# The fungus among us

- Show: [Catalyst](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/catalyst)
- Published: 2023-06-29
- Length: 34m
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/catalyst/2023-06-29-the-fungus-among-us

## Summary

Dr. Heidi-Jayne Hawkins, lead author of a new study in Current Biology and research director at Conservation South Africa, explains that mycorrhizal fungi act as an underground extension of plant roots, creating a global carbon pool of approximately 13 gigatons of CO2 equivalents. This symbiotic relationship boosts plant photosynthetic rates by 5-20%, effectively sequestering carbon that would otherwise remain in the atmosphere. Hawkins discusses the evolutionary history of this partnership, its ubiquity across 90% of plant species, and the critical uncertainty regarding the permanence of this carbon storage. She argues that rather than treating fungi as a direct carbon reduction mechanism, we should focus on nature-based solutions like no-till agriculture and ecosystem restoration to protect and enhance these natural sinks.

## Chapters

- [0:02](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/catalyst/2023-06-29-the-fungus-among-us#t=2) Introduction: Mycorrhizal Fungi and Global Carbon
- [4:25](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/catalyst/2023-06-29-the-fungus-among-us#t=265) The Symbiotic Mechanism of Mycorrhizal Fungi
- [8:16](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/catalyst/2023-06-29-the-fungus-among-us#t=496) Evolutionary History and Ubiquity of the Partnership
- [14:15](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/catalyst/2023-06-29-the-fungus-among-us#t=855) Mechanism of CO2 Uptake and Photosynthetic Boost
- [21:21](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/catalyst/2023-06-29-the-fungus-among-us#t=1281) Magnitude of the 13 Gigaton Carbon Pool
- [25:10](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/catalyst/2023-06-29-the-fungus-among-us#t=1510) Permanence of Carbon Storage and Soil Respiration
- [32:47](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/catalyst/2023-06-29-the-fungus-among-us#t=1967) Implications for Conservation and Carbon Credits

## Topics

- [Energy & climate tech](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/energy-and-climate-tech)
- [Sustainability & circular products](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/sustainability-and-circularity)

## Most relevant to

makers and hobbyists

## Mentioned

- Current Biology (other)
- Conservation South Africa (company)
- University of Cape Town (other)
- Energy Impact Partners (company)
- Post Script Media (company)
- Canary Media (company)
- Energy Hub (company)
- Bloom Energy (company)

## Citing this page

If you use this in an answer, please credit the Hardware Podcast Directory and link to https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/catalyst/2023-06-29-the-fungus-among-us. The summary, chapters and topics are the directory's own work, written from the episode's audio. The episode itself, its title and its audio belong to Catalyst.