Pilobolus

Watch this stunning macro footage of Pilobolus, shared by @scottish.fungi on Instagram. He researches coprophilous fungi, with a special focus on rare and previously undescribed species. Make sure to follow his account—you won’t regret it! I could watch his clips on loop forever!

Nature is Infinitely Complex…

This extraordinary fungus begins its journey as a spore ingested by a grazing animal, survives the digestive tract, and takes root in the resulting dung. If you are like me and wonder what the hell is 'dung'? Dung is a term for animal feces (poop), especially from herbivores like cows, horses, or deer. It’s often used in ecological or agricultural contexts.

But here’s where it gets wild: Pilobolus performs one of nature’s fastest feats. It orients itself toward the sun, builds up incredible internal pressure, and catapults its sporangium at 20 km/h in just 2 microseconds—enduring over 20,000 Gs, far beyond what a rocket experiences at liftoff.

Why the explosive launch? 

To escape the confines of dung and land on nearby plants, ready to be eaten and continue its lifecycle. A breathtaking example of biological ingenuity and the hidden brilliance of fungi. The twiglet in this film is now in its third week, captured one frame every 3 minutes.