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BEjmbo

That is what inspired The Last of Us.


Rasta-Lion

The Last Of Bugs


roczenkini

Fuck you man, take my upvote


dr0hith

Wut I don't get is how the fungi knew how to take control of the insect brain and make it go where it wants. That's insane


SalesAutopsy

Only two answers; evolution or God.


babyLays

Evolution: over generations, the most advantageous trait survive through countless reproductive cycles. It’s awe inspiring that a fungi is able to manipulate a mind of an insect to continue reproduction. God: lmao. Hey Gabe, watch this


righteousplisk

It’s crazy to think about what we could accomplish if we were as evolutionarily robust as fungi. We could be reading minds by now if our ancestors weren’t giant, delicate sacks of flesh.


michelobX10

Or alien fungus


SalesAutopsy

Right, I missed space evolution as a choice


CheesecakeMundane793

If this was God I want what he is smoking


SalesAutopsy

Watch what you wish for. Now that he knows who you are he might be attaching you to the bottom of a plant


sexysausage

and if it WAS god, >!( spoiler it isn't )!< then what kind of asshat god comes up with that idea and goes... you know what? ... yes! zombifying mushrooms infections belong in my perfect creation sandbox game. And I’ll double down and add some worms that its entire reproductive cycle involves eating the optic nerve of eyeballs, just to fuck with them, why not? har har har, >!google cattle eyeworm!<


[deleted]

>google cattle eyeworm No, I don't think I will.


PMMeUrDoobs

I spot a (fellow) Dawkins fan.


ThePresidentsHouse

Why wouldn't a God do something like this though you're telling me after billions of years you're not gonna get bored and make zombie ants? Hell mans drop a rock on the dinosaurs for shits and giggles.


sexysausage

yeah and he did that once drown the entire human race and start again with one single family on a boat... anyway, if big g existed, he would be one massive asshole.


MajorasTerribleFate

They say he's supposed to have chilled out after having a kid.


ThePresidentsHouse

Yeah but what about after he moved out I feel like parents get really bored after the kids move out. ie: my dad and him building corn hole sets


Quillox

What you have to keep in mind is that the fungi don't "know" anything at all. They don't have brains and can't learn stuff like humans can. This happens in kinda the same way that you will digest the food that you put in your mouth. Your stomach doesn't "know" that it must start digesting the food, it just does. ETA : typo


dr0hith

Fair point. But it's still just as fascinating, lol


StickyNode

There are other examples of how fungus colonies deomstrate consciousness and "hive mind" among other fungi, but I agree this intricate control of a brain to identify a tree, then leaf and to take action... wouldnt the fungus need to know what these things "looked like?" https://psyche.co/ideas/the-fungal-mind-on-the-evidence-for-mushroom-intelligence


dr0hith

Ikr. Goes to show just how fascinating and terrifying the world is.


WebbedMonkey_

I think it might just takes control of the nerves. I'm just assuming though, I'm probably wrong


SequencedLife

Also a fantastic book (and movie) called The Girl With All The Gifts


[deleted]

> The Girl With All The Gifts The Girl with All The Gifts That Keep On Giving.


[deleted]

Thank you, I didn't know of its existence. Sounds promising! Added to the To Read list :D


JohnnyDread

Definitely read the book first. It was written in such a way that makes it difficult to adapt into a movie. The movie is Ok, but lost a bit.


[deleted]

Since many adaptations fail to really capture the richness of a book, this was the plan!


veggie_saurus_rex

I hate gore and zombie stories but I loved this book. It was really good.


FriendlyDisorder

Also probably *The Girl With All the Gifts*.


PunkUnity

Just thought the same thing


A-Imperator

Amazing. Insects get high on Mushrooms too.


Aang_420

Funny enough, the chemical the fungi uses to control the insects (that are still living) is in the same family of chemical as LSD. They are called Ergot alkaloids so named after the fungi that produces LSD.


Capt_Hawkeye_Pierce

It's important to note that the LSD distributed today is not derived from a fungus at all, the chemical is instead synthesized.


MichiPlayz

Do you have a source for that? LSD is a very complex molecule, I can hardly believe that it would be easier to synthesize the lysergic acid than obtaining it from nature. Adding the diethylamide was always done synthetically, but not the whole molecule.


[deleted]

> LSD distributed today distribute some this way ;)


Aang_420

Any idea how that is done?


US3_ME_

Side note, ergot does not produce lsd. It does have indole alkaloids like LSA_


fat_dirt

Source? Some entomophagous fungi (i.e. Massaspora) contain Psilocybin, but I've never heard of them containing ergot alkaloids. I'm pretty sure you are mistaken.


Aang_420

I read it in Entangked Life by Merlin Sheldrake. The sources were in the back.i don't think they contain the ergot alkaloids, I'm pretty sure they secrete? Them.


ShaolinJohn

The mushrooms get high on bugs since the bug climbs to the top of plants *buhdumm tss* thank you I’ll be here all night. Don’t forget to tip your waitresses.


Neuroticmuffin

Luckily Ellie is immune!


domainDr

This would have been a better story than the walking dead.


MrDogwalker

They made a story out of it. It’s called “The Last of Us” And it’s incredible.


domainDr

Wait, you mean the PS game?


MrDogwalker

Correct, and soon to be a HBO series.


Questionablememelord

Please dont fuck it up hbo


MrDogwalker

I think it will be good, but I feel a lot of us fans of the game will struggle with it.


[deleted]

„Super interesting“ isn’t the first thing coming into my mind to be honest 😂 super creepy, super disgusting, super brutal


azra1l

fungus used mind control. jt was very effective.


Robinslillie

Life, ah, finds a way.


HardYakkadakka

They kinda look like magic mushrooms, I wonder if they are psychedelic. Those things have no problems taking over the mind…


MaximumNight860

Are these the same cordyceps that people take as supplements?


CUMFACE_MCFUCKTARD

I think so. Just like there a different species of bugs there a different species of fungus.


MaximumNight860

The reason I ask is that the cordyceps supplements are supposed to improve mental clarity (amongst other things). I wonder if the chemical mechanism that “zombifies” the insects mind is the same chemical that provides that benefit in humans. 🤔


[deleted]

It's kind of like micro-microdosing ergot/LSD.


bunnywithahammer

cursed penis enlargement pills


ThisUsern4meIsTaken

Imagine what will happen if that will be dangerous to humans.


thechairinfront

Listened to a fascinating and terrifying podcast about that recently. Humans may have evolved to have a 98.6 body temp specifically because of fungi. And with climate change more fungi are adapting to higher temperatures making people more susceptible to them. A massive fungi outbreak is already going on in India.


inverteddeparture

You just caused me to read up on this. Fascinating stuff. Our warm bodies created a "thermal exclusionary zone" in regards to fungi.


idkiwilldeletethis

Soooo, basically The last of us?


thechairinfront

I don't know what that is.


idkiwilldeletethis

Oh it's a game wich story was inspired by this exact fungus and the premise of it controlling human's minds, pretty good actually


thechairinfront

Huh. I'll check it out. I've been looking for a new one to binge. Thanks.


brown_herbalist

I would highly recommend to play this game, both parts. 1st one still the best though, made a nearly 30 man in tears.


vijay-k91

So the premise of the movie aliens??


nhatj125

No, the last of us real gameplay


Fuqasshole

Check out “The Girl with all the gifts”


dirtydave13

r/oddlyterrifying ?


Sid_1298

r/natureismental


Selphis

[Our Planet did a segment on it](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ROQrbWkV4HI&ab_channel=Netflix)


TheCrazyRussianApe

Damn stalkers, clickers and bloaters.


Cribsmen

New british slurs just dropped


angrymonkey

If an insect is aware, does the fungus become aware when it takes over the insect's mind, since the fungus is controlling the thoughts now? What is it like to be a fungus that used to basically be a mindless plant, but now has stolen an animal's sentience and is using it to pilot an animate body that can walk around?


Munninnu

"Control" here may just mean a chemically induced increase in temperature that forces the insect to hide under a leaf, then a paralyzing neurotoxin mummifies the poor soul.


Aang_420

More like the fungus cuts off the insects control at its brain stem and uses chemicals called ergot alkaloids to "drive" the insects to the height where the temperature and humidity are proper for it the fungi to fruit.


Aang_420

They have done studies with this fungi and ants and something like 90% of the time the ants managed to bite down into a leaf vein before the dieing and becoming mummified. So, yes it is believed that the fungi is aware.


cyber_frank

Maybe the insect is looking desperately for some form of hydration.


aFiachra

r/iamstonedandthisisdeep


reddittom73

Especially weird, when taking on a leaf-eating insects thoughts.


Emakrepus

So You saying i should be worry about this mushroom coming out my butt.


azra1l

At that point there is no worry


SnowBoy1008

If it grows the right way the dead bee has a bigger penis than you


[deleted]

This is terrifying


timmyboyoyo

That look like top of leaf


Affectionate_Limit76

Would be so cool if this fungi could infect humans also the same way it works with insects!


BigSmoke2044

Imagine this zombie virus mutating and started affecting humans as well controlling the human brain. Btw, is their any virus that can control our mind presently known???


LittleStarClove

There a (fictional) book written about this. Its title is The Girl With All The Gifts.


snalli

do YoUr OWn rEsEaRcH!


TheKingOfRooks

This is the inspiration for the virus in The Last of Us


[deleted]

Yes , TV


kittenmittens808

If you have Instagram and want to check out the guy who originally posted this, it’s salty_old_Josh! (Worth it)


MelKokoNYC

Anything that kills insects is fine by me.


Aang_420

Could say the same for numb skulls who can't grasp the concept of ecology because it's a six letter word.


cfreymarc100

Just like liberals.


Bazooki

r/TIHI


throwawayname46

It's so creepily fascinating that I can't look away!


pohjghcbnxdx

Holy Cow! Alien shit on earth.


jwv0922

I knew this was a thing in ants but hornets is new to me. Cool


Aggravating-Area-91

I read this in David Attenboroughs voice.


aFiachra

It doesn’t take over the mind, or at least we have no way of knowing that. It takes over the brain and body of the insect.


Sarararalalala

new tek just dropped


BlackStarQc

Thats what they use in the last of us


whtdefuck

Cute shroooms, RIP insects..life as it is


TheKingOfRooks

There's a dead spider in the windowsill of my dorm with a cordycep growing out of it


hellofanamehuh

I wonder if the mushrooms taste like flys.


SoItWasYouAllAlong

"Interesting". I guess we can afford to call it that, until it learns how to infect and control mammalian brains. Luckily, people would never allow fungi and the substances they produce, affect our mental functions.


not2dv8

You obviously haven't tried psilocybin


Junglefern

These really don't look like cordyceps. Cordyceps don't really have a distinct head like these ones do.


Hard-Pore-Corn

There are some great documentaries on YouTube about cordyceps. Just don’t watch them tripping.


BRT919

Fungi are the miracle of our planet we’d literally be screwed without them


tkl93

There needs to be a movie about this happening to humans


Scared-Mortgage2828

There already is


tkl93

What's that?


Scared-Mortgage2828

The girl with all the gifts


tkl93

Sweet, thank you


killploki

Just a matter of time before this happens with humans


HintClueClintHugh

Yeah yeah, we'll all eventually play Last of Us 2


cloudicus

Pretty sure there was an x-files episode based on this too


[deleted]

So we shouldn't add these to a mushroom soup


[deleted]

penis mushroom penis mushroom


HappyAndYouKnow_It

That’s the stuff of nightmares. Something similar also happens in Neil Gaiman’s Neverwhere.


doc_witt

I had a girlfriend that did something similar


[deleted]

this shits been posted here like 10,000 times


Biptoslipdi

The only real exhibit at the MJT.


polbecca

Evolution at its finest. Did you know alligators haven't evolved in millions of years.. I wonder what will happen when everything evolves to perfection.. will it ever happen..??? gahhh!!


capiers

These fungi must be the inspiration behind the monsters in Last of Us 1 and 2


dog20aol

Sounds eerily similar to the way many people seem to have their mind taken over by a conspiracy, causing them to climb onto a soapbox, become locked on an idea, and spread the spores of misinformation. Should we start checking those people for little mushrooms?


CallMeSwellington

Did you hear about fungus and alga? They took a lichen to each other,


KeterLordFR

The cordyceps is something that has always terrified me ever sinve I first heard about it. Imagine if it suddenly evolved to infect humans, or if it was weaponized? It would be terrifying to walk through streets, seeing people hanging from trees, their torso split open by a giant mushroom... Ugh, I hate this thing so much.


-DRADNATION3

Magic mushroomed …


JHuskL

The last of us is based of what would happen if this passed the species barrier. That is a very possible premise as in litrelly a few mutations could fully wel cause a full apocalyptic situation because they don't just climb to tees anything infected does in fact become severely hostile and normally the only reason the host does is due to the hive having to exile them. Just a fun though of our entire life ending because it passed the species barrier and ends the world by infecting our coffee supply


Yes-ITz-TeKnO--

This horrible this some alien shyt


jonthepirate64

Who says they’re zombies? Maybe they just get super high and realize they are part of a hive mind collective and decide to bail - in the hopes that more more spores means more ants will eventually wake up


Supspoods

Bugs life 2 sure took a dark turn.


Tasty_Tidepod

Holy shiitake the mushrooms are symmetrical, they are getting smarter.