Why it's so hard to tell the age of a fungus
Summary
Science Friday host Flora Lichtman interviews Lund University researcher Dr. Christine Alaklit about the challenges of determining fungal age and individuality. They discuss why fungi lack clear aging markers like tree rings, citing the massive, potentially 8,650-year-old organism in Oregon as a case study. Alaklit explains her use of microfluidic chips to study fungal recycling and longevity, emphasizing that understanding these life histories is crucial for conservation and agriculture.
Topics discussed
Sponsors and Science Friday introduction
The challenge of defining individual fungi and age
Methods for estimating fungal age via growth rates
The oldest known fungus in Oregon
Christine Alakret's fascination with fungal mysteries
Using microfluidic chips to study mycelium recycling
Do fungi live forever? Degeneration and immortality
Conservation needs and basic biological questions
Understanding fungal behavior and life history
Guest bio and episode credits
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