Mycelium running
by Paul Stamets · first published 2005
64% recommend36% neutral
Why HN recommends it
Enthusiastic, accessible overview of how fungi and mycelium can be used for environmental repair, such as decomposing pollutants; suits curious general readers rather than specialists.
Summarised by Claude from recommending comments
Affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
Mentions per year
What Hacker News says
Related books
2020–2026Entangled Life
Merlin Sheldrake
Recommended by 20 · mentioned by 2820 recommend · 28 mention20 recommend · 2820 recommend
2008–2026Dune Messiah
Frank Herbert
Recommended by 17 · mentioned by 4717 recommend · 47 mention17 recommend · 4717 recommend
2007–2026A Clockwork Orange
Anthony Burgess
Recommended by 29 · mentioned by 9529 recommend · 95 mention29 recommend · 9529 recommend
2018–2026How to Change Your Mind
Michael Pollan
Recommended by 99 · mentioned by 14499 recommend · 144 mention99 recommend · 14499 recommend
2007–2026Dune
Frank Herbert
Recommended by 193 · mentioned by 512193 recommend · 512 mention193 recommend · 512193 recommend
If this interests you, Mycelium Running by Paul Stamets is an interesting dissertation on how mushrooms can "save the planet." His TED talks are a decent intro as well.
on “Mushroom burial suit turns dead bodies into clean compost (2016)” ↗Stamets' book, Mycelium Running: How Mushrooms Can Help Save the World [0] is very good, and his enthusiasm is definitely contagious. I will check out the podcast, thought tbh Joe Rogan is pretty hit or miss for me. [0] https://www.amazon.com/Mycelium-Running-Mushrooms-Help-World...
on “Radiotrophic fungus” ↗Most people would probably recommend Paul Stamets' book Mycelium Running in response to this question. I haven't read it personally (despite owning 20+ mushroom books), but that's probably the closest to what you're looking for. Langdon Cook's book The Mushroom Hunters is…
on “Buildings made with fungi could live, grow, and then biodegrade” ↗…cool pictures illustrating cool tree things: https://greystonebooks.com/products/the-hidden-life-of-trees...! If you like scientific nonfiction in this vein, I'd also recommend: - The Wild Trees - Mycelium Running - Mind of the Raven - The Klamath Knot Or if you want tree fiction: - The Overstory (edit: dunno how to do bullet lists here)
on “The Hidden Life of Trees: What They Feel, How They Communicate (2018)” ↗Also interesting book: Mycelium Running, "a manual for the mycological rescue of the planet."
on “State of the World's Fungi” ↗Cool. 1/2 way Stamet's book Mycelium Running which I highly recommend. This dude seems to have the same, highly infectious enthusiasm on the same topic.
on ““Fungi Can Teach Us a New Way of Looking at the World”” ↗Book recommendation: Mycelium Running > Mycoremediation: the use of mycelium for decomposing toxic wastes and pollutants https://fungi.com/products/mycelium-running
on “Self-replicating radiation-shield for deep-space exploration: Radiotrophic fungi” ↗Frank Herbert was a mycologist. It is not widely known that the blue eyes of the Fremen in Dune are an homage to the cerulean blue of Psilocybe mushrooms. In Chapter 9 of Mycelium Running, Paul Stamets reveals: “Frank went on to tell me that much of the premise of Dune—the magic spice (spores) that allowed the bending of space (tripping), the giant sand worms (maggots digesting mushrooms),…
on ““Dune” (The Movie), Annotated” ↗I just read [1] that scientists in 2007 [2] found a melanin-rich fungus in Chernobyl that thrives on ionizing radiation. The suggestion being that the species would grow excellent in space. [1] Mycelium Running by Paul Stamets, end of chapter 7 [2] Ionizing radiation changes the electronic properties of melanin and enhances the growth of melanized fungi by Dadachova
on “Edible plants that grow in the shade” ↗…studied the natives of North and South America which have many examples of these things. I don't have a source handy, but can share what Paul Stamets recounted a personal conversation with Frank in his Mycelium Running book as reported on the Dune wikipedia page: "Frank went on to tell me that much of the premise of Dune—the magic spice (spores) that allowed the bending of space (tripping), the giant sand worms (maggots…
on “Lawrence of Arabia, Paul Atreides, and the roots of Frank Herbert's Dune (2021)” ↗I first heard about this in Paul Stamet's book Mycelium Running. Its too bad they include this period of Earth's history more prominently in high school.
on “Long Before Trees Overtook the Land, Earth Was Covered by Giant Mushrooms” ↗