My Pestalotiopsis Microspora
If you would have told me that a world drowning in plastic could be saved, I would have my doubts, but if you then told me it was a mushroom doing the saving, I would say you’d gone totally ’round the bend.
A 2012 study by Yale students demonstrates this very real possibility. Turns out that Pestalotiopsis Microspora, a rare species of mushroom found in the Amazon forest eats polyurethane for breakfast and lunch and dinner, too, and by the time it’s pushing the chair away from the table, all that’s left of the plastic waste is organic matter. And this stout and sturdy little mushroom can do it all without oxygen giving mankind great hope for the reduction of landfills worldwide. Let’s set those babies loose on the Pacific Garbage Patch, why don’t we? More research is necessary, but odds are that once this mighty mushroom has done its work, you can cook it up and eat it.
But wait, there’s more. According to the State of the World Fungi Report, mushrooms can remove pollutants from soils, help the conversion of waste, and the byproduct of their plastics consumption can be used to create building materials. So it gets rid of waste, provides a source of nutrition, and provides fodder for building materials, truly a Renaissance fungi.
In his most recent book, How to Change Your Mind, Michael Pollan talks about how another mushroom, psilocybin, in the right setting, can fuel the spiritual and emotional transformation and maybe even the ultimate liberation of the world. A lofty goal for a little mushroom!
By taking out the trash and helping us transcend the constraints of our very existence, mushrooms could very well be capable of saving the world.
Today is Day 13 of the #AtoZ blog challenge. “Oooooh, we’re halfway there…”
pamlazos 4.15.9
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Has anyone developed a process to grow and utilize this mushroom’s benefit. Seems to me that big industry or even government would be all over this.
I have a year round mushroom growing facility and believe I will do some trials. Any info would be appreciated.
Thanks
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One would think so, right, Bob? I would contact the researchers in the article. They might like to have you as part of their study!
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Thanks Pam,
I will definitely. I think it is a worthwhile venture.
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And imagine the implications!!
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…Livin’ on a prayer!!!
Ahem.
But seriously, these mushrooms sound amazing. Ah, creation is filled with so many symbiotic relationships we still don’t understand….
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Yes, Livin’ on a prayer! I almost put the video up.
Also the mushroom !🍄 What an answer!
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Hooray for mushrooms! 🙂
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🍄🍄🍄
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We should set those mushrooms to work immediately! They’re a great source of protein, so a lot of people can be fed, too. Someone should get Big Money invested in this…
Ronel visiting from the A-Z Challenge with Music and Writing: So Many Amazing M’s
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I didn’t know mushrooms were a good source of protein! Thanks, Ronel! I Learn something new every day!
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Aren’t mushrooms just the best? I’ve always loved them.
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It took me a few decades to cozy up to them but not I live them and so appreciate their versatility!
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That’s one powerful mushroom Pam – I just shared your post with Tom Peace who also wrote of mushrooms today: https://wordpress.com/read/feeds/61584541/posts/2243715378
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Great minds… :0) Thanks, Linda.
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Nature always has an answer!
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Yes She does!🙏
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That was a fascinating read. Of course it’s in the Amazon rainforest. Another reason to protect that.
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🙏🙏🙏
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That’s totally amazing. For the time being though I’ll hold off on tossing a pound of portobellos into my recycling bin.
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Yeah, I think I’d wait in that Ken. You may see a soft light glowing late at night! 🍄 🍄 🍄
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I had no idea, so thank you for sharing this. It feels more like hope than any of the mechanical or chemical solutions I’ve read about up to now. Nature truly is, wonderful.
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I know, right, Cath? Maybe we won’t all drown in plastic after all.🤓
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Do we human beings eat this type of mushroom? Or does it go back into the soil to make a better earth? This little mushroom has a lot going on with it.
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More studies need to be done, but preliminarily, it looks like it can be eaten. There is a whole world of benefits from mushrooms that we are just starting to find out about because not a lot of time has been spent studying them. It’s totally exciting!
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And then there were the mushrooms found in the forest near my school back in the 70s that truly made you happy.. but for other more psychotropic reasons…
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I’d say you made quite a find, Geoff. 😂
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Magic mushrooms! Named so for good reason 😀and they’re lovely to munch! Thanks Pam hope is mushrooming
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😂🤣😂 That it is, Susan!
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ps I meant to add we’re Mid way –
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Hooray for midway!
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