Did you know that fungi could be our greatest weapon against climate change and toxic pollution? In this episode, we look down into the biological infrastructure holding our planet together to explore how mushrooms actively engineer the biosphere, sequester massive amounts of carbon, and even clean up oil spills.

From the UN's "Funga" initiative aiming to rewrite international law alongside Flora and Fauna, to the incredible science of mycoremediation, we uncover the hidden world beneath our feet. We break down the Gadgil effect, how ECM fungi and Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi (AMF) lock away carbon, and the futuristic circular bioeconomy where mycelium is used to replace plastic packaging and leather. Join us as we explore why fungi aren't just a culinary garnish, but the active architects of our planet's survival.

00:00 The Overlooked Kingdom: Treating Fungi as Biological Infrastructure

04:15 The 3F Initiative: Adding "Funga" to Flora and Fauna

08:30 From Passive Passengers to Active Carbon Fate Engineers

12:45 ECM Fungi and the Power of the Root Glove

17:20 The Gadgil Effect: Starving Decomposers to Store Carbon

21:15 AMF Fungi, Glomalin, and Fungal Necromass

26:30 The Lab vs. Field Reality Check: Microbial Warfare

30:10 Mycoremediation: Oyster Mushrooms & White Rot Fungi Eating PAHs

34:45 Biosorption vs. Bioaccumulation: Fungi as Giant Brita Filters

37:00 The Circular Bioeconomy: Mycelium Packaging & Leather Alternatives

fungi, mycoremediation, carbon sequestration, climate change solutions, funga initiative, mushrooms eat pollution, gadgil effect, ectomycorrhizal fungi, arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi, glomalin, fungal necromass, white rot fungi, biosorption, circular bioeconomy, mycelium leather, science podcast

#Fungi #Mycoremediation #ClimateSolutions #Mycelium #SciencePodcast #Funga #Bioeconomy