Good morning! 🌞 

Fun fact: October is National Pizza Month, so it’s a perfect excuse to indulge in your favorite slice——make sure to grab some while enjoying the stories! 🍕 

Health Sciences

‘Thinking’ Fungi

Can organisms without a brain still show signs of intelligence? Researchers at Tohoku University set out to answer this question by studying how fungi make decisions.

It might sound surprising, but fungi are capable of more than we typically think. According to Yu Fukasawa from Tohoku University, “You’d be surprised at just how much fungi can do. They have memories, they learn, and they can make decisions. Their problem-solving methods are vastly different from those of humans.” Fungi belong to their own kingdom of life and are actually more similar to animals than plants. They grow by releasing spores that turn into a web-like structure called mycelium, which often remains hidden underground. For example, one single mycelium can stretch across more than 2,000 acres. This mycelium acts like a communication network, similar to the way neurons work in our brains. Researchers have even found that mycelial networks can send electrical signals that resemble human vocabulary.

In this study, scientists examined how a wood-decaying mycelium responded to two arrangements of wood blocks: one in a circle and another in an X shape. If the fungi didn't make decisions, they would just spread out from a central point without caring about where the blocks were placed. But what the researchers observed was quite different. In the X arrangement, the fungi grew more around the outer blocks. This is likely because those blocks could serve as important points for the fungi to go out and gather food. In the circle arrangement, the fungi grew evenly across all blocks, but the empty space in the middle remained untouched. This suggests that the mycelium was effectively communicating about its environment and adjusting its growth based on the arrangement of the blocks.

To avoid wasting energy growing into the center of the circle, each tip of the mycelium must have information telling it that the center isn't a good place to grow. This information can only come from the mycelial cells on the other side of the circle. Overall, our understanding of fungi is still limited compared to what we know about plants and animals. This research helps us learn more about how ecosystems function and how different types of intelligence have evolved in various living organisms.

Good News

A Father-Daughter Halloween!

Charlie Perez and her father, Eric McGough, have created a heartwarming tradition of "Disneybounding" by dressing up as iconic Disney duos during their visits to Disney World. Over the past 16 months, they have donned eight different costumes inspired by beloved films like Toy Story, Beauty and the Beast, and The Little Mermaid. Their journey began when a follower on Charlie's Instagram pointed out Eric’s resemblance to Professor Archimedes Q. Porter from Tarzan, leading Charlie to suggest they wear matching costumes while following the park's dress code.

Their first costume was Jane and the Professor in May 2023, and since then, they have embraced the creativity of using everyday clothing and accessories to channel their favorite characters. For Charlie, her dad is her best friend, and their Disneybounding adventures have become a meaningful way to bond and create lasting memories together.

Check more of their duo costume adventures here!

Environment

World’s Largest Artificial Reef

The SS United States, a historic ship that has been docked in Philadelphia for decades, is set to be sunk and transformed into the world’s largest artificial reef. As global coral reefs face serious threats, structures like shipwrecks can provide critical habitats for various marine species. Many countries have successfully adopted this practice for decommissioned vessels.

Originally built in the 1950s to transport troops in wartime, the SS United States later became a luxury liner known for its speed, holding the Transatlantic speed record. It hosted celebrities and world leaders until its permanent decommissioning in 1967 during routine maintenance. The Okaloosa County Board of County Commissioners has approved a contract to sink the ship off Destin-Fort Walton Beach, Florida, where it will join over 500 existing artificial reefs that attract divers. Before the conversion can proceed, two processes—District Court mediation and an environmental review—must be completed, though both are expected to finish without complications.

The agreement also includes funding for a land-based museum dedicated to the SS United States, managed by the conservancy, as reported by the New York Times. Commissioner Mel Ponder emphasized the significance of the ship's presence, stating, “Having the SS United States here is a legacy that benefits the diving and fishing communities and the area as a whole.” According to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, every dollar spent on artificial reefs in the Florida Panhandle yields an estimated economic benefit of $138 over its lifespan, equating to a 13,800% return on investment. This includes job creation in reef construction and maintenance and increased economic activity in sectors like charter boats, dive equipment rentals, and local retail.

Mind Stretchers

❓️ 

It’s almost spooky season again, here’s an anagram for you. Rearrange the letters to come up with words related to Halloween 🎃 

enfantinkers

Yesterday’s Mind Stretchers:

What has no beginning, middle or end?

• A lot of you answered “circle” which is quite close, but the answer is a 🍩 donut! It has a hole so it has no middle and it also has no end 😆 

Be the first to send us the correct answer for today’s mind stretcher for a shout-out with the answer tomorrow. Just send us the answer and your name to [email protected]

If you have any uplifting stories and experience you might want to share, send those over to [email protected] for the chance to be featured.