Scientists discovered something amazing about fungi: they can maintain cooler temperatures than their surroundings. This phenomenon, known as fungal hypothermia, is not just limited to mushrooms but also includes moulds and yeasts.
The researchers published their findings in the peer-reviewed science journal PNAS. In this article we'll go over their findings.
Image Credit: Ridho Arifuddin via Shutterstock
Fungi, including mushrooms, moulds, and yeasts, play essential roles in our ecosystems, breaking down decaying organic matter and recycling nutrients. However, their ability to regulate temperature has remained relatively unexplored up until this point.
How Fungal Hypothermia Was Discovered
Scientists used infrared thermography to measure the temperature of various fungi in their natural habitats and laboratory settings. It showed that the coldest parts of fungi, like the centres of mould colonies and the undersides of mushroom caps, were significantly cooler than their immediate environment.
The study showed that wild mushrooms were, on average, about 2.9°C colder than their surrounding air. Laboratory-grown moulds and yeasts also exhibited this cooling effect, with colony centres being the coldest spots.
The fungi cool down by evapotranspiration, where they release water vapour that absorbs heat and lowers the temperature. This mechanism is similar to how we humans cool down when we are sweating. The process not only helps them survive but also influences their surrounding microenvironment.
The hypothermic nature of fungi is not just a laboratory curiosity. It has real-world implications, especially in understanding how these organisms interact with their environment. By cooling themselves, fungi can create more favourable microhabitats for their growth and survival. It may play a role in their ecological success, helping them colonize a wide range of environments.
Their build-in air conditioning makes fungi more able to adapt to different environments (Image Credit: Ridho Arifuddin via Shutterstock / HDR tune by Universal-Sci)
Mushroom-based air conditioning
An interesting interestting aspect of this discovery is its potential application in passive indoor air conditioning.
The team developed a prototype mushroom-based air-cooling device, aptly named the 'MycoCooler' (Myco refers to fungi), which can cool a semi-closed space by about 10 degrees Celsius in only 25 minutes.
The cooling unit is constructed from a simple Styrofoam box equipped with an inlet and outlet for airflow and an exhaust fan to circulate air through the box. Inside the box, fresh mushrooms are placed, which cool the incoming air through evaporative cooling as the air passes over them.
The potential implications of this technology extend beyond individual cooling devices. Imagine buildings or greenhouses that incorporate fungi into their walls or roofs to passively cool the interior spaces. Such systems could significantly reduce the need for energy-intensive air conditioning, lowering both energy costs and greenhouse gas emissions.
Implications for Global Warming
The ability of fungi to regulate temperature through evaporative cooling has broader implications for understanding how these organisms might respond to global warming. As fungi play a critical role in ecosystems and agriculture, understanding their thermal regulation can help predict the impacts of climate change on fungal biodiversity and ecological balance.
Fungi constitute a significant portion of Earth's biomass and are integral to many ecological processes, including nutrient cycling and symbiotic relationships with plants. Their ability to cool their surroundings could help buffer ecosystems against the effects of climate change. For instance, in forests, fungi might help maintain lower temperatures that protect sensitive plant and animal species from extreme heat.
Moreover, the concept of using fungi as natural cooling agents could be expanded to urban planning and agriculture. Urban heat islands, where cities become significantly warmer than their rural surroundings, could benefit from fungal-based cooling systems integrated into buildings and public spaces. In agriculture, crops could be grown alongside or even in partnership with cooling fungi to create more resilient farming systems.
If you are interested in more details about the underlying research, be sure to check out the paper published in PNAS, listed below this article.
Sources and further reading on the subject of mushrooms:
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