6 ways mushrooms can save the world by Paul Stamets

Mushies! <3

[link to en.wikipedia.org]



Mycelium (plural mycelia) is the vegetative part of a fungus, consisting of a mass of branching, thread-like hyphae. The mass of hyphae is sometimes called shiro, especially within the fairy ring fungi. Fungal colonies composed of mycelia are found in soil and on or within many other substrates. A typical single spore germinates into a homokaryotic mycelium, which cannot reproduce sexually; when two compatible homokaryotic mycelia join and form a dikaryotic mycelium, that mycelium may form fruiting bodies such as mushrooms. A mycelium may be minute, forming a colony that is too small to see, or it may be extensive:

Is this the largest organism in the world? This 2,400-acre (9.7 km2) site in eastern Oregon had a contiguous growth of mycelium before logging roads cut through it. Estimated at 1,665 football fields in size and 2,200 years old, this one fungus has killed the forest above it several times over, and in so doing has built deeper soil layers that allow the growth of ever-larger stands of trees. Mushroom-forming forest fungi are unique in that their mycelial mats can achieve such massive proportions.
—Paul Stamets, Mycelium Running
It is through the mycelium that a fungus absorbs nutrients from its environment. It does this in a two-stage process. First, the hyphae secrete enzymes onto or into the food source, which break down biological polymers into smaller units such as monomers. These monomers are then absorbed into the mycelium by facilitated diffusion and active transport.

Mycelium is vital in terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems for its role in the decomposition of plant material. It contributes to the organic fraction of soil, and its growth releases carbon dioxide back into the atmosphere. The mycelium of mycorrhizal fungi increases the efficiency of water and nutrient absorption of most plants and confers resistance to some plant pathogens. Mycelium is an important food source for many soil invertebrates.

Sclerotia are compact or hard masses of mycelium.

Uses

One of the primary roles of fungi in an ecosystem is to decompose organic compounds. Petroleum products and pesticides that can be contaminants of soil are organic molecules. Therefore, fungi should have potential to remove such pollutants from the soil environment, a process known as bioremediation.

Mycelial mats have been suggested (see Paul Stamets) as having potential as biological filters, removing chemicals and microorganisms from soil and water. The use of fungal mycelia to accomplish this has been termed "mycofiltration".

Knowledge of the relationship between mycorrhizal fungi and plants suggests new ways to improve crop yields.

When spread on logging roads, mycelium can act as a binder, holding new soil in place and preventing washouts until woody plants can be established.

Mycelium has been used to bind agricultural by-products to form products dubbed Greensulate and Ecocradle, which are alternatives to plastic styrofoam for packaging and insulation. Two inventors, Eben Bayer and Gavin McIntyre, and their company Ecovative Design, developed the method to manipulate a network of mycelia into desirable shapes, with properties comparable to its plastic counterpart. The invention has won two awards and is now in use commercially by Steelcase as packaging for furniture. This use of mycelium has been discussed in Time Magazine, Popular Science and other media, as well as being the subject of a TED Talk "Are Mushrooms the New Plastic?" by Eben Bayer.[1]

Is also used to produce mycoprotein- involved in the production of Quorn (a meat substitute for vegetarians)

THE MAN IS LIKE JESUS INCARNATE.I love Paul and the vision or reawakening to this fabulous course of study.a fungus among us?among us a fungus?fungus is us ?us use fungus?fungus uses us?

The fact that mycelium are at the root of growth is something to marvel at.

Good stuff, but the shills is too many

What does shill mean?

government goons paid to make ur day suck

Have y'all heard of 'yartsa gunbu'? It's supposed to be like viagra.
[link to en.wikipedia.org]
Interestingly enough there's some evidence that there's been success in artificial cultivation. As expensive as it is- sounds like a good business.

[link to www.tibetsun.com]

I posted the mario vid as a spoof BUT its very interesting that in the video game Super Mario b4 he did anything he had to eat a mushroom.... This game was one of the first games to go POP as it was played by the masses. In order for the masses (the people of the world) to shift consciousness or dimensions you need to experience the ego(less) trip of shrooms.

Really fool im laughing so hard i almost spit my coffee out

Love the fungi

Me too

PIN IT!

hey jim read thats my nickname?

[link to www.designundersky.com]