"Fungi can appear anywhere, from desert dunes to frozen tundra. They can invade our bodies and live between our toes or our floorboards. They are unwelcome intruders or vastly expensive treats, and symbols of both death and eternal life. But despite their familiar presence, there's still much to learn about the eruption, growth, and decay of their secret, interconnected, world"--

From making bread to decomposing things in the environment, fungi play a very important role in our lives. Vivid video footage, accompanied by colorful animations, illustrates the fascinating origin, diversity, and characteristics of fungi. Special attention is given to the ecological and economic importance of fungi. Concepts and terminology include: hyphae, mycelium, Zygomycota, rhizoids, stolons, Ascomycota, ascus, Basidiomycota, Deuteromycota, spores, and lichens.

"A prescient warning about the mysterious and deadly world of fungi-and how to avert further loss across species, including our own. Fungi are everywhere. Most are harmless; some are helpful. A few are killers. Collectively, infectious fungi are the most devastating agents of disease on earth, and a fungus that can persist in the environment without its host is here to stay. In Blight, Emily Monosson documents how trade, travel, and a changing climate are making us all more vulnerable to invasio

"Fungi are fundamental to all life on Earth. Their natural networks help plants live and grow; as medicine, they save lives; and in the kitchen, they put the fizz in champagne and the flavor in chocolate. But what are fungi? And how do they affect plants, animals, and humans? By feeding many animals and connecting plants, fungi are essential for ecosystems to thrive, playing a crucial role in maintaining life as we know it. With huge potential for use in everyday products and processes -- in foo