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Home / TRIP IDEAS / Like a Local / The zombie fungus that served as the basis for the video game "The Last of Us" is edible and quite widespread.

The zombie fungus that served as the basis for the video game "The Last of Us" is edible and quite widespread.

2023-03-18  Diana Solomon

You won't end up as a zombie as a result of this. Instead, it is often used for reasons related to health and medicine.

Chirasak Tolertmongkol

I hate to be the one to break it to you, but zombie fungus is a real thing. A fungus known as cordyceps, which has orange-colored tendrils, can infect and take control of the bodies of various insects, including ants, spiders, millipedes, and others, so transforming these insects into zombies. But, it is unable to have that effect on people, and it is quite unlikely that it would result in a full-fledged zombie apocalypse that destroys the globe.

Cordyceps has lately come into the limelight as a result of the critically acclaimed television drama The Last of Us, which airs on HBO. Cordyceps has developed the ability to infect individuals, take control of their brains, and transform them into mindless monsters in the television program based on a well-known video game. It just took a few short days for the fungus to infect millions of people, marking the beginning of the end of the world.

 

Cordyceps acts somewhat differently in the wild than it does in the lab. You may eat it, and people have been harvesting it and using it medicinally for thousands of years as an aphrodisiac and a tonic to enhance overall well-being and health. Currently, it's widely used as a nutritional supplement under the banner of "functional mushrooms," which is the phrase for mushrooms that are said to have certain health advantages, such as enhanced energy or focus.

What exactly are cordyceps?

The genus of fungus known as "Cordyceps" is the subject of this noun. There are almost 400 different kinds and each one prey on a different kind of insect. It can often be found throughout Asia and thrives in warm, humid temperatures like those found in tropical rainforests.

The fungus develops and spawns in a magnificent, though rather disturbing, manner. Mycelia tendrils sprout all over the bug's body once cordyceps spores connect to the exterior of an ant, moth, spider, or another arthropod. The parasitic fungal uses the infected insect as a moving host, forcing the host to climb up a neighboring plant or tree and clamp onto its surface. The cycle is eventually completed when the fungus kills the host and emerges from its body to produce new spores.

What are the benefits of eating cordyceps, and how is this done?

Cordyceps isn't something that a lot of people are hearing about for the first time thanks to this season of The Last of Us. The fungus has been utilized for thousands of years in East Asian civilizations, where it has been considered a tonic food and herbal medicine with alleged advantages that include the enhancement of energy levels, the improvement of immunity, and the reduction of inflammatory responses.

Cordyceps has, in recent years, been promoted to health enthusiasts who are hoping to feel the advantages connected with the fungus. Those of us who have been reading Goop are aware of this fact. Typically, it is offered in powdered form; however, it may also be found as a fairly tasteless supplement in a variety of foods and beverages, including chocolate and coffee. The fungus known as cordyceps is only one example of how the wellness industry has tightened its hold on consumers' throats. Chaga, Reishi, and Lion's Mane are a few more of the several mycelia that have been increasingly popular in recent times due to claims that they may assist with many issues, including stress, attention, and general brain health.

Because of the recent rise in the Cordyceps industry, the fungus has significantly increased in value. Historically, the process of gathering food has required a significant amount of labor. The harvesters have to manually hunt through the thick vegetation of the jungle for the corpses of worms and other insects in the areas where the cordyceps have started to produce fruit. According to reports, the price of a pound of high-quality Cordyceps—one that was not one of the numerous imitations available on the market—was $63,000 in 2017.

The question is, are they planning to make us into zombies?

Nope. Cordyceps is very effective in infecting and controlling insects that live in the soil. According to Rebeca Rosengaus, an associate professor and behavioral ecologist at Northeastern University, it is unable to survive inside the much hotter temperatures in the human body, let alone reproduce and take over our brains. It is something that she explained to BuzzFeed News. At least, it is unable to do so at this time. In an interview with BuzzFeed, Rosengaus stated that she would not rule out the possibility of the fungus developing. "Just because a disease hasn't yet developed this plan to take over our thoughts doesn't rule out the chance that it may happen at a certain time in the future." Aw, shucks. There is nothing to see.


2023-03-18  Diana Solomon