therapeutic action: None mentioned

Economic Assessment of Morel (Morchella spp.) Foraging in Michigan, USA

This study examined morel mushroom foraging in Michigan, surveying both people certified to sell mushrooms commercially and recreational foragers. Certified sellers typically make about $1,000 per year selling fresh morels for around $36 per pound, mostly to local restaurants and bars. Most foragers spend less than two weeks per year foraging, and those who forage recreationally value their foraging trips at $43 to $335 each, depending on travel and time costs.

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Properties of Sound Absorption Composite Materials Developed Using Flax Fiber, Sphagnum Moss, Vermiculite, and Sapropel

Researchers created new environmentally friendly sound-absorbing panels using lake sediment (sapropel) as a binder mixed with natural fibers and minerals. These composite materials work well for reducing noise in buildings and have a decorative natural appearance. However, because they contain organic materials, they are susceptible to mold growth and need antimicrobial protection, with materials containing vermiculite performing better than those with moss.

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Vaping danger: A hidden threat among Malaysia’s youth

A 15-year-old student in Malaysia was hospitalized after vaping a product labeled as having a magic mushroom flavor. Testing revealed the vape actually contained MDMB-4en-PINACA, a highly potent synthetic cannabinoid that is 100-200 times stronger than natural cannabis. This case highlights the danger of unregulated vaping products being mixed with illegal substances that can cause serious health effects including seizures, heart problems, and organ damage. Doctors and the public need to be aware of these hidden threats in vaping products.

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Organic Nitrogen Supplementation Increases Vegetative and Reproductive Biomass in a Versatile White Rot Fungus

Researchers studied how adding nitrogen from plant litter affects the growth and mushroom production of a wood-rotting fungus called Cyclocybe aegerita. They found that adding the organic compound adenosine—which naturally occurs in plant litter—significantly boosted both the fungus’s vegetative growth and the production of mushrooms. The results suggest that fungi living in wood benefit from being able to absorb nitrogen-rich compounds from nearby plant material, which improves their ability to grow and reproduce.

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The genome sequence of the Oak Polypore, Buglossoporus quercinus (Schrad.) Kotl. & Pouzar

Scientists have completed a full genetic map of the oak polypore, a rare and threatened mushroom that only grows on ancient oak trees. This mushroom is protected by law in the UK because it is becoming increasingly rare due to habitat loss and isolation. The detailed genetic blueprint will help scientists develop better strategies to protect and restore populations of this important forest fungus, potentially through carefully planned translocation programs.

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New Species of Ascomycetes from Two Hypersaline Endorheic Lagoon Complexes in Zaragoza Province (Aragon Community, Spain)

Scientists discovered three new species of fungi living in extremely salty lagoons in Spain. These fungi were identified using both traditional microscopy and DNA analysis. The research also reorganized how some existing fungi are classified scientifically. This study helps us better understand the hidden microbial life in salt lakes around the world.

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Harmonizing Nature, Education, Engineering and Creativity: An Interdisciplinary Educational Exploration of Engineered Living Materials, Artistry and Sustainability Using Collaborative Mycelium Brick Construction

This study shows how middle-school students can learn science, engineering, and art together by growing and building with mycelium, a fungal material that can replace plastic and other harmful materials. Students designed shapes, created molds, cultivated living mycelium bricks under sterile conditions, and assembled them into an artistic structure. The hands-on experience helped students develop practical skills like precise measuring and 3D thinking while learning about sustainability and nature’s cycles.

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Insight into the Skin Mycobiota of Myotis myotis: How Age, Sex, and Biometric Traits Correlate with Fungal Diversity

Researchers studied fungal colonies living on the skin of Greater mouse-eared bats in autumn, discovering 39 different fungal species. Wing membranes had more fungal diversity than tail membranes, with males carrying more fungi than females. Interestingly, older male bats accumulated more fungal species, while older female bats showed less fungal diversity. The study found no trace of the fungus that causes white-nose syndrome, suggesting caves rather than bats may be the main source of this disease.

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Misconception of Schizophyllum commune strain 20R-7-F01 origin from subseafloor sediments over 20 million years old

Researchers questioned whether a fungus found in ancient ocean sediments 2 km below the seafloor actually came from 20 million years ago or was modern contamination. By analyzing DNA repetitive sequences in different fungal populations, they discovered the strain was genetically almost identical to modern fungi from Asia, not ancient at all. The extreme conditions in the deep sediments would make it impossible for fungi to survive or exchange genes for millions of years, proving the fungus came from surface contamination during drilling rather than ancient times.

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Silver Chloride Precipitation-limiting Factor for Accurate Silver Determination in Ag-accumulating Mushrooms After Nitric Acid Digestion

This research addresses a critical problem in measuring silver content in certain mushrooms, particularly silver-accumulating Amanita species. Scientists discovered that standard laboratory digestion procedures using nitric acid can cause silver to precipitate as silver chloride, making it invisible to measurement instruments and leading to false low results. The study demonstrates that neutron activation analysis is more accurate for measuring silver in these mushrooms, or alternatively, specialized multi-step digestion procedures can dissolve the precipitated silver chloride to obtain accurate measurements.

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