Mold is a special kind of a fungus, consisting of many tiny organisms that are barely visible to us with naked eye. Meeting almost everywhere, since ancient times it accompanied the man, bringing him harm and benefit. How harmful mold and where does it all come from? Let’s try to understand this question.
Fungi — representatives of the most ancient kingdoms, which is still not fully understood.
What is mold?
Each of us have seen mold at least once in their life. Despite the fact that outwardly, the mold looks like a multi-colored spotted “something”, if you look at it under a microscope, you can see that it consists of threads with a bunch of balls around. These tiny balls and there is a dispute, which it is propagated. Flying in the air, spores fall on our food, the skin and the lungs, causing respiratory diseases and digestive system.
Interesting fact: Mold Aspergillus niger fungus of the genus Penicillium capable of releasing all known citric acid.
If so, how well-known cheeses? Fortunately, the fungi bring to humanity not only harmful, but even useful. In nature there are several types of mold that can be eaten. Most often they are used in the preparation of wine, beer, bread, yeast, marble cheeses and even sausages! Due to the existence in nature of mold, we have different enzymes and antibiotics, including penicillin known to all that help in the treatment of many internal diseases.
See also: Mold can withstand doses of radiation that kill a man
Why the need for a mold?
As you know, in nature there is nothing superfluous, and fungi are no exception. To maintain their livelihoods, fungi recycle plant residues, decaying roots and grass, fallen branches and leaves, organic matter of dead organisms, dead insects and excrements of animals are decomposers — ”caretakers” of nature. Destroying dead organic matter, they return carbon compounds to the soil, thereby enriching it. Work carried out by fungi in the mineralization and decomposition of various organic compounds plays an important role in the extent of Earth’s biosphere, thereby closing the carbon cycle in nature.
Mold helping nature to get rid of the outdated term organisms
If you like first to know the news from the world of popular science and technology, invite you to join our channel on Yandex.Zen, where you can find more useful articles.
Why is the mold?
Coming from the street, we always go to the house alone to himself and his clothes we bring different types of microorganisms, including mold spores. And, of course, our homes are a breeding ground for the multiplication of these spores, which are gradually turning into mold. As such enabling environment can be paper, wood, concrete, stones, cloth, whitewash and even flowers. Settling on these surfaces, disputes one important condition: the presence of high humidity and poor ventilation.
Mold is always with us: even when we can’t see her
In order to become a full-fledged mold, the spores must be “attached” to a particular surface and if the ventilation is bad and humidity is high (an ideal surface for mould formation in this case may be a corner in the bathroom or a package of vegetables), then the mold can easily settle there, because all the conditions for growth and subsequent reproduction will be observed.