The land, water and air around us are chock-full of DNA from fungi that scientists can’t identify

The land, water and air around us are chock-full of DNA fragments from fungi that mycologists can’t link to known organisms. These slippery beings are so widespread scientists are calling them “dark fungi.” It’s a comparison to the equally elusive dark matter and dark energy that permeates the universe.

    • Eldritch@lemmy.worldEnglish
      9·
      6 months ago

      All those dark entries. Must be growing in them thar hollow hills. Best go tell telegram sam, because nobody wants to kick in the eye.

      • Flying Squid@lemmy.world
        2·
        6 months ago

        Look, if you people have a better “fungi are goths” joke, you tell it.

        Because I’m proud of mine, damn it!

        • EarthShipTechIntern@lemm.ee
          2·
          6 months ago

          It made me grin. And then get defensive: am I listening to too much Bauhaus? When is too much?

          Though I actually listen to them rarely. They’re just imprinted on my mind. Probably play their songs on guitar & bass more than listen to them.

          Next time they’re touring…

        • Eldritch@lemmy.worldEnglish
          6·
          6 months ago

          That would be more along the lines of what’s the difference between Joy Division and new order. One dead body. Rip Ian.

          Or what’s a Goth’s default mode? Depeche.

          • Eldritch@lemmy.worldEnglish
            6·
            6 months ago

            I went to college in the '90s. Fungi being classified as plants is new to me. Though perhaps it is part of some Mandela effect or misremembering on my part. But it is inarguable that we’ve learned tons more over the last 20 to 30 years about them.

              • Eldritch@lemmy.worldEnglish
                3·
                6 months ago

                That could just be down to the author and their aptitude. Lot of people writing field guides aren’t exactly scientifically minded or trained. Because fungus really are kind of anti plants in many ways. It’s sort of like the distinction between fruits and vegetable for tomatoes. For most people tomatoes have always been and will always be vegetables. Despite having long been classified scientifically as a fruit. And pineapples are berries.

                  • EarthShipTechIntern@lemm.ee
                    2·
                    6 months ago

                    As some of my myco-heroes (Stamets & Sheldrake) have mentioned, there were no mycology departments or colleges at universities. In many, there still aren’t.

                    Writers, mycologists may have felt like stepping up & speaking truth about classification (at times, a scientific bureaucratic nightmare) was not the fight they wished to pursue over sharing knowledge they’ve learned about fungus (no bureaucratic dealings!)

                  • Doxatek@mander.xyz
                    1·
                    6 months ago

                    Typically a vegetable is any vegetative piece of a plant that isn’t a fruit but coming from stems roots or leaves