09/02/26

Why it’s so hard to tell the age of a fungus

When you see a mushroom popping up from the forest floor, that mushroom is just the tip of the fungal iceberg for a vast world beneath the surface. But the nature of fungal life makes it hard to answer some basic questions. What exactly does it mean to be one individual organism? And how do you tell how old a fungus is, when parts of it can recycle, regenerate, and grow again?

Flora talks with fungal researcher Kristin Aleklett about the challenge of fungal age, and how researchers are trying to better understand what fungi are doing in the world under the ground.


Donate To Science Friday

Invest in quality science journalism by making a donation to Science Friday.

Donate

Segment Guests

Kristin Aleklett

Dr. Kristin Aleklett is a researcher at Lund University in Sweden.

Segment Transcript

The transcript is being processed. It will be available 2-3 days after this story’s publication date.

Meet the Producers and Host

About Flora Lichtman

Flora Lichtman is a host of Science Friday. In a previous life, she lived on a research ship where apertivi were served on the top deck, hoisted there via pulley by the ship’s chef.

About Charles Bergquist

As Science Friday’s director and senior producer, Charles Bergquist channels the chaos of a live production studio into something sounding like a radio program. Favorite topics include planetary sciences, chemistry, materials, and shiny things with blinking lights.

About Dee Peterschmidt

Dee Peterschmidt is Science Friday’s audio production manager, hosted the podcast Universe of Art, and composes music for Science Friday’s podcasts. Their D&D character is a clumsy bard named Chip Chap Chopman.

Explore More

Mushroom Foragers Find Connection And Belonging Outdoors

Mushroom hunting is increasingly popular. A new wave of foraging groups by and for people of color could also help close the “nature gap."

Read More