Meet the fungi cleaning nuclear waste ☢

Hi there 🍄 

This week, we’re using fungi to clean up after nuclear power production, finding better ways to compost, and making magic with mushroom mixology!

Meet the fungi cleaning up nuclear waste.

The word of the day is… ♻ We love mycoremediation around here — that’s to say, using fungi to absorb and eliminate toxic materials from the environment. The term was coined by renowned mycologist Paul Stamets, who has voiced his advocacy for mycoremediation on multiple Joe Rogan Experience appearances.

Fungi have already been shown to sequester toxic vanadium from the wetlands. Now, researchers are looking to use specialized fungi to remove radionuclides, a byproduct of nuclear power production. ⚡

• Harsh diet ☢ Following the Chernobyl nuclear disaster, the first organism found to grow in the contaminated area was a black fungus called Cladosporium sphaerospermum that thrived off the radioactive remains.

• Toxic instability ⚛ Radionuclides are atoms with an unstable nucleus that release radiation as they break down and become more stable. These can be harmful to human health and the environment.

• Enter the fungi 🍄Halophilic fungi thrive in places with high salt concentrations. They can withstand conditions other fungi can’t. These halophilic fungi were put into controlled environments that mimic spots where radionuclides have polluted the soil and waters.

• Eliminate the spread 💪Halophilic fungi absorb the radionuclides from their surroundings and stabilize the contaminants in fungal cells. This process prevents the radionuclides from spreading further into the environment and food chains.

• The big picture 🖼 Fungi could be crucial to our environmental management strategies. This new mycoremediation research could transform how we approach and contain nuclear contamination.

Click here to read more…

Mushroom substrate waste? Fungi can break down that, too.

Not-so-fun fact 😮 As much as we love our delicious mushrooms … spent mushroom substrate (SMS) is a major contributor to the 1 billion tons of agricultural waste created worldwide every year. China, the world’s largest mushroom producer, creates about 50 million tons of SMS.

Fortunately, SMS can be a valuable compost resource, turning waste from one harvest into potential nutrition for another. A recent study shows that microbial inoculums (mixtures of beneficial bacteria and fungi) can optimize the composting process.

• Food webs 🕸 A healthy compost pile is a diverse “food web” of insects, bugs, slugs, earthworms, and microorganisms like bacteria and fungi. Surprisingly, these microorganisms are responsible for the bulk of the organic matter decomposition in your compost! 

• Key differences 🔑 Bacteria take up more nitrogen as they grow, while fungi need more carbon — and the balance between these two microorganisms contributes to nutritious compost. Soils with a higher fungi-to-bacteria ratio are considered to be more fertile.

• Golden ratios 👩‍🔬 Researchers have experimented with these ratios to speed up the composting process. Using a mixture of SMS and chicken manure, three treatment groups were established: one with a microbial inoculum, another with a commercial inoculum, and a control group that received no inoculum. 

• Better ingredients, better compost 👍 The microbial inoculum accelerated the breakdown of organic matter and produced superior-quality compost. This compost had more nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium — all essential nutrients for plant growth.

• Faster & cleaner 🌎 Using microbial inoculum also decreased greenhouse gas emissions like methane during composting.

• Composting at home 🏡 Optimized composting could revolutionize how we recycle commercial agriculture waste. But for those who enjoy composting at home, understanding the role of fungi and beneficial bacteria in compost can help create a more sustainable experience for us and the environment. Some organic gardening shops sell microbial inoculants that claim to accelerate composting. Of course, be sure to research any products you wish to introduce to your garden compost!

👉️ Get the full scoop on mushroom compost here.

Mushroom mixology 🥂

Boozy shrooms 🍸 Last Wednesday, we rounded up some exquisite gourmet mushroom and wine pairings. This week, we’re taking it further with shroomer’s favorite mushroom-infused cocktail recipes that will bring out your inner myco-mixologist!

If you’re looking to add some unique depth of flavor to some of your favorite classic drinks, look no further:

• Atlas Shrubbed 🤷‍♂️ Chanterelle-infused gin, shiitake shrub, and vermouth become a refreshing mix of sweet, sour, and savory flavors.

• Black Truffle Negroni 🍹 This Negroni recipe from Foodpairing is an excellent way to experience the indulgent complexity of black truffles.

• Mushroom Cognac Crusta 🍊 Cognac, orange liqueur, and lemon juice with a savory mushroom syrup … need I say more?

Click here to see our full list of favorites from around the web — everything from a shiitake hot toddy to mushroom Manhattans!

Featured artist: Stu Pickell

This week, I’ve been stumbling down the rabbit hole of mushroom closeup shots from Stu Pickell (@sir.myxo.lot). Seriously, take a few minutes to peruse their page, and you’ll spend ages exploring the vibrant mini-worlds Stu captures.