Money shots

October 5, 2008 4:20 AM

The fungi fire their spores up to 55 miles an hour–which translates to an acceleration of 180,000 g.Research from the lab of Nicholas Money. Music video by Dr. Money's students. (SLYT) via
posted by Slithy_Tove (18 comments total)

wow!

that was great - thanks, Slithy_Tove
posted by jammy at 4:45 AM on October 5, 2008

I know absolutely nothing about fungi, but I can tell you that Dr. Money is pretty much the most awesome professor I know. He is the faculty advisor for Miami's Secular Students group, in which I am an officer. He's also wicked smart and has a British accent.

*swoon*
posted by aheckler at 4:46 AM on October 5, 2008 [2 favorites has favorites]

From the via link:

Have you ever seen a fungus firing its spores to the tune of the Anvil Chorus from Il Travatore?.

I have now.
posted by salishsea at 4:56 AM on October 5, 2008

Imagine if humans shot their spores with such force. No, really. Imagine it.
posted by JeffK at 6:28 AM on October 5, 2008

That's nothing. You should the speed produced when I sneeze fungi and mould spores out of my lungs.
posted by srboisvert at 6:51 AM on October 5, 2008

Fungi aren't only fast, they're also smart...they can solve mazes! (previously) (I think this was the subject of recent kudos: the most recent Ig Nobel Prize in cognitive science....)
posted by Kronos_to_Earth at 8:07 AM on October 5, 2008

Very cool! I used to pick mushrooms with my dad as a kid (for eating) They are a fascinating area of study.
posted by scarello at 8:07 AM on October 5, 2008

Yay! 2 fun science post in a row! Fungi are so gross. Clever little bastards.
posted by dog food sugar at 8:12 AM on October 5, 2008

posts
posted by dog food sugar at 8:28 AM on October 5, 2008

Great recent NPR segment on fungi.
posted by iamkimiam at 8:41 AM on October 5, 2008

Great recent NPR segment on fungi.
posted by iamkimiam at 8:41 AM on October 5, 2008

Imagine if humans shot their spores with such force. No, really. Imagine it.

ZPG would become the mainstream religion overnight.
posted by cenoxo at 8:48 AM on October 5, 2008

Imagine if humans shot their spores with such force.

Done and done
posted by DU at 8:48 AM on October 5, 2008 [1 favorite has favorites]

I'll be in my bunk.
posted by schoolgirl report at 9:39 AM on October 5, 2008 [2 favorites has favorites]

So, if I'm doing it right, per this data the acceleration of bullets by rifles and handguns is only in the vicinity of 10,000 to 50,000 g?

Behold the power of poop.
posted by XMLicious at 12:28 PM on October 5, 2008

Yeah but can they tango?
posted by turgid dahlia at 3:05 PM on October 5, 2008

Oh man, I used to read about those in a very, very old book (featuring science experiments like rolling mercury in your palm). Apparently you can grow them from fresh horse dung (which, at the time of writing could probably just be picked of any street); the interesting thing is that they're photosensitive and will aim towards the light. If you put a light-tight cover over your spore garden with a hole in it apparently all those black "pills" will be shot out through this opening. Funny stuff...
posted by PontifexPrimus at 3:53 PM on October 5, 2008

The real question is, what happens when someone inhales them?
posted by Halloween Jack at 9:20 AM on October 6, 2008