Fairy rings, fungi vacuums, and fish under the influence... say no more!
Fungi Friday's - May 10th, 2024 - Issue #104
Hi Fungi Friday fam,
Happy eve of Mother’s Day weekend! Yes, that’s a subtle reminder to call your mother this weekend. You’re welcome.
Not sure about where you all are located, but it’s looking like a beautiful Spring weekend here in the Midwest. Hope everyone can spend some time with loved ones, get outside to enjoy the weather, and overall have a wonderful weekend. Per usual, thank you for kicking it off here on a Friday afternoon with your friends here at Fungi Friday! Let’s get into the stories.
In today’s email:
Have you ever heard of a fairy ring?
Soil dirty? That’s alright, let mushrooms clean it up!
Fish under the influence? Tell me more!
Iowa Fungi’s Update of the Week
I hit the farm as planned last Thursday, and good thing I did… the power was dead (AGAIN!) — this time though, it was just a case of user error. Didn’t realize when I plugged in the lights and additional airflow the previous weekend that doing so in one single outlet would be too much to handle. Lesson learned!
Not to worry though, I believe I caught it quick enough to where the first crop still looked fine, the humidity was still strong, and even the new crop started looking pretty good. The lights hadn’t been on, so not much for actually fruiting yet, but as long as the new wiring I setup works well, that should change this week. Heading back down on Saturday to prep crop #3, so fingers crossed that crop #1 is showing some promise by now. Stay tooned!
How fungi form ‘fairy rings’ and inspire superstitions
Fairy rings, circular formations found in grassy areas, are created by certain fungi like the Marasmius oreades mushroom. The process of their formation unfolds as follows:
Fungal Growth: Beneath the surface, fungal mycelium extends its fine hyphae, absorbing nutrients from decomposing organic matter in the soil.
Ring Formation: As the mycelium expands outward, it depletes the nutrients directly underneath it. When it encounters soil with ample nutrients, particularly at its periphery, a burst of mushroom growth occurs, giving rise to the characteristic circular pattern. This radial growth of the mycelium leads to the formation of the ring.
Expansion and Persistence: Over time, the fairy ring may expand as the mycelium continues its outward growth. The center of the ring, where nutrients have been exhausted, may die off, while the outer edge remains active, producing mushrooms. This perpetuates the appearance of a moving ring over time.
Despite the scientific explanation, fairy rings have long been associated with folklore and superstition. In European tradition, they were believed to be the result of dancing fairies, elves, or witches, gathering in the moonlight to hold ceremonies or celebrations. Stepping inside a fairy ring was considered unlucky, with legends suggesting it could bring curses or even death. Additionally, crops growing within the ring were often thought to be blighted or cursed.
While modern science has elucidated the natural processes behind fairy ring formation, these enchanting circles continue to captivate the imagination and inspire wonder, maintaining their mystical allure through the ages.
Psychedelic Spotlight
Microdosing Magic Mushrooms: Here's What the Health Experts Have to Say
Psilocybin Looking “Rather Good” as an Anti-Depressant, Trial Data Shows
Mushrooms can clean soil? Guided By Mushrooms shares how
In the world of eco-warriors, there's a new hero emerging: mushrooms. Yep, you read that right. Mushrooms aren't just for pizza toppings anymore. They're stepping up to clean up our soil, and Guided By Mushrooms is leading the charge.
This ain't your average fungus fan club. Guided By Mushrooms is a trailblazing organization on a mission to revolutionize environmental remediation. They're tapping into the incredible power of fungi to tackle soil contamination head-on.
So, how exactly do mushrooms clean soil? It's called mycoremediation, and it's pretty darn cool. Certain mushroom species have a knack for breaking down and neutralizing nasty stuff in the soil, from heavy metals to petroleum hydrocarbons.
Guided By Mushrooms ain't just talking the talk; they're walking the walk. They're rolling up their sleeves and getting their hands dirty, quite literally. By cultivating mushroom mycelium in contaminated soil, they're kickstarting nature's own detox process.
As the mycelium grows, it acts like a sponge, soaking up those toxic compounds and turning them into harmless byproducts. It's like magic, but with science. And the best part? It's all-natural and totally eco-friendly.
Forget expensive cleanup crews and chemical treatments. Guided By Mushrooms is showing us that Mother Nature has the ultimate cleanup crew right under our feet. It's a win-win: cleaner soil, healthier ecosystems, and a brighter future for our planet.
So next time you see a mushroom poking out of the ground, give it a nod of appreciation. It might just be our planet's unsung hero, working overtime to keep our soil squeaky clean.
More Mushroom Mentions
You’ll Be the Most Fungi (or Fun-gal) at the Party with These 58 Mushroom Puns and Jokes
Scientists pour scorn on mushroom coffee, the latest ‘healthy’ food trend
Fish "Under Influence" Reveal How Psychedelics Work
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This article describes a novel study that sheds light on how psychedelic drugs might work in the brain. Researchers at the Weizmann Institute of Science in Israel used zebrafish larvae to investigate the effects of psilocybin, the active compound in magic mushrooms.
Here's a breakdown of the key points:
Fishy Experiment: Scientists exposed zebrafish larvae to psilocybin and observed changes in their behavior. This zebrafish model is a first for psychedelic research.
Behavioral Shifts: The "drugged" fish exhibited altered behavior compared to the control group. They were more likely to explore new areas of their tank, even venturing into darker regions. They also displayed increased swimming activity.
Brain Similarities: Brain activity patterns in the psilocybin-exposed fish were similar to those observed in mammalian brains under the influence of psychedelics. This suggests that psilocybin might exert its effects through similar neural pathways across different species.
Evolutionary Connection: The observed similarities in brain activity across fish and mammals hint at the possibility that these neural mechanisms for psychedelic effects are evolutionarily conserved.
Limitations and Future Steps: This study used a simple animal model and didn't directly investigate the brain mechanisms involved. Further research is needed to fully understand how psychedelics work in humans and the potential therapeutic applications.
That’s all, folks… but before we let you go, That’s all, folks… but before we let you go, comment below on how we can improve the publication! And if you haven’t yet, smash that SUBSCRIBE button below.
Thanks for reading as always,
BowTiedMushroom