Tumble Science Podcast for Kids · Tumble Media

The Science of Fungi

January 9, 2026·26 min·2 clips

Fungi don't breathe like us—they absorb oxygen directly through their mycelium, Lee Davis explains.

This episode of Tumble explores the world of fungi with Lee Davis, collection manager of the fungarium at Kew Gardens. Hosts Lindsay and Marshall investigate a listener's question about whether fungi breathe. Lee Davis oversees the largest collection of mushrooms in the world, with over 1.3 million dried specimens stored in more than 13,000 boxes. He explains that fungi absorb oxygen directly through their mycelium, the thread-like network that represents the main body of the fungus. Fungi need oxygen to convert food into energy, so they would die in an oxygen-free environment, confirming the listener's proposed experiment. Lee describes the fungarium as a climate-controlled archive where specimens are used for global scientific research, including DNA extraction to map fungal relationships. He estimates there are likely two to three million fungal species worldwide, with many still undiscovered. Fungi are foundational to terrestrial ecosystems, having helped create soil and enabling plants to colonize land. Approximately 95% of plants depend on mycorrhizal fungi, a mutualistic relationship where both organisms exchange nutrients. Decomposer fungi, called saprobes, break down dead organic matter to recycle nutrients. Lee's team conducts field research in biodiverse regions like Madagascar, where they frequently discover new species, including varieties of amanita mushrooms. Some fungi, known as zombie fungi, infect and manipulate insect behavior to aid their own reproduction. Lee notes that while few fungi are dangerous to touch, they should never be eaten without expert identification. He personally finds mushrooms beautiful to study but dislikes their texture as food. The episode maintains a playful and educational tone, filled with puns and interactive questions for young listeners. It blends conversational interview segments with clear, engaging explanations of complex biological concepts. Young science enthusiasts curious about biology, ecology, or weird natural phenomena will enjoy this exploration. Listeners seeking a purely narrative story or those sensitive to descriptions of insects and decomposition might find parts less appealing.

As heard by us

Fungi turn a breath question into a lesson about soil, oxygen, and land itself.

It begins with a simple question about whether fungi breathe, then keeps widening the frame. From moldy food and mycelium, it explains how fungi take in oxygen without lungs and why a fungus cut off from oxygen would not survive.

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Why you'd press play

For the listener who wants fungi explained from moldy food all the way to the soil under their feet.

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