15x06 - A Fungus Among Us

[bunniefuu]

-♪ Cyberchase, we're movin'

♪ We're beatin' Hacker at his game ♪

♪ Don't tell me that he's trying to hack the Motherboard ♪

♪ We'll get him every time

♪ Cosmic worlds

♪ Freaky places that we've seen ♪

♪ We've got the power of , , , ♪

♪ Running in a Cyberchase

♪ We'll meet him face-to-face

♪ We'll stick together all the time ♪

♪ Adventures in Cyberspace

♪ The chase is on, just wait

♪ And C-Y-B-E-R chase!

[ Keyboard clacking ] -Ah.

What you doin', boss?

-Go back to sleep. I'm busy.

-But your loud typing is keeping us up!

Oh, look!

Teeny-tiny umbrellas!

-These aren't umbrellas.

These are magnificent mushrooms!

They're bioluminescent.

-Whoa! -Amazing!

-What's biolumin...minium?

-"Bioluminescent" means they glow in the dark.

-Huh. Do all mushrooms glow in the dark?

-Some, but none glow brighter than these --

the Cyberchini.

The Hacker is going to glow in the dark!

-He is? I mean...you are?

-It's always been my dream.

Imagine me, a beacon of light,

a shimmering ray of glory!

I'm going to shine for all to see.

-You deserve it. Do it! Do it.

Do it, do it, do it, boss.

-I will -- as soon as I get my hands on these Cyberchinis.

-Yay! Where can we get them?

They grow right here -- in the Southern Frontier.

[ Laughs ]

[ Birds chirping ]

-I'm Fungus Fergus, and welcome to the Southern Frontier.

This here is the Meeting Tree. It's over cyberyears old.

-Wow. -Ooh!

-The entire town was built around this tree,

so everyone who lives here can gather together

and chat in its shade.

And these are the Smirbles.

Not only are they adorable.

They're friendlier than friendly.

-Aw. -Ooh!

-[ Chirping ] -[ Laughs ]

-This whole place is a Smirble sanctuary.

They're all rescues and are totally safe here.

-So they don't live in the wild?

-Not anymore.

For one reason or another, they cannot safely live in the wild.

I take care of them, feed them, make sure they're happy.

That one you've got is Mariella.

That one's Blinky. That's Bootsy.

That's Doug, and that one is Lollipop.

-[ Chattering ] -She's been here the longest.

♪♪

-[ Chuckles ] Wow!

She really likes eating those Cyberchinis.

-They all do.

♪♪

-Can we eat them? -Oh, no! No, no.

Folks like us eat different mushrooms all the time.

But just not Cyberchinis.

But the Smirbles do love them.

-[ Laughs ] Here you go, Mariella.

-Cyberchinis are important to the trees here, too.

They have a symbiotic relationship with the trees

and the animals.

-Sym...biotic?

-That means they all need and help each other.

-How do you know that? -It says right there.

-The Smirbles live in the trees.

They eat the Cyberchinis, somewhat messily,

and what doesn't make it into their mouths

gets dropped on the ground,

which causes new Cyberchinis to grow.

The Cyberchinis then help the trees grow

by connecting to their roots

and helping them get nutrients from the soil.

-Wow. -Ah.

-[ Chattering ]

[ Thud ] [ Laughs ]

♪♪

[ Engines whirring ]

[ Insects chirping ]

♪♪

-There, Deedee.

-Wow.

-Now what, boss?

-Start digging.

[ Smirbles chattering ]

Wake me up when you're done.

[ Snores, sighs ]

♪♪

-[ Grunting ]

♪♪

[ Smirbles chattering ]

-Uh-oh.

Deedee, I think we're making those little fur ba*ls mad.

-Maybe we shouldn't be doing this.

-Nah. Look at 'em. They're harmless!

Keep digging.

♪♪

Whoo! Maybe not totally harmless.

Dig! Dig!

♪♪

[ Smirbles chattering ]

-Let's get out of here!

♪♪

-Where do you think you're going?

-We're under attack!

-We're not leaving till you get the mycelium.

-My silly what?

-Mycelium.

That's the good stuff.

The stuff under the ground

that's wrapped around the tree roots.

-I'll get it, boss.

♪♪

Is this the my...silly...um, boss?

-Oh, yeah! That's it.

We can go now.

♪♪

-[ Grunts ]

[ Insects chirping ]

-Hurry!

-[ Gasps ]

[ Whirring ]

♪♪

[ Engines roaring ]

♪♪

-Soon the secrets of the Cyberchinis will be mine.

[ Laughing ]

♪♪

-Mm!

-All of the Cyberchinis are gone!

-Gone? -Like the wind.

And since the Cyberchinis, the Smirbles,

and the trees all depend on each other to survive...

I can't bear to even think about it.

-Oh. Those poor little Smirbles.

-Not only the Smirbles. The trees as well!

Especially the Meeting Tree.

Look!

The leaves are drooping.

The bark is falling off.

-The Meeting Tree isn't doing so great.

-We've got to do something.

-I was hoping you'd say that.

♪♪

-Who are you?!

What are you doing in here?!

Get away!

These are my Cyberchinis.

♪♪

-[ Laughing ]

-Shoo!

♪♪

Nothing will stand between me and my dream.

-Ah!

♪♪

-I'm going to glow in the dark whether you like it or not.

Now shoo!

-[ Growls ]

-It doesn't look like the Meeting Tree

is doing any better.

-I wish I could say it is.

But alas, it is not.

♪♪

-Those Smirbles sure are cute.

-They are, and they really miss their Cyberchinis.

-Why would anyone take the Cyberchinis?

-Whoever did also took the mycelium.

-That's the stuff that keeps trees healthy, right?

-You are correct.

And I'm afraid if the mycelium isn't restored soon,

the trees will... I'll just say...

-Oh. It's not good?

-No. Not good at all.

-How about a nice flow chart? Would that help?

-That's a great idea, Jackie.

Even a small flow chart is helpful

to understanding big ideas.

-One flow chart at your service. -Excellent.

Now let me show you how the missing mycelium

affects the entire town square.

Let's begin with the roots.

Jackie?

First, without the mycelium supporting the roots,

the tree won't get enough water and nutrients.

Second, the tree will get sick!

Third, the animals that live in the tree

won't be able to make their nests.

They'll lose their home!

-And fourth, without the Cyberchinis,

the Smirbles are going to need another food source.

-Right you are, Matt.

-Aww! These poor Smirbles.

-Wait. One of them is missing. [ Smirbles chirp ]

-Are you sure? -Yep.

-One, two, three, four.

-Who's missing?

-There's Blinky... -[ Chirping ]

-...Bootsy... -[ Laughs ]

-...Doug... -[ Chattering ]

-...Mariella... -[ Chirping ]

...and...

Lollipop! That's who's missing!

We've got to find her.

These Smirbles are domesticated now.

They can't live in the wild on their own.

♪♪

-[ Growls ] -Give me back my Cyberchinis,

you little pest.

-[ Gulps ] Pbht!

-Get back here!

♪♪

Get down from there!

-Pbht!

[ Chattering ]

-Get over here.

♪♪

-Boss! She's eating your Cyberchinis!

-[ Chomping ]

-She's not listening, boss.

-Hmm.

What a commendable trait.

I wouldn't listen either.

-Mm. Mm!

-She's one smart Smirble.

-And cute, too.

-Yeah.

Now that I think about it, you look a lot like me.

♪♪

-[ Gasps ] She does.

Same shade of green and everything!

-[ Chirps ]

-Yeah. And the hair, too.

-Lollipop, huh?

Okay...Lollipop.

Maybe I can spare one tiny, teeny Cyberchini.

[ Both laughing ]

Ooh! Brilliant!

-Oh!

[ Both laughing ]

♪♪

[ Birds chirping ]

-So, we're looking for Lollipop and the missing Cyberchinis.

-Look sharp. You can find fungus anywhere.

In a simple handful of dirt like this,

there are over , kinds of fungus.

-Whoa.

-Not to mention the different kinds of fungus

on your own feet.

-Cool! -Ew.

-Mold, mushrooms, yeast -- fungi one and all,

some of it so small you need a microscope to see them,

others bigger than your head!

Those mushrooms are growing in what's called a fairy ring.

-[ Gasps ] Really? Oh! Oh! Do --

-Sorry to disappoint, but no fairies are actually involved.

-Oh.

-My grandma loves to cook with mushrooms.

-Some are certainly tasty, but don't ever eat one

unless you know what kind it is and that it's safe.

-Whew. Thanks for the heads-up, Fergus.

-Some mushrooms can even be turned into leather

and used to make shoes, like mine.

-Those are mushrooms?

-Were.

-Wait. What are those?

-Smirble footprints!

-[ Gasps ] Maybe they belong to Lollipop.

-More footprints.

♪♪

-Tiny ones!

-Hmm. Folks that live here don't have tiny feet like that.

-I think we know someone with footprints that small.

-You don't think it could be...

-Yep.

These teeny-tiny footprints

could only belong to... Hacker!

♪♪

-[ Laughs ] It won't be long now.

♪♪

Thank you, Lollipop.

♪♪

-Is it just me or is the boss nicer since Lollipop got here?

-I think you're right, Deedee.

He only made me double-mop the kitchen once today.

-Once I can glow like these Cyberchinis,

I'll finally get the attention I deserve.

Where's my paintbrush?

♪♪

Thanks.

Why can't you two be this helpful?

♪♪

[ Squishing ]

♪♪

Oh, it's working.

It's worki-i-i-ng!

It's not working.

Lollipop? You still here?

Lollipop! I need you!

-That better, boss?

♪♪

I was this close!

Success was within my grasp.

-[ Chirps ]

-Ooh. Look at that, boss.

She's trying to cheer you up.

-Of course she is.

She can do everything.

She's the friend and assistant I've always wanted.

♪♪

-I think the boss likes Lollipop better than us.

No way, Deedee.

And besides, look how happy he is.

-[ Chattering ] -[ Laughs ]

-You're right. A happy boss is a happy boss!

-Yeah. I uh, I couldn't have said it better myself.

-What's that?

♪♪

-Buzz! Delete!

-Uh, hi! [ Chuckles ] -Hi.

-You two haven't seen a little Smirble around here, have you?

-Uh, a Smirble?

-What's a Smirble?

-And I don't suppose you've seen

any Cyberchinis around here either.

-Oh. You mean those mushroom thingies that glow in the dark?

-Never heard of them.

-Somebody took all the Cyberchinis

from the Southern Frontier,

and it's making the Meeting Tree sick!

-And we think it was Hacker. -No way!

The boss wouldn't want to make a tree sick.

Right, Buzzy?

-No way. He loves trees.

-If the Meeting Tree is sick,

then all the Smirbles that live there

won't have a nice tree to build their nest in.

-These are the Smirbles.

This is Blinky, this is Mariella,

this is Bootsy, this is Doug, and this is...

-Lollipop! -Lollipop!

♪♪

[ Birds chirping ]

-Look, Lollipop.

This could be your new home.

♪♪

-[ Chattering ]

-And there are plenty of tasty nuts for you to snack on.

-[ Chattering ]

-Oh! You want to play catch?

How much fun is that?

[ Laughs ] Ooh.

-[ Chattering ]

♪♪

-Stop right there!

-Sorry, boss, uh, but, uh, we need to talk.

[ Clears throat ] Tell him, Deedee.

-Fergus here needs the mycelly stuff back.

-And we need to take Lollipop home, too.

-I am not giving her back.

She's the only one who truly understands me.

And she's happy here.

-Mm!

-Hmm. Maybe she is.

-And by the way, I'm also not giving up my Cyberchinis.

I'm about to figure out how to glow in the dark.

-Oh. Now, that's a scary thought.

-Look, we know you care about nature.

-How dare you accuse me of caring!

[ Beep ]

-Look at the trees.

♪♪

-I'm not looking.

-Because the trees are connected by the mycelium

and the mycelium is gone, they're all getting sick.

-And they're going to get even sicker!

-Well, boo-hoo for them.

We don't care. Do we, Lollipop?

-[ Whimpers ]

-The trees getting sick will hurt Lollipop's friends, too.

-How? All I took was some fungi.

I mean no, I d-- I didn't, but...

but if I did...

-But the fungus, the trees, and the animals

all help each other stay healthy.

-That's why the trees and the animals need the fungi

and the mycelium back.

-How would you feel if it were your special tree that was sick?

[ Birds chirping ]

-I, uh...

All right, all right!

I do care.

I care about the trees.

I care about Lollipop.

And if I have to, I'll give everything back,

even Lollipop.

As promised, the Cyberchinis and the mycelium.

-A very wise choice, Hacker.

-Maybe I can keep some of it?

-Hacker.

-Just half.

♪♪

One-fourth?

Just the mycelium?

♪♪

Fine!

Take it all!

[ Birds chirping ]

-All right, Fergie.

Do we have everything we need to replant the mycelium?

-Shovel?

♪♪

-Check.

-Healthy soil?

-Check. -Water?

-Check.

-Mycelium!

-Check.

-We're all set.

-Let's start digging!

-And be gentle. The roots are fragile.

♪♪

♪♪

-You're back in business, Fergie!

-Now that the Meeting Tree is saved,

it's time for Lollipop to come home.

-[ Whimpers ]

♪♪

-Go.

Go home, Lollipop.

♪♪

Go on.

It's time.

-You okay, Hacker?

-Of course I'm okay.

I'm just...tearing up a little

because fungus m-makes your eyes water.

-Mm, no, it doesn't.

-I'm pretty sure it does.

-No. It doesn't.

-[ Sobbing ] Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh.

-[ Sobbing ]

-Can you believe it?

Lollipop doesn't want to leave Hacker.

-Imagine that.

-The boss takes real good care of her.

-It's true. They play games and everything.

[ Both laughing ] -I must admit,

Lollipop does seem happier than usual.

-I guess they really like each other.

-Just like the trees and the Cyberchinis.

-Maybe Hacker could keep Lollipop.

-Well, the mission of this Smirble sanctuary

is to take good care of them

and, in some cases, to find them good homes.

-Ooh! Can we really keep her?

We promise we'll help the boss feed her and play with her.

-Yeah, yeah, yeah.

-Buzz and Delete do take great care of George the Bunny.

They can do this!

♪♪

-Okay.

-Goody!

I mean...fine.

I may have had to give back the Cyberchinis,

but at least I got to keep you. -Mm!

-Aww! -Aww!

[ Birds chirping ]

-And here's the Meeting Tree.

[ Shutters clicking ]

-Oh, it's really looking healthy again!

-Indeed it is.

With the mycelium replanted, the Meeting Tree

and all these trees are thriving!

-And so are the Smirbles.

-[ Chattering ]

-The symbiotic relationship has been restored.

♪♪

-Aww! -Aww!

-My lovely little Lollipop.

♪♪

I've been thinking about changing Lollipop's name

to something more appropriate for someone like me.

-Good idea, boss.

-But for now, she will remain... Lollipop.

My little Lollipop.

-Aw, shucks. -Aww!

-[ Purring ]

-Stay right where you are. It's "Cyberchase For Real."

-I'm on a treasure hunt -- looking for mushrooms!

[ Fanfare plays ]

One of my favorite things to do with my father

is make Chinese hot pot with mushrooms.

When I was little, I tried eating mushrooms on salad,

but I didn't like them.

I changed my mind after I ate cooked mushrooms.

I loved them, which made me want to learn more about them.

So I did some research.

In the wild, many kinds of mushrooms grow on or near trees,

which mushrooms use as food.

Mushrooms then break down dead wood

into food trees use to grow.

You may see mushrooms growing near trees where you live.

But you shouldn't touch or eat wild mushrooms,

because some of them can make you sick.

Most mushrooms that people cook at home or in restaurants

grow on a mushroom farm.

I was surprised to learn

that a mushroom farm is inside this building.

Hey, Austin. -Courtney!

-Can you explain why you decided to become a mushroom farmer?

-We can grow a lot of mushrooms all year round in a little space

using less water and electricity than other crops.

Every two weeks, we produce , pounds.

Within hours after we pick them, we deliver our mushrooms

to nearby grocery stores and restaurants.

This means they're fresh

and we don't use fossil fuel that pollutes

to ship mushrooms long distances.

-Why do you grow mushrooms in these tents?

-Well, outside, we can't control the weather.

But in these tents, we control the light,

the moisture, and the airflow

to make the perfect environment for mushrooms to grow.

Mushroom spores are like the seeds of plants.

They sprout on material that we make from sawdust,

which comes from trees cut down for lumber.

Over time, spores create mycelium.

Eventually, mushrooms will pop out

in all different shapes and colors.

People who know about mushrooms call this "fruit."

-I was excited to learn from Austin

that it's possible to grow mushrooms

using something you might already have around the house --

cardboard --

because, like sawdust, cardboard is made from trees.

That means that you can be a mushroom farmer, too.

-To start, heat up a small pot of water to a boil.

A trusted adult needs to help with this.

While water is heating up, shred some cardboard.

When water comes to a boil, remove it from the heat

and carefully place the cardboard in the hot water.

This will k*ll any germs on the cardboard.

While waiting for the water to cool down,

crush a "ready-to-fruit" block that you can buy

that contains mycelium, sawdust, and nutrients into tiny pieces.

Next, fill a container like this

with layers of cooled-down cardboard

and crushed-up pieces of your ready-to-fruit block.

Once you have filled the container,

lightly press down on the material.

Wet the lid of the container

before loosely putting it on top.

Mushrooms need moisture to grow.

Remove the lid two times a day

to make sure the material inside stays damp.

♪♪

When you begin to see tiny mushrooms popping up,

mist them with a spray bottle a couple times a day.

Here's what you can expect to see after three days,

after one week,

and after three weeks.

-So this is one way to see how trees,

turned into cardboard, help mushrooms grow.

Out in the forest, mushrooms help trees

by turning dead wood into rich soil,

which trees use to grow.

That's what I call a win-win.

♪♪

♪♪

♪♪