Name: 6 ways mushrooms can save the world
Uploaded: 2008-05-06T04:00:00Z
Duration: 17 min 24 s
Description: Mycologist Paul Stamets lists 6 ways the mycelium fungus can help save the universe: cleaning polluted soil, making insecticides, treating smallpox and even flu viruses.

Mycologist Paul Stamets lists 6 ways the mycelium fungus can help save the universe: cleaning polluted soil, making insecticides, treating smallpox and even flu viruses.

6 ways mushrooms can save the world

Fungi, especially mycelium, act as nature’s grand recyclers, restoring polluted soil and supporting whole ecosystems. In one experiment, a pile treated with oyster mushroom mycelium cleared 10,000 parts per million of hydrocarbons down to just 200 in eight weeks, transforming dead soil into a thriving oasis. Mushrooms can also fight infectious diseases, outsmart insects, and even help generate sustainable fuel. Harnessing the power of these organisms could enable humans to repair environmental damage and rethink our relationship with nature.

Mushrooms Hold the Hidden Keys to Healing Our Planet

*Mycelium Running*

biology

design

food

global issues

pollution

science

technology

fungi

TED Stage Talk

Paul Stamets: 6 ways mushrooms can save the world