Brief by Shorts91 Newsdesk / 05:27am on 21 Apr 2025,Monday Science
As HBO’s The Last Of Us returns for Season 2, scientists are addressing the real-world risk of fungal outbreaks. While the show's parasitic cordyceps fungus turns humans into zombie-like monsters, experts say some fungi do pose a serious threat. Species like Aspergillus fumigatus and Candida already cause hundreds of thousands of deaths annually. Though cordyceps can’t infect humans, climate change may alter that risk in the future. Experts urge greater awareness and preparedness, with antifungal research still lagging behind. The show’s apocalyptic scenario may be fictional, but its themes echo growing scientific concern over fungal evolution. (PC: HBO/Warner Media/Liane Hentscher)
