Fungi: The New Frontier

Original version

BBC Radio 4 LW

BBC Radio 4 FM

Fungi: The New Frontier: Us and them

Us and them

BBC Radio 4 - Fungi: The New Frontier, Us and them

Tim Hayward looks at the potential of fungi to help the human body and mind.

Tim Hayward concludes his fungal adventures with a look at some fungal body snatchers and considers the potential of fungi to offer therapeutic treatments for the body and mind.

It all started with rumours of an 800-meter underground organism hidden under the streets of Cambridge and a plate of mushrooms on toast. With cream. In this three-part series, Tim Hayward falls down a rabbit hole into kingdom (or as some call it queendom) Fungi. Along the way he starts to question pretty much everything he thought he knew about the world, discovering scientists doing pioneering research that’s changing how we understand life on Earth and offering solutions to some of our biggest challenges.

In this final episode, Tim tries to grow a lion’s mane mushroom. He then finds out about a “body snatcher” fungus that hijacks ants and manipulates their behaviour - which makes him wonder about what the complex chemical compounds produced by fungi might do to humans. He investigates the new wave of research interest around psilocybin, an alkaloid found in many species of fungi - and the significant promise these compounds are showing as potential treatments for addiction, PTSD, anxiety and even dementia - and then gets a look at a cutting-edge research lab growing medicinal mushrooms in the forests of Finland.

Featuring: 
Charissa de Bekker, Assistant Professor studying fungi that manipulate behaviour
Zoe Cormier, journalist and writer
Albert Garcia-Romeu, Assistant Professor at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine
Thomas Hartle, the first person to undergo psilocybin treatment legally in Canada
Eric Puro, CEO of KÄÄPÄ Biotech
Joette Crosier, Lab manager at KÄÄPÄ Biotech

Presenter: Tim Hayward
Producer and Sound Designer: Richard Ward
Executive Producer: Miranda Hinkley
Image courtesy of Carolina Magnasco
A Loftus Media production for Radio 4

BBC Radio 4

Intelligent speech, the most insightful journalism, the wittiest comedy, the most fascinating features and the most compelling drama and readings anywhere in UK radio.

Documentaries

Factual: Science & Nature: Nature & Environment

Tim Hayward falls down a rabbit hole and into the vast and largely hidden world of fungi.

Tim Hayward falls down a rabbit hole into the world of fungi, both ancient and largely hidden from view - and the research that's changing how we understand life on Earth.

Accessibility links

Programme Index

Fungi: The New Frontier

Us and them

Genres

Series

BBC Radio 4 LW

About BBC Radio 4