For anyone who has wondered, “What Were Ancient Mushrooms Like?” Fungi are all over our modern world, living in the water and on dry land, in animals and in plants. They may decompose matter, have enticing flavors, contain deadly toxins, or cause diseases. But all the diversity of fungi had to start somewhere. Izzie goes all the way back to the beginnings of life, when hyphal history intertwined with the creation of the first soil and the evolution of the first plants. Explore the microscopic fossils of the Rhynie Chert, mushrooms preserved in amber, and one particularly captivating and bizarre fossil from the early days on land. Check out the episode on Podbean!