Fungal

Would you want to eat this beetle? Probably not, as it appears to be covered in fungus. That "fungus" is actually hair, however, which the recently discovered insect may use to put off would-be predators.A lone example of the beetle was found by James Tweed, a PhD candidate in The University of Queensland's School of the Environment, when he was camping in the rainforest in Australia's Lamington National Park.As Tweed was walking through the campsite one morning, he spotted what he initially thought might be a bird…

Scientists have discovered a new species of yeast in the guts of mice and humans that could have remarkable health benefits.Named Kazachstania weizmannii by researchers from Israel and Germany, the new species appears to fight off another yeast called Candida albicans, which has the potential to spread into a dangerous fungal infection. C. albicans lives on many people's skin and mucous membranes without much bother, though overgrowth can cause the irritating condition candidiasis (commonly called thrush). Under some…

Boreal forests contain diverse fungal endophytes essential for plant health and ecosystem resilience, with new research revealing their unique biodiversity and climate sensitivity, emphasizing the importance of understanding and preserving these fungi amidst changing climates.Spruce, pine, fir, and additional varieties of trees dominate the chilly expanses of territory that stretch across North America, northern Europe, and Russia, forming a vast circumpolar belt around the globe. These boreal forests represent the most…

This story originally appeared on Grist and is part of the Climate Desk collaboration.Last week, a long, narrow section of the Earth’s atmosphere funneled trillions of gallons of water eastward from the Pacific tropics and unleashed it on California. This weather event, known as an atmospheric river, broke rainfall records, dumped more than a foot of rain on parts of the state, and knocked out power for 800,000 residents. At least nine people died in car crashes or were killed by falling trees. But the full brunt of the…

A dangerous fungal infection has seeded its spores farther across the United States than previously assumed. Research out this week details evidence that cases of blastomycosis are regularly showing up in Vermont, outside of the established areas of the U.S. where it’s thought to be endemic.Alex Winter on the Most Important Modern Horror Movie Blastomycosis is an infection caused by a group of fungi called Blastomyces. These infections usually happen when people breathe in spores that have been kicked up into the air from…

Eleven years ago, my colleagues and I estimated that about 2 million people around the world were dying from fungal infections annually. My latest estimate puts the figure today at nearly double that: around 3.8 million deaths.To put this in perspective, it accounts for around 6.8% of total global deaths. Coronary heart disease is probably responsible for 16% of the world's total deaths, followed by stroke at 11%. Smoke-related lung disease (COPD) comprises 6% of total deaths, with fungal infection being responsible for…

An outbreak of fungal meningitis linked to two surgery clinics in Mexico appears to have claimed more lives. This week, the Centers for Disease and Prevention updated its case tally, reporting seven confirmed or probable deaths linked to the outbreak. Officials are still trying to contact everyone at potential risk and are urging anyone who recently underwent epidural anesthesia at the clinics to seek immediate medical attention.How to Know If the Heat Is Making You SickThe outbreak first caught the attention of CDC and…

Fungi pose a significant threat to crops worldwide, scientists warn in a new commentary, with increasingly "devastating" effects on our food supply.We tend to worry more about pathogens that sicken humans directly, especially viruses and bacteria. But while corn smut and stem rust might not scare us like Ebola or E. coli, maybe they should.Such fungi are already wreaking havoc, with growers globally losing up to 23 percent of their crops to fungal infections every year. Fungi claim another 10 to 20 percent after harvest,…

Certain fungal illnesses are notoriously dangerous and difficult to treat, and now a small pocket of suspected cases of fungal meningitis, a disease that affects the brain and spinal cord, is raising alarm in Texas. State and national health officials released an alert last week about the infections—all of which were in U.S. residents who had recently received surgery in the Mexican city of Matamoros, which borders on Brownsville, Tex. The infections have led to severe illness and hospitalization. One person has died.…

A fungal outbreak has likely sickened nearly 100 workers at a Michigan paper mill, local health officials say. The infection is known to be caused by fungi that live in soil and decaying wood, but at this time, the source of the outbreak is unclear.Lower Drought Conditions In California | Extreme EarthThe fungal disease is called blastomycosis, named after the Blastomyces fungus that causes it. People usually become infected bybreathing in spores that have been kicked up in the air, though only around half will go on to…