The intersection of pop culture and biology rarely sparks as much public intrigue—or anxiety—as the recent surge in interest surrounding the Cordyceps fungus. Propelled into the global spotlight by the success of HBO’s The Last of Us, the "zombie fungus" has transitioned from a niche mycological curiosity to a household name. However, as the line […]

The image is hauntingly familiar to millions of viewers: a fungal growth sprouting from the skull of a host, turning a sentient being into a mindless, aggressive vector for infection. Since the premiere of HBO’s The Last of Us, the Cordyceps fungus has transitioned from an obscure biological curiosity to a household name, sparking a […]