Fungus growing on an old CD (compact disc, incidentally containing fungi confocal image data) in storage for 20 years! potential plastic eating mould... further analysis underway; might try and isolate a culture... Merlin Sheldrake Contamination Club

Some fungi, like Aleuria, synchronise spore ejection creating a jet of air—a ‘cooperatively generated wind’—which carries them around obstacles. Spores of some species can reach speeds of 100 km/hr—among the fastest movements achieved by any living organism. . 📹©Patrick Hickey Ph.D.

A friend thought he was growing tomato plants and magic mushrooms cropped up! edinburghlive.co.uk/news/edinburgh…

Panellus stipticus (bioluminescent fungus) meets unidentified contaminant, perhaps red yeast? Interesting pattern of bioluminescence where the colonies make contact. Further investigations underway... Contamination Club ASCUS Art & Science Merlin Sheldrake

Fungi expertly transport material around themselves. This time-lapse shows traffic through a fungal network. DNA-containing nuclei are stained green. Pulses of nuclei – ‘nuclear comets’ – travel in hordes through the mycelium (of Neurospora crassa). . 📹©Patrick Hickey Ph.D. (1/2)

Time-lapse sequence of "pink" supermoon last night, viewed from our street in Edinburgh. Greetings! Tim Peake Thanks to John FINIFLEX for the space-age sound sample! #Supermoon

I was recently asked by the BBC to contribute to an article discussing the much debated question “is it safe to eat mouldy food”. I’m pleased that they quoted me on this important (yeast) fungus fact: “Without fungi, beer and pizza wouldn’t exist” bbc.co.uk/food/articles/…

Amazed to see both the ISS and Starlink-26 constellation racing across the sky, viewed from Edinburgh, 18 May ~00.20. Our son delighted to be woken up to see glittering trail of satellites + wave to astronauts! Tim Peake ISS_Research Elon Musk SpaceX sfx: FINIFLEX

💫This is always one of my all time fave's ! Patrick Hickey Ph.D. The Royal Society #TheBigDraw The Big Draw® ✏️ My two children attended that day and their names are on their dish too 🤗💙🔹🔵🟦💙

Today’s partial eclipse viewed from Edinburgh; our 2 year old daughter held sunglasses and a polarising filter in front of the camera, creating some interesting effects! Tim Peake #Eclipse2021 #SolarEclipse #PartialEclipse

Viability of fungal [Marasmiineae] rhizomorphs used in bird nest construction in tropical rainforests rdcu.be/cTt2T

Stranger Fungi youtu.be/EO4lxEqPFfc via YouTube

The wood-wide web is everywhere: hit TV shows, bestselling books, kids' books, K-12 classrooms. It's probably the most popular idea to emerge from forest science in the last 25 years. But is it real? My investigation for NYT Science nytimes.com/2022/11/07/sci…

Well, the cat is out of the bag. I don't think the evidence supports the 'wood-wide web' view of forests. I am a skeptic. More details coming. Thx Gabriel Popkin for giving space for other voices nytimes.com/2022/11/07/sci…

This Petri dish is a micro-universe! Contamination Club To see a World in a Grain of Sand And a Heaven in a Wild Flower Hold Infinity in the palm of your hand And Eternity in an hour (William Blake)

Interesting when the colour of the contaminant matches your clothing… yet to have a proper look and attempt to identify, possibly a species of Fusarium? (it’s malt extract agar) Contamination Club #microbiome #agar #biology #fungi

Awesome music video from Patricia Kokett featuring some of my fungi imaging. well done to everyone involved, it was great fun filming! youtu.be/r_yN_8CW1hE?si…