Author | Lightnews

Richard Winder @scifiwriter.bsky.social · 1d

Metarhizium, a fungal pathogen of insects, has been genetically modified to produce the mosquito attractant longifolene - so it can lure and kill mosquitos. #fungifriends #mycology #nature #entomology #insects #microbiology
www.ctvnews.ca/climate-and-...

Sweet-smelling fungus lures and kills mosquitoes, offering new disease control tool

A fungus that pretends to be a flower could help humans outsmart one of the deadliest insects on Earth, the mosquito.

www.ctvnews.ca

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Richard Winder @scifiwriter.bsky.social · 17d

So… Leccinum spp. play keyboards now? #fungifriends #mycology

youtu.be/NbP2DgDp890?...

Mushroom in the Wild Playing Keyboard

YouTube video by BionicandtheWires

youtu.be

Richard Winder @scifiwriter.bsky.social · 19d

If you're going to be in town the first weekend in November...
#fungifriends #mycology #nature #ecology #victoria 🍄

A poster for the South Vancouver Island Mycological Society 2025 Mushroom Show at the Royal B.C. Museum in Victoria, B.C., November 2 from 10 AM to 4 PM.

Richard Winder @scifiwriter.bsky.social · 29d

Before there were terrestrial plants, there were fungi. #fungifriends #mycology #evolution 🍄
scitechdaily.com/earth-was-a-...

Earth Was a Fungal World Before Plants Existed

Fungi arose long before plants, shaping Earth with early soils and nutrient cycles. Their hidden legacy shows they may have prepared the world for life to flourish on land.

scitechdaily.com

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Richard Winder @scifiwriter.bsky.social · Sep 11

Another use for fungi. #fungifriends #mycology 🍄 www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025...

The man and the mushroom kayak: can a boat made from mycellim change the future/

Sam Shoemaker’s record-setting voyage shows the promise – and limits – of fungi as a plastic alternative

www.theguardian.com

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Richard Winder @scifiwriter.bsky.social · Aug 29

New: Canadian funfgi on stamps! #fungifriends #mycology #Canada #nature youtu.be/fd8khrTdExM?...

Canadian fungi / Les champignons canadiens

YouTube video by Canada Post

youtu.be

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Richard Winder @scifiwriter.bsky.social · Aug 21

#fungifriends #mycology #booksky #indieauthor

Come see what we4've been writing! Sooke Night Market August 21. Mushrooms for All Seasons Part 3: Autumn

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Richard Winder @scifiwriter.bsky.social · Aug 19

If you need a quiet moment, feel free to take this one. #nature 🦋

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Richard Winder @scifiwriter.bsky.social · Aug 9

Invasive mushrooms! #fungifriends #mycoligy #ecology www.science.org/content/arti...

A mushroom that escaped from kitchens could be harming North American wildlife

The golden oyster mushroom has gone rogue, displacing native fungi that live in dead trees

www.science.org

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Richard Winder @scifiwriter.bsky.social · Aug 8

The Summer 2025 edition of Fungi Magazine is out! It's not shown on the main site yet ( www.fungimag.com ), but it has articles on conservation and fungi. It also has"Taking a Deep Dive into Mushroom Ketchup" by... me! An excellent way to top off your summer reading :-) #fungifriends #mycology 🍄

FUNGI Magazine - The Magazine for Amateur and Professional Mushroom Enthusiasts, Mycophiles and Mycologists

www.fungimag.com

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Richard Winder @scifiwriter.bsky.social · Aug 7

Hemmingway's advice on writing. An interesting list... #booksky #indieauthor #writing
getpocket.com/explore/item...

Hemingway’s Advice on Writing, Ambition, and the Art of Revision

“In any art you’re allowed to steal anything if you can make it better.”

getpocket.com

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Richard Winder @scifiwriter.bsky.social · Jul 31

New species of giant stick insect discovered in Australia. #ecology #biology #nature #biodiversity #Australia #entymology
www.youtube.com/watch?v=fzPH...

Giant stick insect discovered in Queensland rainforest | ABC NEWS

YouTube video by ABC News (Australia)

www.youtube.com

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Richard Winder @scifiwriter.bsky.social · Jul 25

Key hot spots of fungal biodiversity mostly not protected. How long will this be neglected? #ecology #mycology #fungifriends 🍄 www.theguardian.com/science/2025...

Earth’s underground networks of fungi need urgent protection, say researchers

Study finds that only 9.5% of fungal biodiversity hotspots fell within existing protected areas

www.theguardian.com

Richard Winder @scifiwriter.bsky.social · Jul 15

en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gandaha... (aka Lightyears with English translation by Asimov).

Gandahar (film) - Wikipedia

en.m.wikipedia.org

Richard Winder @scifiwriter.bsky.social · Jul 7

Dan K. and company have updated the Plant Hardiness Zones for Canada, with information on relative climate change.
Great work!
#ecology #nature #biology #climate #science
www.nature.com/articles/s41...

Updated plant hardiness zones for Canada and assessment of change over time - Scientific Reports

Scientific Reports - Updated plant hardiness zones for Canada and assessment of change over time

www.nature.com

Richard Winder @scifiwriter.bsky.social · Jul 2

Fossil Ophiocordyceps species ("zombie fungus") found on insects trapped in amber. They've been around for a while! #fungifriends #mycology #biology #ecology #entymology
edition.cnn.com/2025/06/24/s...

Stunning amber fossil reveals ‘Last of Us’-type fungus likely lived alongside dinosaurs | CNN

Paleontologists studying insects trapped in amber from 99 million years ago have made a remarkable discovery: an ant and a fly with parasitic fungi bursting from their bodies.

edition.cnn.com

Richard Winder @scifiwriter.bsky.social · Jul 1

Have an awesome Canada Day, everyone!

a canadian flag with a maple leaf on it is waving in the wind

ALT: a canadian flag with a maple leaf on it is waving in the wind

media.tenor.com

Richard Winder @scifiwriter.bsky.social · Jun 26

Judge says authors' suit against Meta AI failed to prove dilution of market. #booksky #indieauthor www.theguardian.com/technology/2...

Meta wins AI copyright lawsuit as US judge rules against authors

Writers accused Facebook owner of breach over using books without permission to train its AI system

www.theguardian.com

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Richard Winder @scifiwriter.bsky.social · Jun 13

Virtual mushroom hunting - it was only a matter of time before this sort of thing popped up. #fungifriends #mycology #ecology

80.lv/articles/enj...

Check Out This Beautiful & Relaxing Mushroom Hunter Simulator

An atmospheric nature-inspired game by Sebasa Games.

80.lv

Richard Winder @scifiwriter.bsky.social · Jun 7

I think a lot about the ending before I even start outlining - how to resolve the main story arcs and main message. But abrupt is bad, so I also ponder a denouement that encourages readers to daydream the story going on from there - leaving another gate open (or at least slightly ajar).

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Richard Winder @scifiwriter.bsky.social · Jun 5

What happens when you flout phytosanitary regulations and fail to get a permit. #mycology #fungifriends #biology
apnews.com/article/fusa...

What is Fusarium graminearum, the fungus US authorities say was smuggled in from China?

Federal prosecutors have charged two Chinese researchers with smuggling a crop-killing fungus into the U.S. last summer.

apnews.com

Richard Winder @scifiwriter.bsky.social · Jun 2

Take a moment! They're free!

A hanging flower basket featuring bright red petunias in the sunlight.

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Richard Winder @scifiwriter.bsky.social · May 30

Heads up! The European Accessibility Act requires e-books sold in the EU to comply with accessibility standards (implicitly, WCAG 2.1 Level AA) by June 28th. The standard includes image description, navigation options, etc. E-books may need upgrades to continue EU sales. #indieauthor 💙📚 📝 ✍️

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Richard Winder @scifiwriter.bsky.social · May 29

It happens to me every time. I have a cool place to start and then, yeah - the story has to start earlier to cover the necessary backstory while staying in 'show' mode. It does give me some motivation to write forward to the cool point, then hopefully momentum kicks in.

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Richard Winder @scifiwriter.bsky.social · May 25

If you have a library card for the Greater Victoria Public Library you can now check out the paperback or e-book version of my novel Merika in the Emerging Authors collection. #booksky #Victoria #indieauthor
www.gvpl.ca/client/en_US...

At the 2025 Emerging Authors event, author Richard Winder discusses his book Merika with a Greater Victoria Public Library staff member.

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