Three scientists make a wonderful discovery

CLASSIFY MUSHROOMS

After a deserved rest day, due to the long trip from the USA, ecologists Paula Spaeth Anich, Noah Gohke and Erik R. Olson ended up in the forest around the giant Eacham Lake with a rented car. It is located in Queensland in the North-East of Australia. They have the task of collecting and photographing 1 specimen of the different species of bioluminescent mushrooms that they can find in the forest. Afterwards, they will classify them according to their toxicity. After all, they know that these mushrooms emit such a beautiful green, neon-like light for possible picking= en eetgrage individuen af te schrikken.

It's pitch black in the woods. The scientists are not at all tense. After all, you never know what you'll encounter beforehand and of course they'd rather not encounter a predator, a venomous spider or a snake. Their heads are encased in a band with a light on the UV. . As a result, they can just see where they are going. Of course, finding the bioluminescent fungi is therefore no problem. With their beautiful neon-like light, they simply draw the scientists close. So it won't be long before they find a row of beautiful specimens. They are umbrella-shaped mushrooms that emit a beautiful green light.

“How delightful” , says Paula Spaeth Anich enthusiastically, as she delves into a transparent jar from her backpack. She then bends down to carefully pick one specimen out of the forest soil that she gently places in it”

*****************************************************************************************************Bioluminescence is caused by the molecule oxyluciferin in the cells of such a fungus. Under the pressure of an enzyme luceferase, this is stimulated to a higher energetic state. After that, the molecule immediately falls back into its ground state and emits a light particle at the same time. The luceferase enzyme of fungi is highly reactive. It can interact with various forms of oxiluciferine. This explains the rich color palette of the luminous mushrooms. Because there are some that also reflect pink, purple, yellow or white light.