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Cordyceps: attack of the killer fungi - Planet Earth Attenborough BBC wildlife

BBC Studios · documentary · Watch on YouTube

Animals & natureBiology & biotechnology

What it is

A three-minute clip from BBC's Planet Earth narrated by David Attenborough about Cordyceps, the fungus that infects insects and takes over their behavior. It shows an infected ant and its demise.

Why Hacker News recommends it

HN links it as the quick introduction to zombie-ant fungi whenever the topic comes up.

  • 3 people recommended it
  • 3 different months
  • 0 strong recommendations
  • first 2017, last 2026

What HN commenters said

  1. “There is a 3-minute video from BBC Planet Earth showing an infected ant and its demise.”

    Short clip showing a fungus-infected ant and its demise.

    gabaix, 2017-11 · Recommendation · in “'Zombie ant' brains left intact by fungal parasite”

  2. “For anyone else not familiar with cordyceps fungi, here's a three-minute clip from BCC Planet Earth”

    Three-minute introduction to cordyceps fungi.

    lorenzhs, 2019-03 · Recommendation · in “How Mosquitoes Sniff Out Human Sweat To Find Us”

  3. “Here's a clip by Attenborough explaining it best”

    Attenborough explains fungus controlling ant behavior.

    antiviral, 2021-05 · Recommendation · in “Deadly fungi are an emerging microbe threat”

Excerpts from Hacker News comments, linked to the originals. Summaries and labels were written by a language model from those comments.

Topics: cordyceps, zombie ants, attenborough, planet earth, fungi

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