Fungi vs. Cancer Cells, Psilocybin vs. Alcohol, and Cinnabar Oysterlings

IN TODAY’S EDITION

• 1️⃣ Fungi fighting drug-resistant skin cancer

• 2️⃣ Fired clay balls = Higher oyster mushroom yield

• 3️⃣ 5 reasons to Telluride in 2025

Hi Shroomer. After spending last week in the mountains with mushroom friends, it’s hard to settle back in, but 3 new studies on mushrooms vs. cancer cells is great news to come back to.

HEALTH & WELLNESS

Beat it, skin cancer 🧢 Modified peptides from marine fungi showed enhanced cell membrane penetration and effectively killed drug-resistant melanoma cells that were unfazed by current treatments like Dabrafenib.

In the heart of Texas 🤠 A compound from Diplodia cupressi, a fungus found in blighted conifer trees in North America, was found to shrink and kill cancer cells. Researchers at Texas State created a safer, synthetic version of sphaeropsidin A (SphA) that showed even greater promise.

You're toxic, I'm slippin' under ☣️ Selenium-enriched king oyster mushrooms (Pleurotus eryngii) can actively protect against lead poisoning by promoting lead excretion and supporting gut health.

Collecting the data 📊 A new literature review goes beyond what we've seen before by showing how specific compounds in chaga, like betulinic acid and polysaccharides, don’t just have general benefits—they actively target and disrupt cancer cells while also helping your body’s defenses work better.

PSILOCYBIN & LEGISLATION

All in the brain 🍺 New research from France shows that psilocybin can reduce alcohol consumption by altering gene expression in the brain's reward center. In the study, psilocybin targeted serotonin receptors and dopamine transporters in the Nucleus Accumbens, resulting in a 51% decrease in alcohol intake in rats.

Pure dead brilliant 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 Scotland has opened its first psychedelic therapy clinic, Eulas Psychedelic Clinic in Edinburgh, offering therapies such as ketamine-assisted psychotherapy, virtual reality therapy, and breathwork, with plans to introduce MDMA-assisted therapy once approved.

Definitions please ❓️ Religious leaders in California are calling for clearer regulations on psychedelic use in religious practices, citing legal ambiguity as a threat to both spiritual integrity and public safety. Despite local decriminalization, inconsistent state guidelines leave religious groups vulnerable.

A new scale 🇨🇭 The Swiss Psychedelic Side Effects Inventory (SPSI) was developed by Abigail E. Calder and Gregor Hasler through pilot testing and expert feedback to systematically assess 32 specific side effects of psychedelics, focusing on severity, duration, impact, and treatment-relatedness.

ECOLOGY & CONSERVATION

Here, there, everywhere 🧬 A new study investigated the relationship between several Peziza species growing near melting snow in North American, Australia, and New Zealand. Using DNA analysis, researchers found that Peziza nivalis might be a single, globally widespread species, which helps us understand more about how our biodiverse climate responds in extreme conditions.

No plants without fungi 🌱 Recent research led by botanist Jeff Duckett reveals that ancient liverworts formed symbiotic relationships with Mucoromycotina fungi, not just the previously known Glomeromycotina. This discovery highlights the crucial role these fungi played in helping early plants colonize land by providing essential nutrients to evolve into terrestrial ecosystems.

The plastic problem 🥤 This review underscores the effectiveness of laccase derived from Pleurotus ostreatus in degrading persistent plastics like polyethylene and polystyrene as an eco-friendly solution to plastic pollution.

GROWING & GOURMET

A new technique 🧱 Using fired clay balls in an intelligent greenhouse for oyster mushroom cultivation reduces temperature, increases humidity, and boosts yields by up to 22.41%. This smart cultivation method enhances productivity and offers a quick payback period, making it a sustainable and profitable option for mushroom farmers.

That’s a chanteroyster 😆 Protoplast fusion technology helps create new mushroom varieties by combining cells from different fungi, even if they usually can’t mix. Although it’s only been successful with a few types of mushrooms so far, this method shows great promise for developing better strains and making it easier to grow mushrooms that are typically hard to cultivate.

TIPS FROM TELLURIDE

5 Reasons to Telluride in 2025

1. 👋 Meeting my mycology heroes, and learning from them in person, was unlike anything else. From just being in the same room as legendary enthobotanist Kathleen Harrison to standing steps from the iconic Larry Evans (barefoot as always 😉), I had many “pinch-me” moments.

2. 🍄 The ID table for mushrooms after forays was the best place to learn. Being able to hold them in your hands as you learn about their unique details is invaluable.

3. 🤓 Everyone around you is a friend waiting to be met. The mycology community is so welcoming, whether it’s your first time or your 30th.

4. 🌍️ The focus on medicinal mushrooms was so refreshing. I’m all here for psilocybin, but as you can tell by our coverage, there is so much more out there in mushroom world than psychedelics.

5. 💃 The Mushroom Parade with its inspiring and hilarious costumes was so much more than a celebration of mushrooms. The drum circle at the end linked us together under sunshowers as a rainbow emerged.

FORAGED FINDS

📺️ What to Watch

"Lie to Fly," the latest installment of FX's "The New York Times Presents" series, airs today on Hulu. It delves into pilot Joe Emerson’s mental health crisis that nearly led to a tragic incident mid-flight. The documentary recounts the events prior and critically examines the FAA's stringent regulations on mental health disclosures, which many argue discourage pilots from seeking the help they need.

In Eugenia Bone’s Telluride talk, “How to Write Responsibly about Psychedelics,” she brought up this very news story. Some in the psychedelic community were upset and thought this headline would “set the community back decades,” but her stance is that as reporters, it is our job to be transparent with the public about the risks associated with psychedelics. I fully agree. Her book, Have a Good Trip: Exploring the Magic Mushroom Experience, comes out this October.

📖 Coming Soon

I’m downright ecstatic that Robin Wall Kimmerer is releasing a new book, The Serviceberry: Abundance and Reciprocity in the Natural World, this November. Her seminal work, Braiding Sweetgrass: Indigenous Wisdom, Scientific Knowledge, and the Teachings of Plants is a must-read for everyone on this planet.

🚨 Last Call

Today’s the last day to register for North Spore’s Mycology Outside weekend in partnership with The Ecology School. It’s the 4th annual weekend retreat in gorgeous Saco, Maine, and lodging and meals are included in the ticket price.

FUNGUS OF THE WEEK

Cinnabar Oysterling (Crepidotus cinnabarinus)

The Cinnabar Oysterling (Crepidotus cinnabarinus) is distinguished by its vivid scarlet-orange caps and pale, almost white gills. It really loves the moist, deciduous forests of the eastern United States and appears in late summer and autumn on fallen branches and dead hardwoods. It’s also found in similar woodland habitats across Europe in the same seasons.

MUSH MORE

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