- https://archive.ph/2024.06.21-130323/https://www.scientifica...
by pollyturples
2 subcomments
- "You know about slime mold? Well, slime molds are so close to being both plant and animal that it's like they can't make up their minds. Some think that maybe it's these indecisive organisms who have been running the earth all this time. There’s more slime mold than any other form of protoplasm on the planet. If they wanted to, if they finally decided to commit to being either plant or animal, they could take us over just like that. [Interviewer: You talk about slime molds like I should know what these are]. I mean, they're everywhere. If you walk in an alleyway and slip a bit, twisting your ankle, maybe it wasn’t an accident. Maybe it was a slime mold attack." - David St Hubbins in a deleted scene from Spinal Tap (1984)
by throwup238
0 subcomment
- I don't know why the article references "dark matter" but doesn't make the full connection to microbial dark matter: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Microbial_dark_matter
It's not just fungi that are difficult to culture. The (vast?) majority of bacteria, virus, and archae species are undocumented because we don't know how to grow them in a laboratory or even stain them so that they're visible on a microscope slide. Except for the occasional glimpse on an electron microscope slide, most of them are completely invisible to science.
- Wow...a very interesting read. It's always humbling when reminded of how many and how large are the pieces we are completely missing in the understanding of even the immediate world around us.
We mostly behave like we have our basic every-day experience pretty much covered - yet, there are such vast areas - across basically all of sciences - that we just utterly don't understand, and who knows how much more additionally that we don't even know is there.
by Molitor5901
0 subcomment
- The land, water and air around us are chock-full of DNA fragments from fungi that mycologists can’t link to known organisms. These slippery beings are so widespread scientists are calling them “dark fungi.” It’s a comparison to the equally elusive dark matter and dark energy that permeates the universe. Like those invisible entities, dark fungi are hidden movers and shakers, prime examples of what E. O. Wilson called “the little things that run the world.”
by psilobalt
3 subcomments
- Slightly off-topic, but not really - cultivating mushrooms is really fascinating. And those that hold magic offer an additional element of very special satisfaction. If you're looking for a new hobby, give it a try! It's easy to start with a colonized growth kit - you can buy those online.
If you like it, the next level is growing your own mycelium in liquid culture (basically in honey water).
If that works out will, use it to colonize your own substrate.
Then, you can produce your own (storable) spore prints from harvested mushrooms. Which you can use to create new mycelium liquid cultures. And the cycle can be repeated indefinitely, with tons of harvest!
by ThinkBeat
3 subcomments
- I thought this was an error:
""
It’s a comparison to the equally elusive dark matter and dark energy that make up 95 percent of our universe and exert tremendous influence on, well, everything.
""
Then in my ignorance I googled it, and it appears to be true.
How in the world can the dominant theory for the universe be based on
it being 95% filled with mystical shit that we cant prove, but makes
our math happy.
That sounds insane, like religion.
Clearly examining models of the universe that dont depend upon 95% mystical stuff
may be an avenue worth exploring.
- Why do the scientists velieve that using a "quick test" that checks only part of DNA is good?
Wouldnt it be better to do full sequencing, instead of this ITS test? Especially if that part is mutating quickly.
If they want to move forward shouldnt thry do boring full sequencing? Then they can make real comparisons, not estimates?
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