Oil and gas producers talk up technological breakthroughs they say will soon allow the world to drill and burn fossil fuels without worsening global warming

What do you reckon the chattiest vegetable is? The answer may be mushrooms, as according to a new study from scientists in Japan, rain may prompt some fungi to communicate using underground electrical signals. In a study published in Fungal Ecology , researchers monitored small, tan mushrooms known as bicoloured deceivers in the mixed forest at the Kawatabi Field Science Center of Tohoku University in Japandorm. They looked at the 'shrooms electrical potential, measured in megavolts (mV), for about two days in late September and early October 2021. The study site was initially sunny and dry, and the second was during rain - at which point the mushrooms showed some electrical potential and signal transport between each other. Microbial ecologist Yu Fukasawa of Tohoku University said: "Our results confirm the need for further studies on fungal electrical potentials under a true ecological context." Sign up to our free Indy100 weekly newsletter Previously, scientists had found that these mushrooms make subterranean "sheaths" around the exterior of a tree's roots. These sheaths are made of hyphae and when they link underground they form interconnected systems known as mycorrhizal networks that allow forests communicate via chemical signals down tree roots and mycorrhizal fungi. And a 2022 study found patterns of nerve-like electrical activity in some fungi that seem comparable to the structure of human speech. The study identified up to 50 different "words," or groups of spikes in electrical activity, generated by fungal networks. Earlier research has also found that plants can send secret electrical signals underground, possibly even without help from mycorrhizal fungi. Who knew mushrooms had so much to say? Have your say in our news democracy. Click the upvote icon at the top of the page to help raise this article through the indy100 rankings.

Natalie Portman admires the way filmmakers in France have structured their sets to allow people to find balance.

Brie Larson, Jordana Brewster and Michelle Rodriguez "would love" to make an all-female 'Fast and Furious' spin-off movie with their other co-stars.

These are trying times. The pandemic has left us steeped in worry, grief, and isolation.

The grand final of the Eurovision Song Contest is taking place Saturday in Liverpool

Actor Chris Fountain has shared footage from the hospital following his heart surgery. The former Coronation Street and Hollyoaks star was admitted for an operation on his heart, months after suffering a “mini-stroke”. On social media, he updated his followers with posts to his Instagram stories on Friday (12 May). “I’m back, baby,” Fountain, 35, said to the camera while laying in his hospital bed. “Still feeling a little bit woozy, my groin is rather sore. But I’ve finally been allowed to eat and drink, but the cheese sandwich didn’t quite do it.” He added that his mother, who was in the room with him, would be going to find him something more substantial to eat before signing off. Later, he shared a video originally posted by Dutch musical theatre actor Martijn Vogel that explains the procedure that had been performed on him. Fountain’s surgery was to address a patent foramen ovale (PFO), which is described by the NHS as a hole between the left and right atria (upper chambers) of the heart. People with this condition are at a higher risk of stroke. If a PFO does not fix itself, the surgery to treat it consists of inserting a catheter with a closure device through the femoral vein in the leg up to the heart, where the device is left to close up the flap. In a later video, Fountain is seen walking around the hospital. “Back on my feet, they’ve cleared me to walk a little bit,” he said. “What a day! To be honest, I was really quite nervous when I went into the anaesthetist room, it all became very real.” He concluded on a positive note, telling fans that the outlook looks good so far after tests were run to check that the device is “in the right place and working, and not leaking”. The actor starred in more than 300 episodes of the long-running ITV soap, Coronation Street, from 2011 to 2013. He was fired after videos of him rapping about rape were discovered on YouTube. Since then, Fountain has addressed the impact that his firing has had on his life. Read More TikTok Tattoogate: How a tattoo artist sparked backlash for ‘absurd’ pricing and design changes Millie Mackintosh says she was ‘ghosted’ by Meghan Markle after she started dating Prince Harry Elliot Page praised for shirtless photo: ‘It feels so good now’ One in five people may be suffering from ‘dangerous’ sleep disorder Bo Jackson says he will undergo procedure after year-long battle with chronic hiccups As Coronation Street puts the spotlight on sepsis, the signs and symptoms to know

The grand final of the Eurovision Song Contest is taking place Saturday in Liverpool

Jamie Lee Curtis ended up proving the editor wrong.

JEDDAH, Saudi Arabia--(BUSINESS WIRE)--May 13, 2023--

Daria Golovchenko is performing at a Eurovision event at Halifax's Piece Hall.

TOKYO (Reuters) -The Group of Seven (G7) rich nations is set to agree on establishing a new programme to distribute