Fungal Species:  Physarum polycephalum

Fungi Anaesthesia: Electrical Activity Changes in Pleurotus ostreatus Under Chloroform Exposure

This groundbreaking research reveals that fungi respond to anaesthetics similarly to other living organisms, showing that even organisms without nervous systems can be anaesthetized. The study measured electrical signals in mushroom fungi when exposed to chloroform vapor, demonstrating that the fungi’s electrical activity significantly decreased during anaesthesia and could recover when the anaesthetic was removed. Impacts on everyday life: • Advances our understanding of consciousness and awareness in simple organisms • Could lead to new methods for controlling fungal growth in medical or agricultural applications • Helps develop better preservation techniques for food and materials affected by fungi • Contributes to the development of new biological computing systems • May influence how we handle and process mushrooms in food production

Read More »

On Spiking Behaviour of Oyster Fungi Pleurotus djamor

This research reveals that mushrooms can generate and transmit electrical signals, similar to how neurons communicate in our bodies. The study focused on pink oyster mushrooms and found they produce regular electrical pulses and can respond electrically to various stimuli like heat or chemicals. This discovery has several practical implications for everyday life: • Could lead to development of new biological sensors using mushrooms to detect environmental changes • Helps understand how fungi communicate and share information in nature • May inspire new technologies for environmental monitoring • Could improve mushroom cultivation techniques • Provides insights into developing new interfaces between biological and electronic systems

Read More »

Syncytia in Fungi: Formation, Function and Differentiation

This research examines how fungi form large interconnected cellular networks called syncytia, which allow them to grow, share resources, and adapt to their environment. These networks can range from microscopic to covering many acres of land, making fungi some of the largest living organisms on Earth. The study reveals that these fungal networks are more complex than previously thought, with different regions performing specialized functions despite sharing cellular contents. Impacts on everyday life: • Understanding fungal networks helps improve industrial production of important compounds like medicines and enzymes • Knowledge of fungal growth patterns assists in controlling harmful fungi that damage crops or buildings • Insights into fungal networks improve our understanding of soil health and forest ecosystems • This research could lead to better methods for growing beneficial fungi used in food production • The findings may help develop new strategies for treating fungal infections

Read More »
Scroll to Top