Comments on: Money shots

Money shots

Slithy_Tove — Sun, 05 Oct 2008 04:20:48 -0800

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

By: jammy

jammy — Sun, 05 Oct 2008 04:45:21 -0800

wow! that was great - thanks, Slithy_Tove

By: aheckler

aheckler — Sun, 05 Oct 2008 04:46:02 -0800

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*

By: salishsea

salishsea — Sun, 05 Oct 2008 04:56:29 -0800

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.

By: JeffK

JeffK — Sun, 05 Oct 2008 06:28:42 -0800

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

By: srboisvert

srboisvert — Sun, 05 Oct 2008 06:51:05 -0800

That's nothing. You should the speed produced when I sneeze fungi and mould spores out of my lungs.

By: Kronos_to_Earth

Kronos_to_Earth — Sun, 05 Oct 2008 08:07:48 -0800

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....)

By: scarello

scarello — Sun, 05 Oct 2008 08:07:59 -0800

Very cool! I used to pick mushrooms with my dad as a kid (for eating) They are a fascinating area of study.

By: dog food sugar

dog food sugar — Sun, 05 Oct 2008 08:12:38 -0800

Yay! 2 fun science post in a row! Fungi are so gross. Clever little bastards.

By: dog food sugar

dog food sugar — Sun, 05 Oct 2008 08:28:44 -0800

posts

By: iamkimiam

iamkimiam — Sun, 05 Oct 2008 08:41:02 -0800

Great recent NPR segment on fungi.

By: iamkimiam

iamkimiam — Sun, 05 Oct 2008 08:41:38 -0800

Great recent NPR segment on fungi.

By: cenoxo

cenoxo — Sun, 05 Oct 2008 08:48:28 -0800

Imagine if humans shot their spores with such force. No, really. Imagine it. ZPG would become the mainstream religion overnight.

By: DU

DU — Sun, 05 Oct 2008 08:48:55 -0800

Imagine if humans shot their spores with such force. Done and done

By: schoolgirl report

schoolgirl report — Sun, 05 Oct 2008 09:39:30 -0800

I'll be in my bunk.

By: XMLicious

XMLicious — Sun, 05 Oct 2008 12:28:59 -0800

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.

By: turgid dahlia

turgid dahlia — Sun, 05 Oct 2008 15:05:03 -0800

Yeah but can they tango?

By: PontifexPrimus

PontifexPrimus — Sun, 05 Oct 2008 15:53:09 -0800

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...

By: Halloween Jack

Halloween Jack — Mon, 06 Oct 2008 09:20:41 -0800

The real question is, what happens when someone inhales them?