Latest news with #fungi
The National
12 hours ago
- Science
- The National
Pictures of the week: From a mosque in Oman to a mangrove in Indonesia
• Scientists estimate there could be as many as 3 million fungal species globally • Only about 160,000 have been officially described leaving around 90% undiscovered • Fungi account for roughly 90% of Earth's unknown biodiversity • Forest fungi help tackle climate change, absorbing up to 36% of global fossil fuel emissions annually and storing around 5 billion tonnes of carbon in the planet's topsoil
Gizmodo
2 days ago
- Science
- Gizmodo
Unreal Amber Fossils Show ‘Last of Us' Zombie Fungus Terrorizing Bugs During the Cretaceous
In the video game The Last of Us and its spin-off HBO series, humans fight to survive against cordyceps, a parasitic fungus that turns its hosts into zombies. While the infections are wildly dramatized in both the game and the show, these fungi aren't mere science fiction. In fact, some species have been around since the age of the dinosaurs, a new study suggests. An international team of researchers led by Yuhui Zhuang, a doctoral student of paleontology at China's Yunnan University, recently found two cordyceps-infected insects trapped inside 99-million-year-old amber. The fossilized fly and ant pupa are among the oldest fossil records of animal-pathogenic fungi, dating back to the Cretaceous period. What's more, these insects were infected with two species of fungi previously unknown to science, now named Paleoophiocordyceps gerontoformicae and Paleoophiocordyceps ironomyiae. The researchers published their findings in the journal Proceedings of the Royal Society B on June 11. 'Overall, these two fossils are very rare, at least among the tens of thousands of amber specimens we've seen, and only a few have preserved the symbiotic relationship between fungi and insects,' Zhuang told CNN. The amber came from northern Myanmar, which has suffered violent conflict since 2017 due to a boom in fossil amber research. The study notes that the specimens the authors used were procured before 2017 and were not, to their knowledge, involved in any conflict. Zhuang and his colleagues used optical microscopes to examine the fossilized insects, then constructed 3D images of them using an X-ray imaging technique called micro-computed tomography. This revealed surprising aspects of the insects' infections. The researchers determined that both of the newly discovered fungal species belong to the genus Ophiocordyceps, which also includes a species commonly known as zombie-ant fungus. The name comes from its ability to control its host's behavior. In the final stage of the infection, the fungus seizes control of the insect's brain and makes it seek a higher location with more sunlight and warmth—optimal conditions for spore production. Once the insect dies, a fungal growth erupts from its head and begins releasing spores that will infect new victims. The fossilized fly was preserved in this state, with the fruiting body of P. ironomyiae bursting from its head. Unlike a typical late-stage Ophiocordyceps infection, which usually produces a fruiting body with a smooth, swollen tip, P. ironomyiae's fruiting body was unexpanded and textured. The ant pupa, infected with P. gerontoformicae, was even more unusual. Instead of emerging from the pupa's head, the fungus erupted out of the metapleural gland, which produces antimicrobial secretions. This has never been observed among any known species of Ophiocordyceps, the researchers note. These differences signaled that they were likely looking at two never-before-seen species. When they compared the structures and growth patterns of these fungi to known Ophiocordyceps species, the researchers found clear traits linking them to this genus but could not match them with any documented species. They used DNA from modern Ophiocordyceps species to build phylogeny—a visual representation of the genus' evolutionary history—then estimated where the newly discovered species diverged from their relatives. The analysis led to a deeper understanding of Ophiocordyceps' history, suggesting that it originated during the early Cretaceous period and started out infecting beetles. It then evolved to infect butterflies, moths, and other insects—including bees and ants—by the end of the mid-Cretaceous. Booming diversity and abundance of insect host species likely drove the rapid emergence of new Ophiocordyceps species during the Cretaceous, the researchers conclude. Piecing together the evolutionary history of parasitic fungi has proved difficult due to a lack of ancient specimens, according to London's Natural History Museum, one of the institutions that contributed to the research. 'It's fascinating to see some of the strangeness of the natural world that we see today was also present at the height of the age of the dinosaurs,' said co-author Edmund Jarzembowski, an associate scientist at the museum, in a statement. The discovery offers a rare glimpse into the rise of these highly adaptable fungal pathogens.
CNN
3 days ago
- Science
- CNN
Stunning amber fossil reveals ‘Last of Us'-type fungus likely lived alongside dinosaurs
A glob of 99 million-year-old amber has preserved an ancient fly in horror show fashion: with the mushroom-like fruiting body of zombie fungus bursting forth from its head. The insect, along with a second specimen of a young ant infected with a similar fungus, are two of the oldest examples of a bizarre natural phenomenon that involves fungal parasites hijacking the bodies of their hosts before ultimately killing them. 'Amber gives us this opportunity to visualize the ancient ecological relationships preserved in fossils,' said Yuhui Zhuang, a doctoral student at the Institute of Paleontology at Yunnan University in southwestern China. 'Overall, these two fossils are very rare, at least among the tens of thousands of amber specimens we've seen, and only a few have preserved the symbiotic relationship between fungi and insects,' added Zhuang, the lead author of a study on the fossils published June 11 in the journal Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences. Zhuang and his colleagues named two previously unknown species of ancient fungi of the genus Ophiocordyceps from their research on the amber, which involved using optical microscopes to study the tiny pieces of amber and micro-computed tomography to make 3D images of the fungi-infected insects. They found the first, named Paleoophiocordyceps gerontoformicae, on the ant and the second, Paleoophiocordyceps ironomyiae, on the fly. Some Ophiocordyceps species that prey on ant species today are known as 'zombie-ant fungi' because the fungal parasite can manipulate the behavior of its hosts for its own benefit. The phenomenon inspired the video game behind the HBO TV show 'The Last of Us.' HBO shares a parent company, Warner Bros. Discovery, with CNN. 'The discovery of these two fossils suggests that terrestrial ecosystems were already very complex, and that Ophiocordyceps, in particular, may have begun to act as 'predators' of insects in the Cretaceous period, regulating the populations of certain groups,' Zhuang said via email. Today, parasitic fungi, also known as entomopathogenic fungi, infect a wide range of insect groups, including ants, flies, spiders, cicadas and beetles, according to London's Natural History Museum. In the case of carpenter ants, the spore of the Ophiocordyceps fungus lands on the head of an ant, enters its brain through a weak area in the insect's exoskeleton and takes control of the ant to facilitate its spread, said Conrad Labandeira, senior scientist and curator of fossil arthropods at the Smithsonian Museum of Natural History in Washington, DC, who wasn't involved in the study. Paleoophiocordyceps likely zombified its hosts in similar ways, according to Labandeira. 'It appears that ants, for some reason, were targeted early for zombification, and currently are the major recipients of this parasitoid fungus,' Labandeira said. He added that flies are only rarely affected by these parasitic fungi today, making a fossilized example particularly interesting. The species of fungus that infected the prehistoric ant may be an ancestor of zombie-ant fungi, and thus likely controlled its host's body in similar ways, said study coauthor João Araújo, mycology curator and assistant professor at the Danish Natural History Museum. Very few specimens of ancient parasitic fungi have been discovered, so little is known about their evolution. The two insects were likely killed by the fungi before getting trapped in the sticky tree resin that ultimately forms amber, said Araújo, noting that most entomopathogenic fungi kill their hosts to produce the fruiting body. This lost parasite diversity had a significant role in shaping the planet we live on today, said Phil Barden, an associate professor at New Jersey Institute of Technology's department of biological sciences, who has worked on amber fossils. 'Even as we find a remarkable diversity of organisms entombed in amber, it's important to remember that we really do only capture the smallest glimpse. For any given fossil ant or beetle, we can imagine all of the parasites, fungus, and bacteria that such insects support,' Barden, who wasn't involved in the new study, said via email. It was 'fascinating to see some of the strangeness of the natural world that we see today was also present at the height of the age of the dinosaurs,' said study coauthor Edmund Jarzembowski, a professor and associate scientist at London's Natural History Museum. The fossil is the latest to emerge from Myanmar's rich amber fields. While amber fossils have been some of paleontology's most exciting finds in recent years, ethical concerns about the provenance of amber from the civil war-torn region have emerged. Zhuang said the fossils were sourced from Myanmar's amber markets. The study noted that the specimens were acquired before 2017 and, to the authors' knowledge, were not involved in armed conflict or ethnic strife.
CNN
3 days ago
- Science
- CNN
Stunning amber fossil reveals ‘Last of Us'-type fungus likely lived alongside dinosaurs
A glob of 99 million-year-old amber has preserved an ancient fly in horror show fashion: with the mushroom-like fruiting body of zombie fungus bursting forth from its head. The insect, along with a second specimen of a young ant infected with a similar fungus, are two of the oldest examples of a bizarre natural phenomenon that involves fungal parasites hijacking the bodies of their hosts before ultimately killing them. 'Amber gives us this opportunity to visualize the ancient ecological relationships preserved in fossils,' said Yuhui Zhuang, a doctoral student at the Institute of Paleontology at Yunnan University in southwestern China. 'Overall, these two fossils are very rare, at least among the tens of thousands of amber specimens we've seen, and only a few have preserved the symbiotic relationship between fungi and insects,' added Zhuang, the lead author of a study on the fossils published June 11 in the journal Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences. Zhuang and his colleagues named two previously unknown species of ancient fungi of the genus Ophiocordyceps from their research on the amber, which involved using optical microscopes to study the tiny pieces of amber and micro-computed tomography to make 3D images of the fungi-infected insects. They found the first, named Paleoophiocordyceps gerontoformicae, on the ant and the second, Paleoophiocordyceps ironomyiae, on the fly. Some Ophiocordyceps species that prey on ant species today are known as 'zombie-ant fungi' because the fungal parasite can manipulate the behavior of its hosts for its own benefit. The phenomenon inspired the video game behind the HBO TV show 'The Last of Us.' HBO shares a parent company, Warner Bros. Discovery, with CNN. 'The discovery of these two fossils suggests that terrestrial ecosystems were already very complex, and that Ophiocordyceps, in particular, may have begun to act as 'predators' of insects in the Cretaceous period, regulating the populations of certain groups,' Zhuang said via email. Today, parasitic fungi, also known as entomopathogenic fungi, infect a wide range of insect groups, including ants, flies, spiders, cicadas and beetles, according to London's Natural History Museum. In the case of carpenter ants, the spore of the Ophiocordyceps fungus lands on the head of an ant, enters its brain through a weak area in the insect's exoskeleton and takes control of the ant to facilitate its spread, said Conrad Labandeira, senior scientist and curator of fossil arthropods at the Smithsonian Museum of Natural History in Washington, DC, who wasn't involved in the study. Paleoophiocordyceps likely zombified its hosts in similar ways, according to Labandeira. 'It appears that ants, for some reason, were targeted early for zombification, and currently are the major recipients of this parasitoid fungus,' Labandeira said. He added that flies are only rarely affected by these parasitic fungi today, making a fossilized example particularly interesting. The species of fungus that infected the prehistoric ant may be an ancestor of zombie-ant fungi, and thus likely controlled its host's body in similar ways, said study coauthor João Araújo, mycology curator and assistant professor at the Danish Natural History Museum. Very few specimens of ancient parasitic fungi have been discovered, so little is known about their evolution. The two insects were likely killed by the fungi before getting trapped in the sticky tree resin that ultimately forms amber, said Araújo, noting that most entomopathogenic fungi kill their hosts to produce the fruiting body. This lost parasite diversity had a significant role in shaping the planet we live on today, said Phil Barden, an associate professor at New Jersey Institute of Technology's department of biological sciences, who has worked on amber fossils. 'Even as we find a remarkable diversity of organisms entombed in amber, it's important to remember that we really do only capture the smallest glimpse. For any given fossil ant or beetle, we can imagine all of the parasites, fungus, and bacteria that such insects support,' Barden, who wasn't involved in the new study, said via email. It was 'fascinating to see some of the strangeness of the natural world that we see today was also present at the height of the age of the dinosaurs,' said study coauthor Edmund Jarzembowski, a professor and associate scientist at London's Natural History Museum. The fossil is the latest to emerge from Myanmar's rich amber fields. While amber fossils have been some of paleontology's most exciting finds in recent years, ethical concerns about the provenance of amber from the civil war-torn region have emerged. Zhuang said the fossils were sourced from Myanmar's amber markets. The study noted that the specimens were acquired before 2017 and, to the authors' knowledge, were not involved in armed conflict or ethnic strife.
Khaleej Times
4 days ago
- Science
- Khaleej Times
Dubai opens world's first fungi conservation centre in 'global step forward'
Dubai has opened the world's first conservation centre dedicated exclusively to fungi. This initiative, a significant step for global biodiversity, was established in partnership with the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). The new Centre for Species Survival officially opened on Tuesday at Terra in Expo City Dubai, marking both a regional and global milestone. Speaking to Khaleej Times, Marjan Faraidooni, Chief of Education and Culture at Expo City Dubai, explained the motivation behind the initiative. "There are many species survival centres around the world, but there hasn't been one in the Middle East. Because Terra is committed to conservation and research, and we realised nobody was focusing on fungi, we wanted to set up the centre with the IUCN," she said. "This is a global step forward that aligns with the UAE's environmental values and its commitment to biodiversity. Through this centre, we're raising awareness about ecosystems and their role in addressing global issues like climate change and biodiversity loss," she added. "We're very proud to be the first in the Emirates because we believe in the mission and the impact it can bring." Faraidooni emphasised that fungi are not only adaptable but essential to life across varied environments, including the UAE's deserts. "The beautiful thing about fungi is that they grow in places you can't imagine. They're resilient, and they thrive when the environment is right—whether in the Amazon or beneath our desert sands. We used to harvest truffles here, known locally as 'Fagaa,' which were used for both food and medicine. That tells us fungi have always been a part of our heritage," she said. The centre will initially focus on fungi native to the region, launching Red List assessments to evaluate extinction risk. "There are currently 1,300 fungi on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species, so there is a lot to do to document and understand their threats to guide policy and action," Faraidooni added. What is mycelium? During the launch, experts from IUCN and the broader mycology community emphasised the pivotal role of fungi in ecological systems. Although often overlooked in conservation efforts, fungi play a crucial role in nutrient cycling, soil formation, and plant health. Underground fungal networks, known as mycelium, help trees communicate, share nutrients, and protect ecosystems from invasive species, acting as silent engineers of the natural world. Beyond ecology, speakers at the event highlighted the innovative potential of fungi in sustainability and design. Mycelium-based construction materials are being developed as biodegradable, modular building components. Mycelium-based construction materials have been utilised in a project that created a fully circular pavilion. This pavilion, made from locally sourced mycelium, was designed to be dismantled and reused for coral reef restoration. Another concept involved modular refugee shelters made from agricultural waste—these structures are low-cost, easy to assemble, and environmentally friendly. Events to foster awareness In the UAE context, fungi such as truffles and other desert fungi species are part of both ecological and cultural landscapes. Traditionally foraged after desert rains, these species have been used in medicine and are emblematic of the deep relationship between people and their environment. The centre also aims to engage local communities through education and cultural programming, with a focus on ethno-mycology—studying how people have historically interacted with fungi. Upcoming public exhibitions, school partnerships, and citizen science walks are planned to foster greater awareness. The centre is not just for scientists, it's for chefs, farmers, artists, teachers, and families. People are invited to step into Terra's "Under the Forest" exhibit for interactive experiences that showcase the impact of fungi on the ecosystem.
