Fungus.

It’s everywhere! A ubiquitous part of all life on earth. Without it, the jungles of the world would not replenish themselves, the soil beneath your feet would be dead and non-nurturing, and countless thousands (or millions) of species of animals on earth would perish.

There is nowhere on this planet that you can escape fungi. Indeed, fungus is found in every corner of the earth, from the driest deserts to the most highly saline locations (they indeed exist as extremeophiles).

But I’d like to talk about a specific kind of fungus, yall. It’s called Ophiocordyceps unilateralis. It’s a fungus that lives in soil and likes to infect its host's repository system (as most fungus do once airborn).

This fungus, however, is a bit more clever than most. This fungus actually makes its way up the to the host's brain, and infects the mind of its victim. The fungus literally turns its host into a zombie moving about and doing things that are a direct result of the infection. The victim, powerless to the infection's vice gripe on its brain, migrates long distances to locations that are advantageous to the fungus. Then, the victim settles down and is slowly eaten from the inside-out by its unwanted guest.

It’s not known if this process is painful or not to the victim. Afterall, the brain is infected, so likely the zombie like state of the victim indicates a compromise of cognitive ability. Moreover, the victim at this time is primarily ants in tropical jungles like those found in Thailand. One should not, however, feel a smug sense of safety as it only takes a single genetic mutation for the fungus to make a very quick leap from ants to mammals, and thus to humans.

Imagine waking up one day, not feeling yourself. A drone. A zombie-like person, feeling compelled to move about to places you don’t wish to go, and not of your own volition, only to slowly be eaten from the inside—ok ok…I’ve just described the average American corporate employee, but you get my point. Fungus will fuck you up!






Picture: The fungus, having killed its victim and multiplied inside its body is slowly consuming the victim from the inside-out. At the same time, a stalk grows from the brain of its victim to release more spores into the air to start the process over again with a new victim.


[Edited 11/19/09 8:08am]

fungi are one of nature's most interesting organisms.

JerseyKRS said:

I love you so hard.

One of my toes hurts. I'm not sure if it's because of diabetes or fungus.

RodeoSchro said:

Either way, you should get it checked

This is on a par with Prince's "Stauros" speech.
I loved it.

"But I'm here to tell you, there's something else, Ophiocordyceps unilateralis"

i hate fungus with a passion. i cannot understand how people eat it.

I'm not reading all that. Just wash your ass.

johnart said:

I did not read it either. I just knew by the thread title that it was an Imago thread without looking.

MrsMdiver said:

You and Johnart need to educate yourselves on this matter--especially since you touch mdiver everyday.


It's not that much to read, shoot.

Fungi rock - neither flora nor fauna. Beautiful, unique and deadly - what more could you want?

vivid said:

lawd, We need to fuck before 2010 is over.

Imago said:

Imago said:

Yes, Ajaan, sir.

johnart said:

Imago said:

Umm thanks for adding a picture.
Bloody American and your fear mongering.




Oh and I do not like Mushrooms. Yeah...still did not read your thread.

johnart said:

snap!



Oh and that poor bug.

another classic Imago thread



now, don't get me wrong, it's not that i DOUBT your fact checking. still, though, i did a bit of research and discovered that this particular fungus attacks only ants.

of course, it is still possible that a meteorite from a distant planet will bring a fungus to our planet that enjoys controlling warm-blooded mammals. in fact, this may have already occurred ~!

Nice. This has inspired me to a compose a piece about the darker side of nature! off to garage band

but on a serious note! there is a picture similar to that ant one in a high school biology book that always fascinated me! fungus are interesting indeed!

"The fungus among us", as my dad always says. My dad tends to have an off-beat sense of humor.

Edit: Is this a new emoticon?
[Edited 11/19/09 18:46pm]
[Edited 11/19/09 18:46pm]

^ no man

johnart said:

Stick a fork in me, I am fuckin done

Dewrede said:

Eeeek ipecac.

THRUSH

that's all I'm gonna say - its eats you and makes you itchy!!!

So is a fine man like a fungus? Because when I see someone like Johnny Depp, Brad Pitt, or Prince. I'm zombied out for days.....

Stax said:

okat. this is a serious question, don't the other ants NOTICE the ant that has a fungus prong sticking out its head the size of the eiffel tower?

don't any of the other ants say something like "hey, buddy, how's it going? couldn't help noticing your new hat. that's a hat, right? no? it's an alien fungus controlling your brain? maybe you should call in sick today."

i mean, what would YOU do if your signficant other came home from work with an alien, mind-control prong sticking out from his/her brain? would you act like things were normal?