Psilocybin’s Edge, Space-Built Mycelium, and a Radiation Shield from Mushrooms

IN TODAY’S EDITION

• 🌅 | End-of-life relief

• 🧪 | Predicting psilocybin response

• 🌍 | Plastic to carbon

Hi Shroomers. This week I pulled together breakthroughs that really stood out: psilocybin bringing peace at the end of life, fungi that can eat plastic, and reishi tiles being tested for space. There’s a lot of ground to cover, so let’s jump in.

HEALTH & WELLNESS

Radiation shield ☢️ Mushrooms like reishi (Ganoderma lucidum), late oyster (Hohenbuehelia serotina), and wood ear (Auricularia auricula) contain polysaccharides, proteins, and triterpenoids that protect against ionizing radiation. These compounds reduce DNA damage, lower oxidative stress, prevent cell death, and boost immune recovery.

Whole body support 🌿 Edible mushrooms such as shiitake (Lentinula edodes), reishi (Ganoderma lucidum), and lion’s mane (Hericium erinaceus) provide fibers, vitamins, and bioactives like polysaccharides, terpenoids, sterols, and phenolics that influence immunity, gut health, and metabolism. T

Shiitake medicine 🥼 Shiitake (Lentinula edodes) contains a powerhouse mix of compounds—like lentinan, eritadenine, lenthionine, and triterpenoids—that deliver anticancer, antimicrobial, antidiabetic, and immune-supporting effects. 

Memory boost 🧠 Cordyceps (Cordyceps militaris) and its active compound cordycepin were tested in a scopolamine-induced mouse model of memory impairment. At doses of 200 mg/kg/day (mushroom) and 10 mg/kg/day (cordycepin), they significantly improved spatial and object recognition, and both short-term and long-term memory in T-maze, novel object recognition, passive avoidance, and Morris water maze tests.

PSILOCYBIN & LEGISLATION

End-of-life relief 🌅 A phase 2b randomized controlled trial tested psilocybin-assisted psychotherapy in 35 people with life-threatening illnesses and clinically significant depression or anxiety. A single 25 mg dose of psilocybin plus structured therapy led to large, clinically meaningful reductions in depression (BDI-II −7.6 points; d=2.9) and anxiety (STAI-State −12.6 points; d=4.5) compared to niacin placebo. Benefits extended beyond symptom relief, reducing hopelessness, death anxiety, and demoralization, while boosting spiritual well-being and quality of life. Effects were sustained for up to 6 months, with no serious adverse events.

Predicting psilocybin response 🧪 Psilocybin mushrooms (Psilocybe spp.) assisted therapy for generalized anxiety disorder showed a 44% response rate and 27% remission at 11 weeks. A blood-based, multi-omic analysis flagged a 4-gene expression panel (CTXN2-AS1, DUT-AS1, HLA-V, PARP16) that separated 45% of responders from non-responders—an early step toward tests that could match patients to treatment.

Therapy potential 🌸 A new study protocol explores psilocybin-assisted psychotherapy for obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), body dysmorphic disorder (BDD), and anorexia nervosa, three highly resistant and debilitating conditions. The trial uses an open-label design with psychoeducation, non-directive therapy, and long-term follow-up, aiming to improve emotional regulation, insight, and well-being where conventional treatments often fail.

Side effects debate ⚖️ A review questions whether psilocybin’s hallmark side effects, like visual changes and emotional upheaval, are truly necessary for its antidepressant effects. While some clinicians argue these experiences drive therapeutic breakthroughs, emerging evidence shows antidepressant-like benefits in animals through serotonin, opioid, and glutamate pathways independent of hallucinations.

Safe psychedelic care 🛡️ A 2025 International Journal of Drug Policy study gathered insights from 38 experts in clinical, community, and ceremonial settings to define what safe and inclusive psychedelic care should look like. Key standards included stronger provider accountability, culturally responsive and inclusive practices, clear safety and screening protocols, and long-term community integration support. The findings emphasize that true safety in psychedelic therapy depends not just on medical oversight, but also on equity, cultural competence, and accountability.

Psilocybin vs. antidepressants 🌟 This systematic review compared psilocybin and ketamine against antidepressants and placebo for treatment-resistant depression. Psilocybin (25 mg, COMP360) cut depression scores nearly twice as much as placebo (−12 vs −5 points) and achieved remission in 57% of patients versus 28% with escitalopram. Ketamine also showed rapid relief—64% response at 24 hours versus 28% with placebo—but required ongoing dosing. Psilocybin’s unique strength was its ability to deliver lasting remissions after only one or two sessions.

Standardizing psilocybin 🧬 Cultivated Psilocybe cubensis biomass was tested for potency and safety, addressing concerns over variable psilocybin levels. Dried mushrooms contained ~1.14% psilocybin/psilocin by weight, but batch differences could significantly alter dose above 3 g. Safety tests confirmed acceptable microbial, mycotoxin, pesticide, and heavy metal levels, and encapsulated biomass stayed stable for 11 months.

Personality and psychedelics 🧩 This Journal of Psychedelic Studies survey of 400 people explored how the Big Five traits (neuroticism, extroversion, conscientiousness, agreeableness, and openness) shape psychedelic experiences. Most participants ranked their trip among the top five most meaningful life events, with overwhelmingly positive long-term effects. Openness was tied to mystical experiences and life improvements, while neuroticism predicted more negative aftereffects. Conscientiousness linked modestly to positive change, whereas extraversion and agreeableness played smaller roles.

Integration challenges 🌀 A 2025 qualitative study interviewed 20 experienced therapists and found ten common struggles after psychedelic use, ranging from resurfaced trauma and identity crises to relationship strains, unmet expectations, and even dependency. The authors stress that integration isn’t automatic; safe outcomes require preparation, trauma-informed care, cultural sensitivity, and long-term community support to ensure psychedelic experiences lead to healing rather than harm.

ECOLOGY & CONSERVATION

Space fungi frontier 🚀 A prototype system to grow and manufacture mycelium-based composites in space using red reishi (Ganoderma lucidum) was reviewed in this paper. Researchers cultivated mycelium in compact mid-deck lockers, compressing it into interlocking hexagonal tiles tested for strength at Ohio State. The tiles showed properties comparable to wood and, in some cases, concrete, with added benefits like insulation, soundproofing, and fire resistance for future uses in space stations, lunar bases, and even Mars habitats.

Soundproofing 🔇 Spent mushroom substrate (SMS)—the main waste from cultivating oyster mushrooms (Pleurotus ostreatus)—was transformed into mycelium-based composites that perform as highly effective acoustic panels. With 40 mm thickness, these panels absorbed up to nearly 100% of sound at frequencies around 600–1000 Hz and consistently exceeded absorption coefficients of 0.5 at higher ranges. 

Plastic to carbon 🌍 A new study compared four fungi—Pestalotiopsis microspora, Phanerochaete chrysosporium, Aspergillus niger, and Penicillium simplicissimum—for their ability to degrade plastics while aiding carbon capture. Pestalotiopsis stood out, rapidly breaking down polyurethane and PET even without oxygen using enzymes like serine hydrolases and PETase.

Climate change 🌡️ This Agriculture Communications review warns that rising heat, shifting rainfall, and extreme weather could cut mushroom yields and disrupt supplies. Cultivated varieties may suffer from pests, pathogens, and higher energy costs, while prized wild species like truffles (Tuber melanosporum), matsutake (Tricholoma matsutake), and caterpillar fungus (Ophiocordyceps sinensis) risk major habitat loss.

Eco-friendly nanotech ⚡ This paper shows how fungi can be harnessed to produce nanomaterials like metallic nanoparticles, quantum dots, and nanocomposites without toxic chemicals. Fungal enzymes and metabolites naturally drive the reactions, creating stable, low-cost, and sustainable alternatives for medicine, agriculture, food, and environmental cleanup.

GROWING & GOURTMET

India’s mushroom future 🇮🇳 India produces 0.33 million tonnes of mushrooms yearly, led by button (Agaricus bisporus), oyster (Pleurotus spp.), and milky (Calocybe indica). Mushrooms recycle vast crop waste, boost nutrition, and support rural jobs, but scaling up needs better infrastructure, cold chains, and disease control.

Mushroom compost 🥔 Vermicompost made from spent mushroom substrate significantly boosted potato yields and improved tuber quality. 

Better meat texture 🍖 Wine cap mushroom (Stropharia rugosoannulata) extract, modified through twin-screw extrusion, improved the gel strength and water-holding capacity of pork protein while reducing cooking loss by up to 22%. At optimal levels (4–8%), it enhanced texture and stability; at higher levels (10%), it weakened the gel and lowered digestibility.

FORAGED FINDS

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