6 ways mushrooms can save the world | Paul Stamets | TED

The Role of Mycelium in Earth's Ecosystem

Introduction to the Challenge of Saving Earth

• The speaker expresses a love for challenges, particularly the challenge of saving the Earth amidst its current crisis, referred to as the sixth major extinction.

• A hypothetical "United Organization of Organisms" is introduced, questioning whether humans would be voted off the planet by other organisms.

Mycological Solutions Using Fungi

• The speaker presents six mycological solutions based on mycelium, emphasizing its role in nutrient transfer and soil health.

• Mycelium is described as a powerful force in nature that can hold up to 30,000 times its mass and plays a crucial role in generating humus soils.

The Role of Fungi in Ecosystems and Human Health

The Asteroid Impact and Fungi's Resilience

• 65 million years ago, an asteroid impact led to a significant environmental shift, allowing fungi to thrive as they do not require sunlight for energy.

• Recent research from Einstein University suggests that fungi can utilize radiation similarly to how plants use light, indicating their potential existence on other planets.

The Largest Organism: Mycelial Mat

• The largest organism on Earth is a mycelial mat in Eastern Oregon, spanning 2,200 acres and estimated to be around 2,000 years old.

• This organism's unique structure—one cell wall thick—raises questions about its size compared to multi-layered organisms like humans.

Bioremediation Experiments with Mycelium

• Collaborating with Battelle Laboratories, experiments were conducted using piles of petroleum waste treated with different methods including mushroom mycelium.

• Mycelium effectively absorbed oil and produced enzymes (peroxidases) that break down hydrocarbons into carbohydrates.

Transformation of Contaminated Sites

• After six weeks, the mycelium-treated pile was thriving with oyster mushrooms while control piles remained contaminated and odoriferous.

• The transformation resulted in a vibrant ecosystem where insects and birds contributed to biodiversity; PAH levels dropped significantly from 10,000 parts per million to less than 200.

Innovative Solutions for Environmental Restoration

• Burlap sacks filled with mycelium can be used downstream from farms or factories to restore habitats affected by E. coli or chemical toxins.

• In Mason County, Washington, these methods led to a dramatic reduction in coliform bacteria levels by over 10,000 times within days.

Medicinal Properties of Agarikon Mushrooms

• Focus shifted towards Fomitopsis officinalis (Agarikon), a rare mushroom known for its historical medicinal uses against consumption since A.D. 65.

• Efforts are underway to preserve the genome of this fungus due to its critical role in human health; only one sample was successfully cultured after extensive searches.

Research on Viral Resistance

• Over 300 samples of mushrooms were submitted for analysis under the U.S. Defense Department BioShield program; some strains showed high activity against poxviruses.

• Agarikon strains demonstrated selectivity indices indicating strong antiviral properties against flu viruses as well.

Implications for Conservation and National Defense

• Results suggest that preserving old-growth forests could serve as a matter of national defense due to their potential medicinal benefits.

Entomopathogenic Fungi Research

Innovative Solutions for Pest Control and Ecological Restoration

The Use of Mycelium in Pest Management

• The speaker discusses the development of bait stations to prevent termite infestations, noting that insects can avoid spores.

• By morphing cultures into a non-sporulating form, the speaker successfully attracted carpenter ants to mycelium, leading to their demise and preventing further sawdust piles.

• This method resulted in a patent for controlling carpenter ants, termites, and fire ants, which is considered a significant advancement in pest control technology.

Disruptive Technology in Pesticide Industry

• The speaker's hypothesis suggests that entomopathogenic fungi attract insects before sporulation occurs, which could revolutionize pest management strategies.

• Introduction of the "Life Box," a delivery system designed to grow trees from cardboard boxes using mycorrhizal fungi and seeds, aiming for ecological restoration.

Community Engagement and Carbon Sequestration

• The Life Box concept includes interactive features where communities can track carbon credits through satellite imaging as trees grow from these boxes.

• The speaker shares personal experiences growing seed gardens with minimal resources, emphasizing the potential for sustainable agriculture even in refugee communities.

Addressing Energy Crisis with Mycelium

• Discussion on harvesting mushrooms while converting cellulose into fungal sugars highlights an innovative approach to energy production.