Cordyceps: attack of the killer fungi - Planet Earth Attenborough BBC wildlife
Why Hacker News recommends it
HN links it as the quick introduction to zombie-ant fungi whenever the topic comes up.
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.
Recommended by 3 HN commenters across 3 different months, 2017 to 2026.
What Hacker News said
Recommends gabaix · 2017-11 · on “'Zombie ant' brains left intact by fungal parasite”
There is a 3-minute video from BBC Planet Earth showing an infected ant and its demise. [this video] It is like watching the Alien scene, except this is real.
Recommends lorenzhs · 2019-03 · on “How Mosquitoes Sniff Out Human Sweat To Find Us”
For anyone else not familiar with cordyceps fungi, here's a three-minute clip from BCC Planet Earth: [this video]
Recommends antiviral · 2021-05 · on “Deadly fungi are an emerging microbe threat”
Fungi can be very potent. There is a form of fungi called Cordyceps that invade the brains of ants and change their behavior in a way that increases its spread. Here's a clip by Attenborough explaining it best: [this video] They even made a movie about this jumping to humans called "The Girl with all the Gifts"
Cites vharuck · 2024-07 · on “Ants can carry out life-saving amputations on injured nest mates, study shows”
>I often see one ant carrying another That might not be an act of kindness toward the carried ant. It could be banishment from the colony to prevent the spread of fungus: [this video]
Cites HelloUsername · 2026-07 · on “Ants: Who looks after the injured in a colony?”
Related video? "Cordyceps: attack of the killer fungi - Planet Earth Attenborough BBC wildlife" [this video] (2008)