A new season of the popular HBO series The Last of Us has sparked interest among scientists, who say the show’s portrayal of a zombie-like fungus is more realistic than ever. Dr. Jim Kronstad, a professor and microbiologist at UBC’s Michael Smith Laboratories, notes that fungi love to make spores, which can be airborne and even inhaled by humans.
In reality, many fungal diseases infect humans through inhaling spores, such as Cryptococcus neoformans, which causes meningitis. The show’s depiction of cordyceps evolving into a harmful fungus due to climate change is also supported by recent research. Scientists have linked rising temperatures to the spread of fungi like Coccidioides and Candida auris.
On the other hand, fungi are not all bad; they recycle dead organic material and serve as significant carbon sinks. They can be used in food production and even in space exploration. Dr. Kronstad emphasizes that fungi are “super important” for humans, highlighting their potential to develop strong, lightweight materials.
A recent Nature paper by Dr. Kronstad and co-authors explores the impact of fungi on Earth’s ecosystems. Their findings suggest that climate change may contribute to the emergence of new fungal species, such as Rhodosporidiobolus fluvialis, which has previously been found only in the environment.
The scientific community is divided about the show’s portrayal of a zombie-like fungus. However, experts agree that fungi are fascinating organisms with numerous benefits and risks. As The Last of Us returns on April 13, scientists weigh in on the show’s depiction of these mysterious creatures.
Source: https://phys.org/news/2025-04-season-chance-realism-scientists-discuss.html