A Nighttime Hike for Glowing Fungi

“Our expedition of seven members climbs into a 4x4 and drives 30 minutes over dirt roads into the jungle. Arriving at the trailhead near dusk, our local guide (we call him the human GPS) leads us on a six kilometer hike deep into the heart of the forest. We are mycologists in search of bioluminescent mushrooms, fungi that emit light 24 hours per day but are best observed at night.” In southern Brazil, biologist Dennis E. Desjardin and friends hike in one of the last areas of old growth Atlantic Forest habitat, looking for answers as to why various rare fungi glow in the dark. On LiveScience.com.