Fungi

Scientists are using fungi to create a food alternative. By altering fungi genes, researchers created a burger patty made of mold. CRISPR Gene editing boosted the food’s iron content, which gives meat its flavor and color.

Thirteen people in the United States have been infected with a potentially deadly, drug-resistant fungal infection since 2009, health officials say. [1] [2]
Source: CNN
Of those infected, 4 individuals died; but it is not clear whether they died from the infection or from other underlying health problems. [1]
Dr. Tom Chiller, who is chief of the mycotic diseases branch of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control (CDC), said:

“I am worried. I think this is a real threat.” [2]

In a time when radiation exposure from a number of sources, including air travel, nuclear power, and former testing grounds seems unavoidable, any news of radio-protective substance is good news. Fortunately, emerging research is indicating that melanin in fungi, which is also the pigment responsible for skin color in humans, may not only enable some fungi to survive ionizing radiation, but also to feed off of it.

If you’ve ever experienced the frustration of having a landlord who doesn’t seem to care that toxic mold is growing in your house or apartment, you might want to consider moving to California, because the state isn’t putting up with that kind of neglect anymore.
California recently became the first state to declare that the presence of mold is an enforceable substandard housing condition. The law, which went into effect January 1, declares that the visible presence of mold is a misdemeanor.

Everyone knows that there is a big difference between edible mushrooms and the poisonous kind. Toxic mushrooms are certainly out there in the fields, but they have been identified over the years so that there is little chance of them being harvested by trained and experienced pickers. There are certainly ways anyone can tell which mushrooms are poisonous and which are safe to eat – read on to find out how.

“Fewer than 1% of the estimated 10,000 mushroom species in North America are poisonous, according to the North American Mycological Association.” [1]

Many scientists and anthropologists (though not all) believe that long before humans came on the evolutionary scene, microbes ruled the earth. When humans finally showed up they had to get with the program, which was symbiosis. The deal was struck that some microbes could use us as walking condominiums in which they could live safe and sound, and in turn they would protect us against other invading microbes and perform a variety of other tasks that scientists are busy discovering.