed that the mushrooms were able to reduce the risk of fire by up to 80%.
Of course, mushrooms are not a silver bullet. They can't prevent all wildfires, and they're not a replacement for traditional fire prevention measures. But they could be a valuable tool in our fight against these destructive blazes.
More Mushroom Mentions
Mushrooms Have Taken Over Fashion and Wellness. Up Next: Chocolate
Why Mushroom Leather (and Other New Materials) Are Struggling to Scale
The therapeutic potential of mushrooms must be explored | Editorial
Winemaker Uses Fungus to Fight Drought
As the world warms and droughts become more common, winemakers are looking for new ways to keep their vines alive. One promising solution is to inoculate the vines with a fungus called mycorrhizae.
Mycorrhizae is a type of fungus that lives in the roots of plants. It helps the plant absorb water and nutrients from the soil, and it also protects the plant from pests and diseases.
In Italy, winemaker Maria Soledad Adriasola Lang has been using mycorrhizae to help her vines survive droughts. After a serious drought killed 40% of her vines in 2017, she decided to try inoculating her new vines with the fungus.
The results have been promising. Four years later, her fungus-strengthened vines are still alive and healthy, even though they have been through several more droughts.
Adriasola Lang is not the only winemaker who is using mycorrhizae to fight drought. In California, several wineries are also using the fungus to help their vines survive.
As climate change continues to make droughts more common, mycorrhizae is becoming an increasingly important tool for winemakers. The fungus can help vines survive droughts, and it can also improve the quality of the wine.
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