Scientists have discovered that a longtime fungal resident of the Chernobyl complex could actually “eat” radiation. In an upcoming paper, scientists will share the results of growing the fungus on the International Space Station. Scientists have known about this fungus, and similar extremophile organisms that can thrive on radiation, since at least 2007. The variety found in Chernobyl “can decompose radioactive material such as the hot graphite in the remains of the Chernobyl reactor,” Nature said in 2007.

Forget blue whales and giant redwood trees. The biggest living organism is over 2 miles across, and you'll hardly ever see it

NASA researchers are investigating the potential of mycelia — the mass of nutrient-absorbing, widely branching underground threads that make up much of a fungus's bulk — to help construct outposts on the moon and Mars.

"Right now, traditional habitat designs for Mars are like a turtle — carrying our homes with us on our backs — a reliable plan, but with huge energy costs."

Langdon Cook's new book, the Mushroom Hunters, delves into the secretive and sometimes dangerous subculture of mushrooming.

The fungi can whip up winds that blow away their spores and help them disperse

Stumbled into this specimen while mushroom picking in the luscious forests of British Columbia.

A look at different growing methods and varieties enabling you to pick your own edible fungus at home.

From knowing where to find mushrooms to knowing how to clean and store them, mushroom hunters can benefit from these 10 expert tips.

According to a 2001 publication in the International Journal of Medicinal Mushrooms, the smell of the fresh fungus can trigger spontaneous orgasms in human females. In the trial involving 16 women, 6 had orgasms while smelling the fruit body, and the other ten, who received smaller doses, experienced physiological changes such as increased heart rate. All of the 20 men tested considered the smell disgusting.

A huge number of parasites can change the behavior of the organisms they infect. In some cases, parasites can even make their hosts display completely new behaviors. We understand very little about the mechanisms and pathways behind this interaction. To learn more, we investigated how a specific fungus changes the behavior of ants... By Charissa de Bekker.

Five mycological highlights from 2015, including banana killers, rainmakers, and the zombie cure. By Nicola Twilley.

Coyotes tripping on hallucinogenic mushrooms is one explanation experts are giving for some strange incidents in the North Bay. According to the Pacific Sun, a coyote has reportedly been jumping onto Highway 1 in the Bolinas area in the dead of night and staring down cars. The coyote then sniffs around the car before running back into the brush. “It’s a terrifying, yet beautiful thing to behold,” said one of the drivers who was confronted by a coyote.

European scientists have gathered tiny fungi that take shelter in Antarctic rocks and sent them to the International Space Station. After 18 months on board in conditions similar to those on Mars, more than 60% of their cells remained intact, with stable DNA...

One woman's quest to find the fabled fungus said to elicit orgasms in women by scent alone. Is the mysterious Hawaiian mushroom just a myth? By Christie Wilcox. (Feb. 14)

Ikea is planning to use packaging made with mushrooms as an eco-friendly replacement for polystyrene. The furniture retailer is looking at using the biodegradable mycelium “fungi packaging” as part of its efforts to reduce waste and increase recycling, Joanna Yarrow, head of sustainability for Ikea in the U.K., said.

Like the deadly pufferfish, wild mushrooms are for culinary daredevils. Care to play Russian roulette with your dinner? By Cal Flyn.

A chunk of amber found along the Baltic Sea in Russia provides evidence roughly 50 million years old of an extremely fortunate bug. By Will Dunham.

New research challenges the one fungus-one alga paradigm of how lichens form. By Steph Yin.