Emma Wilson
Mushrooms are fascinating organisms. They are neither plants nor animals, but fungi, and are more closely related to humans than plants. They have been used by humans for thousands of years, with over 2000 edible and medicinal species. They have a mysterious and magical quality, with healing properties, dense nutritional value, and underground communities. They can communicate across long distances and have a level of intelligence that allows them to help or sabotage each other. They are also one of the most sustainably produced food sources in the United States, requiring limited growing space, little energy, and less water than other crops. With their unique characteristics and benefits, mushrooms are definitely cool.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Fungi | Mushrooms are a type of fungus, belonging to the same kingdom as yeasts, mildews, molds, rusts, and smuts. |
| Unique characteristics | Some mushrooms glow in the dark, like the "electric mushrooms" found in Meghalaya, India. |
| Temperature | Mushrooms can be up to 6°C cooler than their surroundings due to their high water content and complex gill architectures, which act as a form of sweating to lower their temperature. |
| Adaptability | Mushrooms have adapted to almost every kind of environment, resulting in health-boosting qualities and unique characteristics. |
| Nutrition | Mushrooms are a good source of Vitamin D2 when exposed to ultraviolet light. They are also a nutritious food source, offering a range of medicinal benefits. |
| Intelligence | Mushrooms possess a level of intelligence, with the ability to communicate over long distances and interact with other mushrooms and plants. |
| Sustainability | Mushrooms are one of the most sustainably-produced food sources in the US due to their limited growing space, efficient water usage, and ability to grow in the dark with minimal electricity requirements. |
| Connections | Mushrooms are more closely related to humans than plants, which makes treating fungal infections difficult due to the structural similarities between human and fungal cells. |
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What You'll Learn
Mushrooms are more closely related to humans than plants
Mushrooms are a type of fungus, belonging to the kingdom Fungi, which also includes yeasts, mildews, moulds, rusts, and smuts. Fungi are more closely related to animals, including humans, than to plants. The last common ancestor between fungi, plants, and humans was 1.1 billion years ago. After this point, animals and fungi separated on the genealogical tree, meaning that mushrooms are indeed more closely related to humans than plants.
This close connection between humans and fungi is part of the reason why treating fungal infections in the human body is challenging. The drugs created to fight fungal infections may also attack healthy human cells, as there is minimal structural difference between the two.
Fungi, including mushrooms, have unique characteristics that distinguish them from plants. They absorb nutrients from organic matter, unlike plants, which produce their food through photosynthesis. Fungi possess a fibrous substance called chitin in their cell walls, which is also found in animals but not in plants. Additionally, fungi require food, water, and oxygen to survive, similar to animals. They utilise their hyphae to absorb these essential elements from their surroundings and expel waste products and carbon dioxide.
Mushrooms, specifically, have a unique structure. The part that we typically associate with a mushroom, the cap with its thin leg, is actually its reproductive 'fruit'. This structure allows the cap to rise above the earth and open up to release spores. However, most of the mushroom's body is a mass of thin threads called mycelium, which spreads underground over hundreds of meters. This mycelium acts as an "underground internet," facilitating almost instant communication between different plants, fungi, and neighbouring fungal communities. It forms symbiotic relationships with plants, providing them with nutrients like phosphorus and nitrogen in exchange for carbohydrates.
Beyond their intriguing biology, mushrooms possess a range of beneficial properties for humans. They have been utilised by humans for thousands of years, with over 2000 species being edible or medicinally valuable. Certain mushrooms, when exposed to ultraviolet light, produce a significant amount of Vitamin D2. Additionally, mushrooms have been used in Eastern and Western medicine as adaptogens, providing stress relief, immune system support, energy enhancement, and overall health benefits.
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They can communicate across long distances
Mushrooms are fascinating organisms with unique characteristics and abilities. One of their most intriguing qualities is their ability to communicate across long distances. While they may appear solitary, mushrooms are highly social organisms that have evolved sophisticated ways of interacting with each other and their environment.
Mushrooms achieve long-distance communication through their extensive underground network called mycelium. This network comprises thin threads that spread out for hundreds of meters below the earth's surface. The mycelium acts as a sort of "underground internet," connecting mushrooms to neighbouring fungi communities and even to the roots of different plants. This connection allows for almost instant communication between individual mushrooms, enabling them to interact and influence each other's behaviour.
The mycelial network facilitates communication by allowing the exchange of chemical and molecular signals. Mushrooms can send and receive these signals, conveying information about their environment, nutrient availability, and potential threats. This superhighway of information helps mushrooms coordinate their activities, such as resource allocation and defence mechanisms. It is also through this network that mushrooms form symbiotic relationships with plants.
The ability to communicate across long distances has significant implications for the survival and success of mushrooms. By sharing information, mushrooms can collectively make decisions that benefit the entire fungal community. For example, they can help each other by exchanging nutrients or warning about potential dangers. This level of cooperation and intelligence gives mushrooms a distinct advantage in their ecosystem and highlights their unexpected complexity.
In addition to their long-distance communication within fungal communities, mushrooms also interact with other organisms, including humans. Mushrooms have a close connection to humans, as we share a common ancestor dating back 1.1 billion years ago. This close evolutionary relationship is why fungal infections in the human body can be challenging to treat—the structural similarity between human and fungal cells makes it difficult to target only the infection without affecting healthy human cells.
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They can help keep your picnic cool
Mushrooms are indeed cool, and not just in the figurative sense. They can literally help keep your picnic cool! Mushrooms and other fungi, including yeast and molds, have been found to stay cooler than their surroundings. This is because they contain a lot of water, which they gradually release through their gills in a process similar to sweating, lowering their temperature. This phenomenon is known as a "fungal form of sweating".
The oyster mushroom (Pleurotus ostreatus), for example, can be almost 6°C cooler than its surroundings. This discovery has led to innovative applications, such as a prototype picnic cooler powered by mushrooms. By placing a small Styrofoam box containing button mushrooms and a computer exhaust fan inside a larger Styrofoam container, researchers were able to lower the temperature by 10°C within 40 minutes, maintaining it for half an hour.
Mushrooms' ability to stay cool may be advantageous for their development and release of spores, or it could simply be that they prefer a lower temperature. While you may not freeze water with mushroom cooling, it can certainly keep your drinks and food chilled for a quick picnic, and you can even eat the mushrooms afterward!
So, the next time you're planning an outdoor meal, consider harnessing the power of mushrooms to keep your refreshments cool. It's a natural and sustainable alternative to traditional cooling methods, and it might just make your picnic a little more "cool".
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They can produce vitamin D2 when exposed to UV light
Mushrooms are neither plants nor animals; they are fungi and belong to the kingdom fungi, along with yeasts, mildews, moulds, rusts and smuts. Fungi, especially mushrooms, are fascinating and unique. They have been utilised by humans for thousands of years, with over 2000 edible and/or medicinal species.
One of the fascinating qualities of mushrooms is their ability to produce vitamin D2 when exposed to UV light. Mushrooms are one of the few non-animal sources of vitamin D, which is essential for maintaining bone health, supporting immune function, and regulating mood. When exposed to ultraviolet light, either from sunlight or an ultraviolet lamp, certain mushrooms such as white mushrooms, crimini or brown mushrooms, portabella mushrooms, and maitake mushrooms can produce significant amounts of vitamin D2. This makes them an excellent source of this vital nutrient.
The process by which mushrooms synthesise vitamin D2 is similar to how human skin produces vitamin D when exposed to sunlight. Mushrooms contain a compound called ergosterol, which is converted into vitamin D2 when exposed to UV-B radiation. This makes mushrooms the only source of vitamin D in the produce aisle, providing a convenient and accessible way for individuals to increase their vitamin D intake.
In addition to their nutritional benefits, mushrooms are also highly sustainable. They require limited growing space and can be grown indoors very efficiently, with one acre producing up to 1 million pounds of mushrooms annually. The growing medium for mushrooms can be composted and repurposed, and they require less water than other crops, making them an environmentally friendly food source.
Overall, the ability of mushrooms to produce vitamin D2 when exposed to UV light adds to their appeal as a nutritious and beneficial food source. With their unique characteristics and sustainability, mushrooms are indeed cool and play a significant role in our world.
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They have healing properties and dense nutritional value
Mushrooms have been used by humans for thousands of years, with over 2000 species being edible or medicinal. They are neither plants nor animals but belong to the kingdom fungi, which also includes yeasts, mildews, moulds, rusts, and smuts. Fungi, especially mushrooms, are incredibly interesting and unique.
Mushrooms possess healing properties and have a dense nutritional value. They are a rich source of adaptogens, which are fully natural and come from a variety of plants and fungi. Adaptogens have been used in Eastern and Western medicine to assist with stress relief, immune system support, energy levels, and overall health. They can help protect your body by stabilizing and optimizing physiological functions.
Reishi, often referred to as the "queen of mushrooms", is known to aid better sleep, reduce stress, and decrease seasonal allergies. Chaga, used by Russians in the 17th century, helps ward off the common cold, promotes thick hair, and lowers inflammation in the body. It also increases energy and alleviates asthma.
Additionally, mushrooms are one of the few natural sources of vitamin D, which is essential for human health. When exposed to ultraviolet light, certain mushrooms like white mushrooms, crimini or brown mushrooms, portabella mushrooms, and maitake mushrooms become excellent producers of Vitamin D2.
Mushrooms also have the unique ability to communicate across long distances and possess a level of intelligence. They can help each other out and even sabotage one another.
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Frequently asked questions
Mushrooms are literally cool. They are often found to be colder than their surroundings, sometimes by as much as 6°C. This is because they contain a lot of water and gradually release it through a fungal form of sweating, lowering their temperature.
Mushrooms have been used by humans for thousands of years, with over 2000 edible or medicinal species. They can communicate across long distances and even sabotage one another. They are also one of the most sustainably produced food sources in the US, requiring limited growing space and water.
Reishi mushrooms are known to help consumers sleep better, stress less, and decrease seasonal allergies. Chaga mushrooms were used in 17th-century Russia to ward off the common cold, improve hair health, and lower inflammation in the body.
