Do fungi like this Penicillium mold, which produces the the antibiotic penicillin, trace their origins to an ancestor that lived a billion years ago?
Rattiya Thongdumhyu/Shutterstock.com
The discovery of a fungus fossil is pushing back the origin of these ancient organisms and rewriting what we know about evolution and the tree of life.
Newly discovered billion-year-old fossilised fungi are more than twice as old as previous finds, and suggest that fungi may have been preparing Earth’s lands for plant life for millions of years.
Microscopic image of the common environmental mould Aspergillus fumigatus – harmless to most people but can be deadly if you have a weakened immune system.
Dr David Ellis, University of Adelaide
A deadly fungus called Candida auris, is among us and is now detected in more than 20 countries. It is resistant to many anti-fungal drugs. But a familiar fungus may reveal a solution.
The ghost fungus emits an eerie green glow.
Alison Pouliot
The aftermath of flooding provides the perfect breeding ground for mould in our homes. It’s important to properly remove it so it doesn’t affect our health.
Some sneaky plants steal food instead of exclusively making their own.
Charlie Jackson/flickr
An ancient relationship between plants and fungi could be used in sustainable agriculture. But there’s still a lot we don’t know, and new research suggests these fungi can sometimes do more harm than good.
A microscopy image of Aspergillus fumigatus fungus, one of the biggest killers of patients with weak immune systems.
Mark Stappers/Kevin Mackenzie
Fungi perform a vital role in the biological cycle, but pose an increasing danger to human health – invasive fungal infections kill three times more people than malaria.
New study shows parasitic Escovopsis fungus attacks the bacteria leafcutter ants use to protect themselves.
Ant colonies direct traffic flows of millions of individuals along the best routes – army ants even manage inbound and outbound lanes – but how?
Geoff Gallice/Wikimedia
Insects aren’t known for having big brains, and slime moulds and fungi don’t have any. So how do they solve challenges that test the ingenuity of human transport engineers?
Mushrooms for many are just an addition to a slice of pizza, but the fungi are now gaining a reputation for their nutrients.
Subbatina Anna/Shutterstock.com
Mushrooms, long popular on pizza and in cooking, are getting more attention for their health benefits. Here are some reasons you might want to add them to your grocery list and not just your pizza.
The sweet-smelling, fluffy white fungus, Huntiella moniliformis, engaging in sexual reproduction in the lab.
Author supplied
Alexander Weir, State University of New York College of Environmental Science and Forestry
The global mushroom industry is worth $35 billion yearly and growing. But mushrooms and other fungi play important ecological roles that scientists are still learning about – and some may be endangered.
Cornelius Vanderbilt Chair in Biological Sciences, Professor of Biological Sciences and Biomedical Informatics, and Director of the Vanderbilt Evolutionary Studies Initiative, Vanderbilt University