Most plant-friendly fungi are a mystery to scientists

Most fungi that partner with plants are known only from trace DNA sequences left in soil.

Thomas Parker, Upland Ecologist, James Hutton Institute • conversation
July 3, 2025 ~9 min

Marine fungi could help feed the world and fight disease

A culture collection of more than 500 fungal strains from seawater, sediments and seaweeds is helping scientists better understand marine fungi.

Michael Cunliffe, Professor of Marine Microbiology, School of Biological and Marine Sciences, University of Plymouth • conversation
June 13, 2025 ~6 min


A bottlenose dolphin? Or Tursiops truncatus? Why biologists give organisms those strange, unpronounceable names

Some say Latin names are elitist and incomprehensible, but they started out as a way to be inclusive.

Nicholas Green, Assistant Professor of Biology, Kennesaw State University • conversation
June 3, 2025 ~8 min

Meet the fungi that live in the sea

Despite being known to science for over a century thanks to a few early pioneering marine mycologists, most people have never heard of marine fungi.

Michael Cunliffe, Professor of Marine Microbiology, School of Biological and Marine Sciences, University of Plymouth • conversation
Jan. 3, 2025 ~5 min

Should I worry about mold growing in my home?

Mold growth happens in damp indoor areas and is difficult to prevent. It can be an annoyance but usually isn’t harmful to your health.

Nicholas Money, Professor of Biology, Miami University • conversation
Nov. 20, 2024 ~7 min

Could fungi actually cause a zombie apocalypse?

Be very afraid – if you’re an insect.

Matt Kasson, Associate Professor of Mycology and Plant Pathology, West Virginia University • conversation
Oct. 21, 2024 ~8 min

Why autumn 2024 is your best chance to see lots of weird and wonderful fungi

Months of wet weather have created the perfect conditions for a fungal bonanza.

Rowena Hill, Postdoctoral Researcher in Mycology, Earlham Institute • conversation
Oct. 14, 2024 ~5 min

Climate change is shifting the zones where plants grow – here’s what that could mean for your garden

The US Department of Agriculture has updated its plant hardiness zone map, which shows where various plants will grow across the country. Gardeners should take note.

Matt Kasson, Associate Professor of Mycology and Plant Pathology, West Virginia University • conversation
March 22, 2024 ~10 min


Cannabis products may harbor fungal toxins harmful to human health, but regulations are uneven or nonexistent

Hemp flowers and certain cannabis products contain fungal toxins, including Aspergillus and Fusarium, that can exceed acceptable regulatory levels.

Kimberly D. Gwinn, Professor of Entomology and Plant Pathology, University of Tennessee • conversation
Jan. 10, 2024 ~6 min

How do _Candida auris_ and other fungi develop drug resistance? A microbiologist explains

Multidrug-resistant fungal infections are an emerging global health threat. Figuring out how fungi evade treatments offers new avenues to counter resistance.

Jeffrey Gardner, Associate Professor of Biological Sciences, University of Maryland, Baltimore County • conversation
May 3, 2023 ~7 min

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