#humanbiology — Public Fediverse posts

Feeling wired? The truth about ‘nervous system resets’
By Hannah Coates

The internet is full of warnings about our ‘dysregulated’ nervous systems. But, experts say, you don’t need to reset yours – you might just need to make it more flexible. Here’s how (and no, you don’t need an acupressure mat)

https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/ng-interactive/2026/oct/02/feeling-wired-the-truth-about-nervous-system-resets

#Lifeandstyle #Healthwellbeing #Neuroscience #Mentalhealth #Anxiety #Humanbiology #Mindfulness #Meditation #TheGuardian #HannahCoates

Are girls more social from birth? - video
By Presented by Madeleine Finlay , with Ian Sample , produced by Ellie Sans and Jacob Liebenberg , graphics by Natalie Gegan , the executive producer was Ellie Bury

Madeleine Finlay sits down with her co-host and Guardian science editor, Ian Sample, to discuss three science stories from the week, including a study that offers a clue in the age-old debate about whether sex differences are present from birth or a product of socialisation. Also on the agenda is the super El Niño, which is predicted to lead to 450,000 deaths in the next six months, and an answer to why the UK’s meningitis outbreak earlier this year was so big.

https://www.theguardian.com/science/video/2026/sep/25/are-girls-more-social-from-birth-video

#Humanbiology #ElNiosouthernoscillation #Neuroscience #Children #TheGuardian #PresentedbyMadeleineFinlay #withIanSample #producedbyEllieSans #JacobLiebenberg #graphicsbyNatalieGegan #theexecutiveproducerwasEllieBury

Are girls more social from birth? - video https://www.theguardian.com/science/video/2026/sep/25/are-girls-more-social-from-birth-video #HumanBiology #ElNioSouthernOscillation #Neuroscience #Children

Are baby girls more sociable? Super El Niño, meningitis outbreak explained – podcast
By Presented by Madeleine Finlay, with Ian Sample, produced by Ellie Sans, sound design by Joel Cox, the executive producer was Ellie Bury

Madeleine Finlay sits down with her co-host and Guardian science editor, Ian Sample, to discuss three science stories from the week, including a study that offers a clue in the age-old debate about whether sex differences are present from birth or a product of socialisation. Also on the agenda is the super El Niño, which is predicted to lead to 450,000 deaths in the next six months, and an answer to why the UK’s meningitis outbreak earlier this year was so big.

https://www.theguardian.com/science/audio/2026/sep/24/are-baby-girls-more-sociable-super-el-nino-meningitis-outbreak-explained-podcast

#Humanbiology #Science #ElNiosouthernoscillation #Environment #Neuroscience #Children #Meningitis #Biology #Society #Health #TheGuardian #PresentedbyMadeleineFinlay #withIanSample #producedbyEllieSans #sounddesignbyJoelCox #theexecutiveproducerwasEllieBury

Are baby girls more sociable? Super El Niño, meningitis outbreak explained – podcast https://www.theguardian.com/science/audio/2026/sep/24/are-baby-girls-more-sociable-super-el-nino-meningitis-outbreak-explained-podcast #HumanBiology #Science #ElNioSouthernOscillation #Environment #Neuroscience #Children #Meningitis #Biology #Society #Health

Is collagen a lie? - video https://www.theguardian.com/science/video/2026/sep/15/is-collagen-a-lie-video #Science #HealthWellbeing #Ageing #HumanBiology

Is collagen a lie? - video
By Presented by Madeleine Finlay , produced by Madeleine Finlay, Ellie Sans and Jacob Liebenberg , the executive producer was Ellie Bury

Collagen powders, gummies and pills have boomed in popularity in recent years boosted by claims that they smooth wrinkles, promote glossy hair and help with joint pain. Amid the noise it can be hard to figure out whether there’s any actual science behind the promise of looking younger for longer. Luckily Dr Xand van Tulleken has spent the past three years writing Make me well: a quest to understand the confusing world of wellness, and his chapter on collagen dives deep into the evidence. He tells Madeleine Finlay what collagen does in the body, how we can get it without splashing out on expensive supplements, and why getting to the truth behind wellness claims can be so hard

https://www.theguardian.com/science/video/2026/sep/15/is-collagen-a-lie-video

#Science #Healthwellbeing #Ageing #Humanbiology #TheGuardian #PresentedbyMadeleineFinlay #producedbyMadeleineFinlay #EllieSans #JacobLiebenberg #theexecutiveproducerwasEllieBury

Is collagen all hype? – podcast https://www.theguardian.com/science/audio/2026/sep/15/is-collagen-all-hype-podcast #Science #Health #Ageing #HealthWellbeing #HumanBiology #MedicalResearch

Let your mind wander, don’t retire and stop worrying: surprising ways to help save your brain from the cognitive cliff
By Guardian staff speak to Dr Norman Swan

In his new book, The Brain Cliff, Dr Norman Swan outlines the science of brain ageing and strategies for staving off cognitive decline

https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2026/sep/07/dr-norman-swan-new-book-science-of-ageing-cognitive-decline

#Healthwellbeing #Neuroscience #Dementia #Australianbooks #Lifeandstyle #Australianlifestyle #Humanbiology #Health #Books #Culture #Science #Mentalhealth #TheGuardian #GuardianstaffspeaktoDrNormanSwan

Should I be getting dizzy every single time I get up? I don't think so somehow.

#medicine #humanbiology

✨🌌 Het Universum en Ons Lichaam: Samenhang Ontdekken 🧬||✨🌌 The Universe and Our Body: Discovering Connection 🧬

Van sterrenstof ⭐ tot levenskracht ❤️: ons lichaam en het universum zijn diep met elkaar verbonden. Ontdek de harmonie tussen de kosmos 🌍✨ en jezelf. 💫

🌟 Wij zijn een deel van het universum – en het universum leeft in ons. 🌌💖

💖✨ Laat je inspireren door deze verbondenheid en ontdek de oneindige kracht die ook in jou aanwezig is. 🚀🌌

✨ Alles Staat Met Elkaar In Verbinding

Een avond vol verwondering 🌙✨

Onlangs zat ik ’s avonds op mijn balkon. De lucht was helder en boven mij schitterde een prachtige sterrenhemel. Terwijl ik omhoog keek, zag ik ontelbaar veel sterren. Miljarden hemellichamen die zich door het universum bewegen, zonder voortdurend met elkaar in botsing te komen.

Op dat moment drong een bijzondere gedachte tot mij door: dit kan alleen omdat alles met elkaar verbonden is. Er bestaat een ordening, een samenhang, een netwerk van relaties waardoor het geheel in evenwicht blijft. Niets staat volledig op zichzelf. Alles maakt deel uit van een groter geheel.

Die gedachte bracht me niet alleen bij het universum, maar ook bij het menselijk lichaam, onze geschiedenis en zelfs bij mijn eigen website.

🌌 Het universum: een meesterwerk van samenhang

Wanneer we naar de sterren kijken, zien we veel meer dan losse lichtpuntjes. Achter elke ster schuilt een complexe werkelijkheid van natuurwetten, zwaartekracht en energie.

Planeten draaien rond sterren. Sterrenstelsels bewegen door de ruimte. Alles lijkt afzonderlijk, maar toch beïnvloedt alles elkaar. Het universum is als een gigantische puzzel waarvan elk stukje een plaats en een functie heeft.

Hoe meer we ontdekken over het heelal, hoe meer we beseffen dat niets toevallig naast elkaar bestaat. Alles maakt deel uit van een groter verband.

🧠 Het menselijk lichaam: een wonder van verbinding

Hetzelfde principe zien we terug in ons eigen lichaam.

Ons hart kan niet functioneren zonder de longen. De hersenen communiceren voortdurend met zenuwen, spieren en organen. Miljarden cellen werken elke seconde samen om ons in leven te houden.

Wanneer één onderdeel uit balans raakt, heeft dit vaak gevolgen voor andere delen van het lichaam. Gezondheid is daarom niet alleen de afwezigheid van ziekte, maar ook het resultaat van harmonie tussen alle systemen.

Het menselijk lichaam laat ons zien dat ware kracht niet ontstaat door afzondering, maar door samenwerking.

📜 De geschiedenis: een ketting van gebeurtenissen

Ook de geschiedenis is een prachtig voorbeeld van onderlinge verbondenheid.

Geen enkele gebeurtenis staat op zichzelf. Een beslissing van een koning, een wetenschappelijke ontdekking, een oorlog of een uitvinding heeft vaak gevolgen die tientallen of zelfs honderden jaren later nog merkbaar zijn.

Wie de geschiedenis bestudeert, merkt al snel dat elke gebeurtenis verbonden is met wat eraan voorafging en wat erop volgde. Het verleden vormt het heden, en het heden legt de basis voor de toekomst.

Geschiedenis is eigenlijk een enorme ketting van oorzaken en gevolgen.

🌐 Mijn website: een digitaal netwerk van kennis

Precies datzelfde principe probeer ik toe te passen op mijn website als Studiedienst Theo-Herbots.

Elke pagina staat in verband met andere pagina’s. Artikelen verwijzen naar aanvullende informatie. Onderwerpen versterken elkaar. Nieuwe inzichten bouwen voort op eerder verzamelde kennis.

De website is daardoor meer dan een verzameling losse teksten. Het is een kennisnetwerk waarin bezoekers verbanden kunnen ontdekken tussen gezondheid, geschiedenis, wetenschap, spiritualiteit, natuur en vele andere onderwerpen.

Hoe meer verbindingen er ontstaan, hoe waardevoller de informatie wordt.

🔍 De kracht van verbanden zien

Veel mensen kijken naar afzonderlijke feiten. Maar wie dieper kijkt, ontdekt patronen en verbanden.

Een gebeurtenis heeft een oorzaak. Een symptoom heeft een achtergrond. Een idee heeft een oorsprong. Een oplossing hangt vaak samen met andere factoren.

Werkelijk inzicht ontstaat wanneer we leren kijken naar het grotere plaatje.

Juist daar ligt de kracht van studie en onderzoek: niet alleen kennis verzamelen, maar begrijpen hoe alles met elkaar samenhangt.

🌟 Slotwoord

Die avond op mijn balkon begon met het bewonderen van de sterren. Maar uiteindelijk werd het een moment van inzicht.

De sterrenhemel herinnerde mij eraan dat alles in ons universum deel uitmaakt van een groter geheel. Hetzelfde geldt voor ons lichaam, onze geschiedenis, onze samenleving en de kennis die wij met elkaar delen.

Bij Studiedienst Theo-Herbots geloven wij dat echte wijsheid ontstaat wanneer we verbanden leren zien. Elke ontdekking, elk artikel en elk onderzoek vormt een stukje van een veel grotere puzzel.

Hoe meer we de onderlinge verbindingen begrijpen, hoe beter we onszelf, de wereld en onze plaats daarin kunnen begrijpen.

✨ Want uiteindelijk staat niets los van elkaar. Alles is met elkaar verbonden. ✨

Studiedienst Theo-Herbots
Onderzoek, inzicht en kennis in hun onderlinge samenhang. 📚🌍🌌

Theo‑Herbots dankt u uit de grond van zijn hart voor uw inschrijving. 

Echt waar… dit betekent meer dan zomaar een naam op een lijst. Het betekent vertrouwen. Verbondenheid. Een stukje warmte dat jij met ons wil delen.

En geloof me… je zal er geen spijt van krijgen. Elke nieuwsbrief wordt met zorg, liefde en een vleugje Tiense ziel samengesteld — alsof ik hem persoonlijk bij jou in de brievenbus kom steken 💌✨

Vergeet niet om na je inschrijving even in je inbox te kijken. Klik daar op de bevestigingslink, zodat je inschrijving helemaal in orde is. Deze extra stap is speciaal ingebouwd om jou te beschermen tegen spam 💛✨

📬 Tip: Kijk ook even in je spambox, soms verstopt het mailtje zich daar.

Met jouw inschrijving geef je jezelf een klein cadeautje: een moment van verbinding, verhalen, foto’s, nostalgie en groeten uit Tienen die je hart raken. Elke nieuwsbrief is een beetje alsof we samen aan tafel zitten met een tas koffie ☕💛 — warm, eerlijk, menselijk.

Wij houden evenmin van spam als jij, en jouw gegevens worden nooit gedeeld met derden. Je bent bij ons in veilige handen 🤝💛

Wanneer je hieronder via Categorieën binnenstapt, ⬇️⬇️⬇️

kom je terecht op een plek waar mijn levenswerk samenkomt. Druk je erop, dan zie je eerst een warme inleiding tot die categorie… en daarna alle blogberichten die ik in die rubriek met liefde, tijd en ziel heb opgebouwd.

Het is meer dan een menu. Het is een reis door mijn verhalen, mijn foto’s, mijn herinneringen, mijn inzichten — alles wat ik door de jaren heen heb gedeeld met wie hier graag vertoeft.

Onder de flachcounter staan de gerelateerde berichten — ideaal om verder te bladeren door ons warme verhaalarchief. 😊

Elke categorie is een klein universum:

soms nostalgisch, soms speels, soms diepgaand, soms puur praktisch… maar altijd met dezelfde bedoeling: iemand raken, iemand helpen, iemand laten glimlachen.

En hoe verder je klikt, hoe meer je ontdekt. Want achter elke titel schuilt een stukje van mijn leven, een moment dat ik wilde bewaren, een gedachte die ik wilde delen, een gevoel dat ik niet wilde laten verdwijnen.

🌟 Een Groeiende Bibliotheek van Wijsheid

Met elke nieuwe publicatie bouw ik verder aan een plek waar lezers kunnen thuiskomen. Een plek waar voeding, energie en emotie elkaar ontmoeten — en waar ik U begeleidt met zachtheid, humor en authenticiteit 💛🌳

Dit is mijn digitale thuis. Een plek waar verhalen ademen en herinneringen zachtjes fluisteren. En jij? Jij bent altijd welkom. Mijn deur staat open, mijn hart ook.

om binnen te komen, rond te kijken, te lezen, te voelen… en misschien zelfs iets mee te nemen dat jouw dag een beetje mooier maakt.

Klik dan op “See More” in de FagCounter hieronder en ontdek wat er écht achter onze actie schuilgaat. Je zult versteld staan van de kracht van verbondenheid, kunst en verhaal!

Statistieken liegen niet: In de tool die ik hiervoor gebruik worden de cijfers om de 10 minuten automatisch aangepast

Ik heb deze tool hieronder pas begin maart 2022 toegevoegd.

Daardoor worden de statistieken ook slechts vanaf die datum weergegeven, terwijl ik in werkelijkheid al meer dan 12 jaar actief aan het bloggen ben. De cijfers tonen dus maar een deel van het verhaal — mijn blogreis begon vele jaren eerder en omvat een veel rijkere geschiedenis.

Verneem “ALLES” over ons — en voel je thuis bij ons warme verhaalhuis

Bij ons ontdek je geen koude feiten of afstandelijke uitleg. Nee, hier vind je een levende plek, een digitale thuis waar verhalen ademen, herinneringen fluisteren en waar elke bezoeker een warm welkom krijgt.

Wij zijn een groeiende gemeenschap van mensen die houden van schoonheid, eenvoud, gezondheid, creativiteit en verbondenheid. Elke categorie op deze blog is een klein universum op zich — gevuld met foto’s, tips, nostalgie, lokale trots en momenten die het hart raken.

Verneem meer KLIK ➡️HIER ✅

Vanaf nu kan U ons ook bereiken via WhatsApp. 💛 Let wel: dit kanaal is niet bedoeld voor persoonlijke gesprekken of reclameboodschappen (behalve wanneer het gaat om nuttige info of tips die kunnen helpen om onze Blog te verbeteren).

📌 Waarvoor wél?

• Voor inlichtingen over de Blog, onze categorieën en onze publicaties
• Voor vragen, suggesties of feedback
• Voor persoonlijke problemen waarbij U graag advies wenst — warm, respectvol en zonder oordeel
• Voor constructieve ideeën die onze gemeenschap sterker maken

Onze Blog is geen eenrichtingsverkeer. Het is een gesprek, een ontmoeting, een warme kring waar iedereen welkom is. WhatsApp is gewoon een extra deur die wij openzetten — zodat U ons nog makkelijker kan bereiken wanneer iets op Uw hart ligt. 💬 Samen maken we deze plek mooier, rijker en menselijker.

Money, the mushroom fun-guy…

Fungi and human life: The molds, mushrooms, and medicines that fill our world by Nicholas Money, 2026. Princeton University Press.

We’ve had a flurry of popular science books about fungi in the last few years, e.g., Entangled Life: How Fungi Make Our Worlds, Change Our Minds and Shape Our Futures by Merlin Sheldrake, Sandra Lawrence’s The Magic of Mushrooms, The Hidden Kingdom of Fungi by Keith Seifert, and Alison Pouliot’s duo of Funga obscura, and Mushroom day: A story of 24 hours and 24 fungal lives. However, few, I suggest, can have been more eagerly awaited than Nicholas Money’s Fungi and human life: The molds, mushrooms, and medicines that fill our world [which and whose book is here appraised].

Why should this particular tome be so keenly anticipated?

It’s written by Nicholas Money.

To expand upon that. By virtue of what I’ve read in his other books [see Haven’t we read it all before..?] – and according to his students – I know Money is definitely a fun guy. He has the enviable knack of unearthing and writing about the most interesting tit-bits of fungal ‘trivia’* [Ed. – many of which facts are not trivial at all!]. That sort of thing engages his readers; Money makes learning about fungi fun. Plus, his writing style is also full of flourish, wit and memorable phrasing**. [Ed. – and you will increase your knowledge of unusual words***] Money not only writes very well, he also tells a terrific tale. [Ed. – and we even get a song! Well, some lyrics at least on p. 111 (!!) Does that mean we can expect “Mycologia, the musical” sometime soon..?]

And Money’s tale in Fungi and human life is – simply put – the story of the intimate (very intimate in places…) interconnection between fungi and humankind. Or, in the author’s own words, “This is the story of people and fungi, the human-fungus symbiosis that spans the local to the global, revealing how our lives are influenced through rich relationships with these extraordinary microorganisms” (p. 19). In terms of ‘local’, the first of the book’s two parts – Inward – takes an in-depth look at the role played by fungi upon and within the human body. The ancient roots of which association are discussed by Money, as he reminds us that its renewal and reinforcement takes place with every human birth. From womb to tomb, “The entire human body is affected by fungi” (p. 5). Whilst we are probably more aware of the impact of bacteria and viruses on human health and lives, Money does his very best to emphasise the – and arguably more – important impact of fungi in the affairs of Mankind.

In terms of ‘global’, Money considers the complicated and often contradictory relationship between humanity and fungi in Part II Outward. There we have an examination of the fungi that have “been staples of the human diet for millennia” (think bread, cheese, and alcoholic beverages), the “controversial experimentation with magic mushrooms in the treatment of depression”, and a reminder of the essential role that fungi play in decomposition and the cycling of nutrients that make the world go around.

In other words, Fungi and Human Life “explores the amazing ways fungi interact with our bodies, showing how our health and well-being depend on an immense ecosystem of yeasts and molds inside and all around us” (quoted from the publisher’s blurb here).

That the book is about fungi is a bonus. Despite the numerous fungi books written for the lay readership [see those several listed in this post’s first paragraph], there is still more to share about these intriguing organisms. And, in this particular tome Money keeps the focus firmly on the relationship between fungi and people. And his main mycological message is that fungi are much more intimately involved in the affairs of Mankind than we have given them credit for, and have so much untapped potential to improve the lot of Man. Accordingly, he goes into considerable detail about the medical side of mushrooms, yeasts, moulds and Mankind. In particular, I challenge you not to read Chapter 2 Touching without the urge to scratch an imagined itch on your skin(!). The insights I gained into the human biological side of the fungal-people relationship were most welcome and fascinating. Although I learnt more about faecal transplant than I probably wanted to know, I was intrigued to learn about new insights into an association of fungi with neurological conditions such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s. I learned a lot about medical mycology reading this book, for which I am grateful to author Money.

Overview of book’s contents

The book’s 174 pages of main text are spread over 10 chapters (plus approx. 3 pages of an Appendix looking at the difficulty in identifying fungi from DNA fragments – quite a technical section that is appropriately placed after the book’s main message). Fungi and human life is illustrated, but only with black-and-white pictures at the start of each chapter (but whose identity isn’t revealed until pages 225/6…). Although the book is consequently primarily uninterrupted narrative, that’s not a problem with a Money monograph because of the quality of the written word. But, interesting sub-headings, e.g., “Fungi as one of the principal causes of asthma”; “All mushrooms are poisonish”; “Why mushrooms make psychedelics”; and “The necromycobiome”, help to break-up the text (and provide some indication of the text to come).

Plus, it’s not just dry facts, Fungi and human life is punctuated with stories about the people involved in the science, and Money is not averse to infusing the text with stories about his own interaction with fungi (e.g., his fungal spore-induced childhood asthma attack), and philosophical musings (e.g., when we are invited to picture one’s body as “I am a trinity, born from one cell, copied in trillions, and filled with other forms of life” (p. 6)). This is thus a very human book about a very human biological interaction [Ed. – and, in case you wanted a bit of reassurance that the subject matter of this book is relevant to the Plant Cuttings blog, we have this amazing quote: “We depend on botany, and plants depend on fungi” (p. 160)…]

The book is completed with a –surprisingly short considering the great range of topics that Money covers – Index. Its 2.33 two-columned pages go from ‘Allegro, John‘ (Raphael Tiffou, 2022; Geoffrey Smith, 2025) (who has interesting things to say about Christianity and fungi – and Money has interesting things to say about Allegro…..…) to ‘zoonoses’ (“A zoonosis is an infectious disease that can be transmitted from animals to humans and vice versa”).

This is a scicomm book

Fungi and human life is a factual book that deals with biological and medical topics which may be unfamiliar to readers. Money therefore has a duty both to try and explain those topics so that they can be understood by his audience, and to provide the necessary evidence to support those statements.

Whilst I have a reasonable appreciation of the book’s fungal biological material I have much less knowledge regarding human biology and psychology. No matter, Money’s easy-reading style meant that what I read was suitably well-explained that it was understandable. And there’s quite a lot to understand in the book. For instance there is a lot about the body’s immune system, and plenty about HIV-AIDS, COVID-19 and psilocybin’s therapeutic potential (the book is very up-to-date in respect of those last two topics). The communication side of the book is therefore addressed. What about the necessary evidence?

The biggest single part of the book is the approx. 45 pages of Notes. Arranged by chapter, the numbered items relate to the super-scripted numbers in-text and provide the sources for statements of fact made in text (and some other explanatory material where appropriate). Numerous scientific papers are cited – which are appropriate since there’s a lot of science in the book. Often – usually! – several sources ere cited in each note, including several publications from Money (which helps to underline his credentials for writing this book…). On the face of it, the stating of sources seems pretty thorough. However, some of the items within the Notes contain new information that is not sourced, e.g., Note 2 (p. 179) with its information about Candida yeasts; Note 4 (p. 183)’s estimates of numbers of bacterial and fungal cells in different parts of the body; and Note 20 (p. 199) regarding definition of terms.

So much for the Notes section, what about statements made in-text? Are they all backed-up by suitable Notes? Certainly, the majority appear to be, which is good to see. But, unfortunately, there are several instances where that is not the case. For example, the detailed account of the biology of white blood cells (3rd paragraph, p. 7); the statement that there are “Islamic prohibitions against keeping dogs in the home” (last sentence, p. 31); the use of griseofulvin to treat ringworm (2nd paragraph, p. 32); that Head & Shoulders is the “best-selling shampoo in the world” (1st paragraph, p. 34); a whole paragraph about aflatoxins (3rd paragraph, p. 139); the proportion of human’s calories that come from cereals (2nd paragraph, p. 162); and the estimates of fungal hyphal density in grassland (p. 171, 2nd paragraph). Whilst I fully expect that all such statements are accurate, it’s a shame that they indicate a lapse in – the otherwise pretty exemplary – provision of evidence for his readers.

[Ed. – Money bemoans – and quite rightly – the unsupported and unwarranted claims of purveyors of ‘mycological medicines’, which have hampered legitimate research into the true pharmaceutical value of fungal products. This is evident in his words, “There is an event horizon in mycological thinking that is crossed when enthusiasm and ego exceed experimental evidence” (p. 171), and “The study of medicinal mushrooms is lost in a madhouse of misrepresentation and pseudoscience that includes crackpot cures for terminal illnesses” (Note 27, p. 206). Recognising and applauding his need for evidence, I’m therefore a little surprised at his assertion that “The iceman’s … childhood would have been filled with stories about toadstools, and witches, and wood spirits” (p. 123). They may well have been, but Money provides no evidence to support this claim…]

Is it error-free?

Subject to suitable and satisfactory verification of the veracity of any unsourced statements of fact in the book, Fungi and human life appears to be largely error-free. Apart from what look like ‘typos’ – ‘sems’ (on p. 81, which should be ‘seems’?), and Oceana (on p. 132, which is probably meant to be Oceania?), the most serious ‘error’ relates to the chemical formula of ‘sugar’ as C6H12O2 (on p. 95) in “the most consequential chemical reaction in human history”. Presumably, that should be shown as C6H12O6? [Ed. – I know that here Money is providing a rather shorthand version of the conversion of sugar into alcohol, as “C6H12O2 >>> CH3CH2OH”. But, since that representation leaves questions about where the missing Cs, Hs, and Os from the sugar have gone since they don’t feature numerically in the ethyl alcohol formula (Jessica Clifton, 2025), it would be best to show sugar as C6H12O6 in the first place. Sometimes you can over-simplify things…]. But, all are items easily resolved in a revised edition.

Haven’t we read it all before..?

Whenever one comes across a book about fungi and people, there is always the nagging doubt that there’s only so much of that sort of information to go round, and one can’t help but wonder if you’ve read at least some if it before. I don’t know how much – if any – of the information shared by Money in Fungi and human life may already have been given an airing in any of his previous forays into fungal non-fiction (e.g., Triumph of the fungi, Mushrooms: A natural and cultural history, Fungi: A very short introduction, and/or The rise of yeast), but it’s so long ago that I read any of them that repetition (and any so-called ‘repetition’ we might rename ‘reinforcement’, an important teaching device…) wouldn’t be an issue for me: Money’s words and musings are always worth reading (and, probably, even rereading…). And, anyway, even if Money is ‘repeating’ himself here, its contents will still be new to those who are new to his work, and there is much for a new audience to enjoy. And enjoy it they will (or, should). [Ed. – I’m pretty sure that very little of what’s in Fungi and human life will be found in Money’s previous fungal books. Plus, much has happened in the world of fungi since those other books were written that there will be plenty of new material. After all, “The fast pace of discovery in medical mycology is really inspiring. … As this examination of the fungi has proceeded, the vision of the microbiome as a mostly bacterial territory has shifted to an appreciation of the diverse communities of fungi that fight and cooperate with bacteria through webs of chemical interactions to make a living on the body. Through these innovations we are beginning to fathom the extraordinary influence of the mycobiome on our health and well-being” (quoted from interview with Money on the Princeton University Press blog here)…]

Final words…

… I will leave to Money himself, “This is the story of the fungi near and far, which support the biosphere by forming mycorrhizas with plants, rotting the wastes of biology, enriching the soil, and purifying water. Life without fungi is impossible. There are as many of them living on the human body as there are stars in the Milky Way and, more importantly, they have a far greater influence on our lives than all but one of these galactic incinerators. They are everywhere and will outlive us by an eternity: in myco speramus” (p. 174)****.

Summary

Money has produced yet another great book about the fungal kingdom with Fungi and human life. This not only represents scicomm of a very high order, but is as informative and engaging as the author’s previous forays into fungal biology. It should be appreciated by students of fungi as much as by the non-specialist reader who wants to be better informed about the important part played by fungi in the affairs of mankind.

Fungi and human life is NOT a catalogue of ‘what have fungi ever done for us?’. Rather, it is a carefully crafted and considered recognition of the myriad roles fungi play in and upon the human body (principally from the perspective of health or wellbeing) and beyond that to the wider global ecosystem that humans are a part of (e.g., alcohol, psychedelics, religion, ecosystem services). Is it too early to be looking for Christmas presents?

* Fungi and human life is absolutely crammed full of facts. Some of the things you’ll learn include: sage advice on how to pronounce Latin names [although, Money assures us, “Latin names are kept to a bare minimum in this book” (p. 5)]; how much 40 billion fungal cells weigh; how much faeces the human body produces in a lifetime; discovering the identity of Money’s “hero”; finding out what is known as “champagne of the steppes” (p. 96); learning why – in Money’s opinion – fish are like mushrooms; being introduced to the value of ‘piratical metaphors’ for explaining biological facts; be disappointed that fungal spore-infused burial suits won’t work; and learning the identity of the person Money nominates for The Batshit Crazy Award in Mycology(!).

** Some of Money’s memorable phrasing include: “These tiny specks [microscopic fungal spores in the air] are destroyed after they stick to the mucus in our airways, but they carry irritating proteins called allergens that are as damaging to asthmatic lungs as birds sucked into jet engines” (p. 41); “Marmite … a fungal product that is formulated from yeast cells exhausted from the labor of crafting beer” (p. 102); “Together with maggots that writhe in the froth and beetles that nibble at sinews, the bacteria and fungi form the necrobiome that gathers at the postmortem banquet to dissolve the dead into the soil” (p. 164); and “Insouciant attitudes towards intestinal parasites are among the unearned privileges of today’s affluence… (p. 203, Note 3).

*** Fungi and human life will allow you to ‘increase your word power’ (readers of a certain age may recognise this phrase from leafing through copies of the Reader’s Digest (Reina Galhea, 2024; David Salariya, 2025) whilst waiting in dentist’s and doctor’s waiting rooms in days gone by…although, I suspect, few – if any – of these words will have featured in that venerable publication). Words in that category in Fungi and human life include: dysbiosis; synnecroses/synnecrosis; vomocytosis; mucormycosis; salmagundi; turophilia; sudoriferous; mephitic matter; formication; and henosis. [Ed. – I do want to be at the dinner party where you use any of those words in conversation!]

**** I had to Google this Latin phrase, and found that: “”In myco speramus” translates to “in fungus we trust,” a clever mycological spin on the traditional Latin motto “in Deo speramus” [in God we trust]. It celebrates the profound importance of fungi in supporting ecosystems, medicine, and the future of our planet. [1, 2, 3] This rallying cry has become a popular philosophy among biologists, ecologists, and mycology enthusiasts” (from the AI overview).

Probiotics may help protect against sarcopenia in older adults

Researchers used three approaches to study whether probiotics could help prevent sarcopenia (age-related loss of muscle mass, strength…
#NewsBeep #News #US #USA #UnitedStates #UnitedStatesOfAmerica #Nutrition #3dimensional #3D #cellbiology #cristae #cytological #cytology #energy #eukaryotic #Health #HumanBiology #Intracellular #Mitochondria #organelle #respiration
https://www.newsbeep.com/us/812287/

Probiotics may help protect against sarcopenia in older adults

Researchers used three approaches to study whether probiotics could help prevent sarcopenia (age-related loss of muscle mass, str…
#dining #cooking #diet #food #Nutrition #3dimensional #3D #CellBiology #cristae #cytological #cytology #energy #eukaryotic #humanbiology #Intracellular #Mitochondria #nutrition #organelle #respiration
https://www.diningandcooking.com/2768721/probiotics-may-help-protect-against-sarcopenia-in-older-adults/

Probiotics may help protect against sarcopenia in older adults https://www.diningandcooking.com/2768721/probiotics-may-help-protect-against-sarcopenia-in-older-adults/ #3Dimensional #3D #CellBiology #cristae #cytological #cytology #energy #eukaryotic #HumanBiology #Intracellular #Mitochondria #nutrition #organelle #respiration

https://www.europesays.com/uk/1146035/ Probiotics may help protect against sarcopenia in older adults #3Dimensional #3D #CellBiology #cristae #cytological #Cytology #Energy #eukaryotic #Health #HumanBiology #intracellular #mitochondria #Nutrition #organelle #Respiration #UK #UnitedKingdom

Four types of thinker have been identified. Which one are you? https://www.theguardian.com/science/2026/jul/25/four-types-of-thinker-which-one-are-you #Consciousness #Neuroscience #Science #Sleep #Health #HealthWellbeing #Society #Psychology #MentalHealth #Happiness #HumanBiology #LifeAndStyle

Four types of thinker have been identified. Which one are you?
By Ian Sample Science editor

Investigation finds evidence of distinct groups, from big-picture thinkers to those who sweat the small stuff

https://www.theguardian.com/science/2026/jul/25/four-types-of-thinker-which-one-are-you

#Consciousness #Neuroscience #Science #Sleep #Health #Healthwellbeing #Society #Psychology #Mentalhealth #Happiness #Humanbiology #Lifeandstyle #TheGuardian #IanSampleScienceeditor

We must reject any notion of AI consciousness | Letters
By Guardian Staff

Artificial intelligence systems won’t become conscious for the same reason they won’t become pregnant, says Dr John Pickering

https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2026/jul/22/we-must-reject-any-notion-of-ai-consciousness

#AIartificialintelligence #Consciousness #Computing #Neuroscience #Anthropic #Psychology #Humanbiology #Science #Technology #UKnews #TheGuardian #GuardianStaff

The curious case of the tighter ring. 💍🤔

Have you ever noticed that a ring fits perfectly on one hand, but barely squeezes onto the exact same finger on the other hand? If you thought your rings were playing tricks on you, you're not crazy, as this is actually pure human biology. For most people, the fingers on your dominant hand are slightly thicker than the fingers on your non-dominant hand. Because you use your dominant hand way more often for writing, typing, gripping, and lifting, the tiny muscles in that hand get a constant daily workout, making them slightly larger. Over time, that constant use and resistance also create a denser bone structure and increase blood flow, making your dominant fingers just a tiny bit wider. Jewelers actually know this secret well and never assume both hands are identical, as there is almost always a half-size or full-size difference between them. So if your ring slips onto your left hand comfortably but fights you on the right, it just means your dominant hand has been doing all the heavy lifting!

#FunFacts #Science #HumanBiology #DidYouKnow #DailyObservations

Opinion: I’m a CT resident who went to Spain and found health

I did not go to Spain looking for a new life. At 75, you do not usually imagine…
#Spain #ES #Europe #Europa #EU #addiction #aging #connecticut #convenience #Cordoba #Driving #endlessconsumption #Food #Health #healthcaresystem #humanbiology #inactivity #Isolation #overconsumption #Profit #realfood #shelflife #Southport #stress #Walking
https://www.europesays.com/spain/44839/

Raphaël Dubois knew why we walk anticlockwise | Letters https://www.theguardian.com/science/2026/jun/15/raphael-dubois-knew-why-we-walk-anticlockwise #HumanBiology #Science #Biology

Humans prefer to walk anticlockwise, scientists find – but reason is unclear https://www.theguardian.com/science/2026/jun/10/humans-prefer-to-walk-anticlockwise-scientists-find-reason-unclear #Science #HumanBiology #Biology #Spain #Japan #UkNews #WorldNews

Ok, so the first letter (before a number that both become their own thing or follow the gene supergroup) means the hormone that acts on that receptor?

Like D1 and D2 are dopamine, H1 is histamine, HT is fuck-knows, and M1 or M3 or M5 are "muscarinic"?
At least alpha-1 for adrenergic is easier to remember.

"It also acts on dopaminergic D1 and D2 receptors. Quetiapine is an antagonist for D2 receptors and 5-HT2 receptors.[10] "
[...]
"Furthermore, norquetiapine has an affinity for other receptors, such as H1 histamine receptor, 5-HT1E, 5-HT2A, 5-HT2B, 5-HT7 serotonergic receptors, M1, M3, and M5 muscarinic receptors, and α1-adrenergic receptors.[12]"

https://www.mdpi.com/2673-9879/2/3/18

#BioChemistry #química #chem #chemistry #Biology #HumanBiology

Let's settle the debate with actual data: Women's voices register as louder and sharper than men's voices.

If you look closely at the science, it is a perfect cross section of physics, anatomy, and neurology.

1. The Anatomy and Vocal Cord Physics: On average, a woman’s vocal cords are shorter and thinner, measuring around 12 to 17 mm, while a man’s measure 17 to 25 mm. Because they have less mass, they vibrate much faster, roughly 200 times per second compared to a man's 120 times. This creates a significantly higher fundamental frequency and pitch.
2. The Acoustic Physics and Intensity: Higher frequencies possess shorter wavelengths. In a closed room or crowd, these shorter wavelengths do not bend or dissipate around objects easily. Instead, they pierce straight through background noise with crisp intensity.
3. The Neurological Proof and Ear Sensitivity: This is the ultimate kicker. The human ear canal is shaped like a natural acoustic amplifier tuned specifically to boost sounds between 2000 and 5000 Hz. Evolutionary biology designed our brains to be hypersensitive to this exact range so humans could hear a baby's cry or an alert from afar. A woman's vocal upper harmonics land right in this biological sweet spot.

So, it is not just a guess. Human biology and physics are literally hardwired to amplify a woman's voice over a man's.

#Science #Acoustics #HumanBiology #PhysicsOfSound #BrainScience #Fediverse #DeepDive #Facts

The Fragile Horizon: Biological and Cognitive Tolls of Extended Orbit

Do astronauts face health risks after 6 months in space? Learn how long missions affect human bodies and minds as of May 17, 2026.

#spacehealth, #astronauts, #nasa, #spaceexploration, #humanbiology

https://newsletter.tf/astronaut-health-risks-after-six-months-space/

Astronauts on missions longer than six months lose 5% of their body mass and 20% of their fluids. This is a higher physical cost than scientists saw in shorter missions.

#spacehealth, #astronauts, #nasa, #spaceexploration, #humanbiology
https://newsletter.tf/astronaut-health-risks-after-six-months-space/

Connection is more than a feeling; it’s a biological necessity for long-term health. 🧠🧬 Activating the Nucleus Accumbens drops stress levels and floods the system with healing Serotonin. Science proves connection is the ultimate medicine. 🧪🛡️ Welcome back to The Human Lab.#TheHumanLab #Neuroscience #HumanBiology #ScienceFacts #Wellness

Physical connection isn't just romantic; it’s a biological necessity. 🧠🧬 Skin-to-skin contact lowers stress markers and activates the body's recovery systems. Science proves that a simple hug can literally add years to your life. 🧪🛡️ Welcome to The Human Lab.#TheHumanLab #Neuroscience #HumanBiology #ScienceFacts #Wellness

Physical connection is a biological necessity for longevity. 🧠🧬 Specific tactile interactions activate the brain's reward circuits, dropping Cortisol and flooding the system with Serotonin. Science proves that connection is the ultimate "Free Pharmacy." 🧪🛡️ Welcome back to The Human Lab.#TheHumanLab #Neuroscience #HumanBiology #ScienceFacts #Wellness

Visual attraction is processed in under 200ms—far faster than conscious awareness. 🧠🧬 The brain evolved to prioritize signals linked to evolutionary success. It’s a survival circuit firing in real-time. 🧪🛡️ Welcome back to The Human Lab.TheHumanLab #Neuroscience #HumanBiology #Evolution #BrainFacts

#TheHumanLab #Neuroscience #HumanBiology #Evolution #BrainFactsVisual attraction is processed in under 200ms—far faster than conscious awareness. 🧠🧬 The brain evolved to prioritize certain signals linked to evolutionary success. It’s a survival circuit firing in real-time. 🧪🛡️ Welcome back to The Human Lab.

https://www.europesays.com/ie/452010/ Fred Hutch study dramatically expands therapeutic range of approved kinase drugs #BrainCancer #DnaMutation #DrugResistance #Éire #Glioblastoma #HumanBiology #IE #Ireland #Kinase #LungCancer #RareCancers #TaranGujral #Technology

Genetic accuracy declines with age. 🧠🧬 Research shows that paternal age after 35 can increase DNA mutations, impacting future generations' health. The biological clock is a human reality, not just a gendered one. 🧪🛡️ Welcome back to The Human Lab.#TheHumanLab #Genetics #HumanBiology #ScienceFacts #HealthEducation

Physical sensation is a dialogue between your skin and your brain. 🧠🧬 Specific areas like the neck have a direct line to your brain's reward system, triggering a "VIP" dopamine response. 🧪🛡️ Welcome to The Human Lab, where we decode the science of being human.#TheHumanLab #Neuroscience #HumanBiology #ScienceFacts #XScience

The Neuro-Biological Basis of Rapid Visual Attraction and Evolutionary Cues. 🔬Discussing how eye-tracking data shows the brain's instant response to specific anatomical proportions as a biological survival mechanism. 🧬🧪#TheHumanLab #Neuroscience #HumanBiology #Evolution #brainfacts

https://www.europesays.com/ch/45556/ Roche inaugurates new research home for the Institute of Human Biology, pioneering human model systems to accelerate drug discovery and development #CHF #development #DrugDiscoveryAndDevelopment #HumanBiology #HumanDisease #HumanModelSystems #IHB #research #ResearchAndDevelopment #Roche #Switzerland

https://www.europesays.com/ch/39930/ Roche inaugurates new research home for the Institute of Human Biology, pioneering human model systems to accelerate drug discovery and development #CHF #development #DrugDiscoveryAndDevelopment #HumanBiology #HumanDisease #HumanModelSystems #IHB #research #ResearchAndDevelopment #Roche #Switzerland

Fermented foods shaped human biology

https://press.asimov.com/articles/culture-shift

#HackerNews #FermentedFoods #HumanBiology #CultureShift #HealthScience #FoodScience

What sets human consciousness apart in the age of AI? – podcast https://www.theguardian.com/science/audio/2026/mar/24/what-sets-human-consciousness-apart-in-the-age-of-ai-podcast #Science #Consciousness #Neuroscience #HumanBiology #Psychology

Inside voice: what can our thoughts reveal about the nature of consciousness?

Scientists and philosophers studying the mind have discovered how little we know about our inner experiences.

https://mediafaro.org/article/20260219-inside-voice-what-can-our-thoughts-reveal-about-the-nature-of-consciousness?mf_channel=mastodon&action=forward

#Neuroscience #Consciousness #Psychology #Philosophy #HumanBiology #Science #Longread

Anyone can recommend me a book about human biology? In particular about sex and intersex, but biology in general is welcome too. I just read about immunology with Immune and it was fantastic.

#biology #nonfiction #intersex #humanbiology

Painting on paper, 20 x 20 cm: Ambiguous impulses for your mental cinema!
#kunst #analogueArt #painting #mentalCinema #contemporaryArt #rubberStamp #reliefPrinting #inkjetPrint #mixedMedia #acrylicColours #climateActionNow #saveBioDiversity #systemChange #endFossilFuels #makeArtNotWar #NoRacism #noAFD #NoFascism #anatomy #renaissance #science #humanBiology #theDisplay #revelation #watchMe #innerSelf #exposure #medicine #transparency #helicopter #transport #woodenTub #gardenSnails

Painting on paper, 20 x 20 cm: Ambiguous impulses for your mental cinema!
#kunst #analogueArt #painting #mentalCinema #contemporaryArt #rubberStamp #reliefPrinting #inkjetPrint #mixedMedia #acrylicColours #climateActionNow #saveBioDiversity #systemChange #endFossilFuels #makeArtNotWar #NoRacism #noAFD #NoFascism #antAndElephant #gambling #cardGames #table #anatomy #thedisplay #revelation #watchme #innerself #exposure #transparency #science #humanBiology #renaissance

Why do we wake up shortly before our alarm goes off? It’s not by chance
#Science #Physiology #Sleep #SleepScience #BodyClock #SleepHealth #HumanBiology #SleepCycles #Neuroscience #HealthySleep #MorningRoutine #ScienceExplained #The14
#CircadianRhythm
https://the-14.com/why-do-we-wake-up-shortly-before-our-alarm-goes-off-its-not-by-chance/

Why do people love spicy food – even when it hurts to eat it? https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2025/nov/10/why-do-people-love-spicy-food-even-when-it-hurts-to-eat-it #Health&wellbeing #Lifeandstyle #Humanbiology #Science #Food

Why do people love spicy food – even when it hurts to eat it? https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2025/nov/10/why-do-people-love-spicy-food-even-when-it-hurts-to-eat-it #Health&wellbeing #Lifeandstyle #Humanbiology #Science #Food

Why do we yawn? It’s almost certainly not for the reason you think https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2025/oct/26/why-do-we-yawn-almost-certainly-not-for-the-reason-you-think #Health&wellbeing #Humanbiology #Lifeandstyle #Psychology #Biology #Science #Society #Sleep

Humans have an internal lunar clock – but light pollution is disrupting it
#Science #Moon #LunarClock #LightPollution #Moonlight #Health #HumanBiology #SleepScience #CircadianRhythm #Nature #Wildlife #ClimateChange #Animals #ArtificialLight #Menopause
https://the-14.com/humans-have-an-internal-lunar-clock-but-light-pollution-is-disrupting-it/

Why do we yawn? It’s almost certainly not for the reason you think https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2025/oct/26/why-do-we-yawn-almost-certainly-not-for-the-reason-you-think #Health&wellbeing #Humanbiology #Lifeandstyle #Psychology #Biology #Science #Society #Sleep

Can you see circles or rectangles? And does the answer depend on where you grew up? | Anil Seth https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2025/jul/05/optical-illusions-see-world-perception #Consciousness #Neuroscience #Humanbiology #Psychology #Science

Your microbiome questions answered: part two – podcast https://www.theguardian.com/science/audio/2025/may/29/your-microbiome-questions-answered-part-two-podcast #Health&wellbeing #Dietsanddieting #Humanbiology #Nutrition #Science #Health

Cracking Joints and Neurological Health: Unveiling the Hidden Connections

#HumanBiology #JointHealth #Neuroscience #Inflammation #SynovialFluid #GlialCells #Cytokines #Neuroinflammation #NeuroscienceExplained #MedicalScience #HealthAndWellness #BiologyInsights #BrainHealth #InflammatoryResponse #MedicalEducation

https://youtube.com/shorts/GlY-O67uDQY?feature=share