Church of the Sacred Mushroom

Mycologist Paul Stamets studies mycelium and lists 6 ways that this astonishing fungus can help save the world.

1. cleaning polluted soil
2. creating new insecticides
3. treating smallpox and maybe even the flu (H1N1)
4. restoring the forests
5. -
6. -

In 18 minnutes he doesn't get all the way through his list, but he has plenty of time to blow your mind.
(TED)

Paul Stamets seeks to rescue the study of mushrooms.

The focus of Stamets' research is the Northwest's native fungal genome, mycelium, but along the way he has filed 22 patents for mushroom-related technologies, including pesticidal fungi that trick insects into eating them, and mushrooms that can break down the neurotoxins used in nerve gas.

There are cosmic implications as well. Stamets believes we could terraform other worlds in our galaxy by sowing a mix of fungal spores and other seeds to create an ecological footprint on a new planet.

"Once you’ve heard 'renaissance mycologist' Paul Stamets talk about mushrooms, you'll never look at the world -- not to mention your backyard -- in the same way again."

Linda Baker, Salon.com