Around 600 variants of Cordyceps can be found worldwide; see questions and answers about mushrooms
The apocalypse zombie as depicted in the popular video game series and the newly adapted HBO series The Last of Us results from a mutation in a type of mushroom call Cordyceps. Surprise! THE Cordyceps it actually exists, and around 600 variations of it can be found around the world, mainly in Southeast Asia.
Surprise again! THE Cordyceps causes symptoms that make insects look like zombies, a phenomenon that inspired the creator of The Last of UsNeil Druckmann, to include him as the source of his story’s zombie outbreak.
Surprise for the third time! THE Cordyceps it has long been studied by the scientific community and is currently found in various health supplements.
Now something that shouldn’t come as a surprise: Unlike the game and the series, the Cordyceps, as we know it today, will not turn anyone into a zombie. But here’s what you need to know The Last of Us and its representation of the mushroom.
What is that?
THE Cordyceps it is a parasitic fungus that grows on, in, and subsequently by insects. different variations of Cordyceps they specialize in different species of insects. Memorial Sloan Kettering’s website, for example, specifically studies a variety that grows on moth caterpillars (iconic insects in games The Last of Us). the spores of Cordyceps lead insects to erratic behavior, seemingly taking control of their minds and motor functions, thus eliciting confrontation with zombies.
THE Cordyceps it eventually kills its host and grows a tendril-like stalk from the infected’s corpse, which can take weeks to fully develop. When fully developed, the tendril releases new spores Cordycepsinfecting other insects of the same host species in the vicinity.
The phenomenon was documented in an episode of the program Planet Earthfrom the BBC, which served as an inspiration for Druckmann in The Last of Us. In the game and series, the fungus mutates to affect humans in the same way it attacks insects, corrupting their minds and bodies and horribly deforming them.
Will Cordyceps turn me into a zombie?
Again, no. Unless you’re a fictional character from The Last of Us or an insect. In fact, the mushroom has a long history of use as a medicine and has been used in a number of health supplements, including as an ingredient in Gwyneth Paltrow’s $200 smoothie.
Why is a mushroom that turns insects into zombies used in health supplements?
The mushroom appears to have some benefits for humans. Sloan Kettering’s website cites improved strength and endurance, better kidney function, and a strengthened immune system as possible outcomes (further noting that you should consult your physician before using any product containing Cordyceps). The mushroom has also been used in several studies cancer to slow the growth of tumors.
How does the fungus spread?
The fungus is carried through the air by spores that land and infect unfortunate insects. In the game version of The Last of Usit is similarly transmitted, although bites from infected zombies also transmit the infection.
While fungal infections aren’t normally spread through bites, some fungal infections, such as sporotrichosis, are contracted after a thorn or pine needle drives spores under a person’s skin. In a fictional world of wandering zombies, the method of bite transmission isn’t all that far-fetched.
In the HBO series, however, bites are the fungus’s only method of transmission, ruling out the menace of airborne spores. How come? As Druckmann explained in the series commentary, his protagonists in the game spend a lot of time roaming the spore-laden environments in gas masks. The masks, of course, hid the faces and muffled the characters’ voices for the camera, so HBO decided to ditch the masks and change the method of broadcasting the Cordyceps. / TRANSLATION BY RENATO PRELORENTZOU
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Source: Terra
Ben Stock is a lifestyle journalist and author at Gossipify. He writes about topics such as health, wellness, travel, food and home decor. He provides practical advice and inspiration to improve well-being, keeps readers up to date with latest lifestyle news and trends, known for his engaging writing style, in-depth analysis and unique perspectives.
