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Erynia sepulchralis (Entomophthorales) has killed this cranefly

Growing the Ungrowable Fungi

Exploring the delicate art and science of coaxing fungi into the lab – when they otherwise refuse to grow without their hosts

October 22, 2025

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red-cockaded woodpecker

Flying fungi

Woodpeckers who knock on pines and make friends with fungi. Feb 2019

Puccinia minutissima on Decodon

Connecting the Rusts

Rust fungi have complex lives that can involve two different plants and five kinds of spores. Who figured that out? Nov 2018

veiled

An unlikely delicacy: the basket stinkhorn

Who dares speak of food and stinkhorns in the same breath? We're brave. Feb 2015

impatiens downy mildew, by M. Daughtrey

Hope for Impatiens

Impatiens downy mildew, sex, and Mr. Hope. Sep 2014

Astraeus morganii

Twinkly earthstars

Beautiful, animated earthstars and their hidden diversity. Jun 2014

Ladybug Fungi

Three cheers for ladybugs? No, three fungi. Jan 2014

A deadly Russula

An Asian Russula that can kill! A post by Ben Hoffman. Dec 2013

Amazon mystery tongue, by Jens H. Petersen

Learning fungi

JH Petersen's book 'The Kingdom of Fungi' is a great intro to a little-known part of our world. Dec 2013

About

Most people don't pay much attention to fungi, which include things like mushrooms, molds, yeasts, and mildews. Here at Cornell we think they're pretty fascinating. In fact, even the most disgusting foot diseases and moldy strawberries are dear to our hearts. We'd like to talk to you about fungi, so that like us, you too can tell gross stories at the dinner table. Afterwards, maybe you'll notice some things you would have overlooked before, and we think this could be good for the planet.

Kathie T. Hodge, Editor

Beneath Notice, our book of borescopic mycology.

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