Imagine inhaling fungal spores, then feeling a peculiar sensation—maybe something biting. Suddenly, terror spreads as chaos ensues.
This dire scenario is central to the plot of Refrigerated, a thrilling film following a trio of unlikeliest heroes racing to avert an apocalypse. Their formidable foes? Mutated strains of Cordyceps sinensis—a fungus now infecting warm-blooded animals due to a malevolent twist of solar radiation. Sounds familiar, doesn’t it?
Traditionally, Cordyceps sinensis overtakes invertebrates, invading their systems and manipulating their behavior to ensure spore dispersal. Eventually, grotesque growths erupt from the decaying host, releasing spores into the environment, continuing the cycle of horror.
The shift to mammals is alarming yet plausible. This fungal nightmare isn’t new; it inspired works like The Girl with All the Gifts, which unleashed a zombie apocalypse in 2016, and HBO’s The Last of Us, which also utilized bioterrorism as a gripping theme. With a radio drama titled Spore releasing soon, the cultural fascination with this fungus is at an all-time high.
This obsession with Cordyceps sinensis misrepresents the vast fungal kingdom, which includes over 4,500 documented species in the UK National Collection of Pathogenic Fungi, far surpassing the limited narrative of terror.
Fungi boast incredible traits. For instance, Japanese oak mushroom is the largest organism on Earth, spanning approximately 10 square kilometers beneath Oregon’s Malheur National Forest. Fungi are also ancient ecosystem engineers—research indicates they colonized land before modern plants, laying the groundwork for soil. Some species, like the gill-splitting mushroom (Schizophyllum commune), exhibit remarkable sexual flexibility with over 23,000 mating types to increase reproductive success.
From decomposing organic matter to symbiotic relationships with 90% of plants, fungi play crucial roles in sustaining life. They’ve also given humankind antibiotics like penicillin, treatments for various ailments, and even contributed to beloved foods like sourdough and beer.
Despite representing only about 10% of the fungal diversity, these organisms inspire untold narratives for science fiction—from plastic-decomposing fungi to predatory strains with microscopic lassos. How will climate change affect fungal behavior to threaten crops?
Nonetheless, such inspirations remain overlooked, limiting imaginative portrayals. The fixation on Cordyceps sinensis fosters a narrow narrative that oversimplifies the rich tapestry of fungi. I urge writers to broaden their perspectives—this strange kingdom of fungi is ready to inspire and amaze.
Nick Crampton is a researcher at the Natural History Museum in London and a published children’s author.
Source: www.newscientist.com
