cross-posted from: https://beehaw.org/post/581212
I had many expectations for today, but learning that mushrooms sweat wasn’t one of them.
The scientists are still unsure why fungi might want to keep cool.
In their paper, the authors speculate that it might have something to do with creating optimal conditions for spore formation, or it may help fungi spread their spores — by altering the temperature, they might be causing tiny winds that can blow the spores around.
It’s also possible that this phenomenon is due to something else entirely. For example, evapotranspiration also increases humidity, and when asked if it’s possible that the fungi are trying to keep humid, and the cooling is simply a by-product, Casadevall said it was conceivable.
Not to mention the periodic spore clouds, haha! It would be really cool if it were possible though!
I wonder if it would be possible to get some radiotrophic fungi to absorb IR and UV, so they could functionally act as a thermal barrier, cooling during the summer and heating during the winter…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Radiotrophic_fungus
Spore clouds! I heard a podcast episode long ago on Mushroom revival that the giant mass of spores interacts with molecules in the air and influences weather patterns all over the world!