We put your questions to our fungi experts to find out if the fungal infection from the popular TV series and video game ‘The Last of Us’ could actually result in a worldwide zombie apocalypse.

#thelastofus #tlou #fungi #cordyceps

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Image attributions:
Cordyceps militaris, Image by Robert Luecking CC BY NC SA
Cordyceps militaris, Andreas Kunze CC BY-SA 3.0
Ophiocordyceps unilateralis, Nirajdude CC BY-SA 2.5
Ophiocordyceps dipterigena, Andreas Kay CC BY-NC-SA 2.0
Amanita phalloides, Strobilomyces CC BY-SA 3.0
Penicillia on petri dish, Convallaria majalis CC BY-SA 4.0
Tolypocladium inflatum, Richard Tehan CC BY-NC-SA 4.0
Isarias inclairii, Mike Dickison (Giantflightlessbirds) CC BY 4.0
Aspergillus terreus, Medmyco at English Wikipedia, CC0
Psilocybe semilanceata, Alan Rockefeller CC BY-SA 4.0
Oyster mushroom, NatureFriend, Pixabay
Laetiporus sulphureus, Lee collins, PD, via Wikimedia Commons
Trametes_versicolor, Jerzy Opioła, CC BY-SA 3.0
Jelly ear, Gemshots, Pixabay
Caloplaca marina, Mollerup CC BY-SA 3.0
Amanita muscaria, Bernard Spragg, PD, via Wikimedia Commons
Kew Shop, Image by Ines Stuart-Davidson, RBG Kew
Watering at Kew, Image by Steve Lancefield RBG Kew
Davies Alpine House in Winter, Image by Ines Stuart-Davidson RBG Kew

TIMESTAMPS
0:00 Meet our experts
0:23 Is the fungus in The Last of Us Real?
0:51 How many species of Cordyceps are there?
1:36 Do you have any Cordyceps at Kew?
2:07 How do Cordyceps spread in real-life?
3:52 Is it true that with a temperature rise, it could affect people?
4:52 Should 'fungi' be pronounced "fun-gee" or "fun-guy"?
5:06 Could The Last of Us really happen?
6:46 How would the 'host' feel the infection?
7:37 What's the most dangerous fungus?
8:06 How does the real fungus not wipe out its hosts?
9:01 What is understood about medicinal products from fungi?
10:33 What's the most common fungus in the UK?
10:58 What's your favourite fungus?
11:35 If there was a Last of Us style apocalypse, what would you do?