This Flower Is Really a Fungus in Disguise
In Guyanese savannas, a fungus infects grasslike plants, sterilizes them and produces bizarre all-fungal “flower” doppelgängers -- Read more on ScientificAmerican.com.....»»
Keep your ghosts and ghouls—the Cordyceps fungus creates real-life zombies
I have never really been interested in ghosts, mummies or zombies, not even at Halloween. But as October 31 approaches each year, I am reminded of a biological tale involving all three. It's the real-life horror story of a flesh-eating, brain-warping.....»»
Researchers discovered a rare fungus that can learn and remember things
Researchers have uncovered a rare and intelligent fungus. The fungus is called Phanerochaete velutina, and while it isn’t overly intelligent—it won’t be taking over the … The post Researchers discovered a rare fungus that can learn and re.....»»
This Is Your Robot Brain on Mushrooms
New rolling, hopping robots navigate via fungus.....»»
Unexpected beauty and major antimicrobial power boost as phages form into surprising flower shapes
A group of McMaster researchers who routinely work with bacteriophages—viruses that eat bacteria—had a pleasant and potentially very important surprise while preparing slides to view under a powerful microscope......»»
Plant fungus provides new drug target for colorectal cancer therapy
Novel chemical compounds from a fungus could provide new perspectives for treating colorectal cancer, one of the most common and deadliest cancers worldwide......»»
Documenting the impact of a fungal outbreak on a forest over half a century
An entomologist and his ecologist daughter have outlined the dramatic changes that have occurred over the past half-century in the forests of White Oak Canyon in the Shenandoah National Park due to a canker fungus......»»
Celebrating the fungus among us: How fungi support, restore ecosystems
The word "fungus" may inspire visions of an unwanted growth under your nail or maybe even of a pizza topping before thoughts of a thriving ecosystem......»»
Plant pathologists spearhead Fusarium head blight research on hemp
Extension faculty at the University of Kentucky (UK) Martin-Gatton College of Agriculture, Food and Environment are advancing the fight against Fusarium head blight (FHB) in hemp. This disease, caused by multiple species of the Fusarium fungus, threa.....»»
Can music help plants grow? Study suggests sound may boost plant-promoting fungus
Playing a monotonous sound stimulates the activity of a fungus that promotes plant growth, according to a study released on Wednesday, raising the possibility that playing music could benefit crops and gardens......»»
Pitting good versus bad fungi on sweet corn: A delicate dance
The same defenses that help some varieties of sweet corn resist fungal diseases can also stymie the potency of a beneficial fungus used to kill hungry caterpillar pests, studies by Agricultural Research Service (ARS) scientists suggest. The researche.....»»
Colombia"s Inirida flower: from "weed" to emblem for UN meeting
When Ruben Dario Carianil began cultivating the unusual, pointy Inirida flower in the Colombian Amazon ten years ago, his relatives made fun of him for growing "weeds.".....»»
Researcher: I"ve visited the same Rocky Mountain subalpine meadow weekly for a decade. Here"s what I learned
Imagine a bee crawling into a bright yellow flower......»»
Studying fungi"s "weak link" to fight global rise in deadly fungal infections
A group of scientists at the Department of Energy's Oak Ridge National Laboratory have conducted neutron scattering research to reveal key information about fungus cell membranes that could aid in developing new antifungal treatments......»»
Providing blooms all season long may be key to attracting pollinators, no matter what landscape is near your garden
A diverse and abundant flower planting that provides flowers in bloom all season may be more important to bees and other pollinators than whatever is surrounding the flower garden, according to a study published September 4, 2024 in PLoS ONE by Devon.....»»
New knowledge about a fungus that turns 60–80% of the flies in your home into zombies
What can we learn from a fungus that eats most of the flies in your home from the inside, turns them into zombies and then lures other flies to necrophilic intercourse? Possibly quite a lot, according to researchers at the University of Copenhagen......»»
Australian sauna helps save frogs from flesh-eating fungus
Hundreds of endangered Australian Green and Golden Bell frogs huddle inside a sauna, shielded from Sydney's winter chill......»»
Study reveals distinct roles of H3K27me3 and H3K36me3 in winter wheat vernalization
Vernalization is the phenomenon whereby plants require prolonged exposure to low temperatures to flower. This ensures that overwintering plants undergo reproductive growth under suitable light and temperature conditions, thereby securing yield......»»
Bulwark of blooms: The lily"s secret armor against plant pathogens
Fusarium wilt is a severe threat to the global cut-flower industry, particularly impacting lilies. Caused by Fusarium oxysporum, this disease results in significant economic losses due to plant decay and death. Traditional breeding methods have strug.....»»
How does organic farming benefit honey bees?
Organic farming and flower strips promote the health of honey bees. In their vicinity, colonies grow stronger and are generally healthier. This is most likely because the insects have a diverse and continuous food supply there and are less exposed to.....»»
Cybercriminals exploit file sharing services to advance phishing attacks
Threat actors use popular file-hosting or e-signature solutions as a disguise to manipulate their targets into revealing private information or downloading malware, according to Abnormal Security. A file-sharing phishing attack is a unique type of ph.....»»