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TED-Ed

This mushroom will kill you before you know what’s happening - Michael Beug

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Humans have known about the toxicity of death cap mushrooms for millennia. Yet they continue to pose a significant threat to unsuspecting foragers and mushroom hunters throughout the world. Today, death caps are responsible for more than 90% of all mushroom related deaths, killing upwards of 100 people each year. So, what makes this one species of mushroom so dangerous? Michael Beug investigates.

Additional Resources for you to Explore

Death cap mushrooms only take 10-15 hours to act, culminating in liver failure and death. Based on scientific understanding of the process, historians believe that these mushrooms were used in Claudius's death at the hands of Julia Agrippina. Poisons were used frequently in the Roman Empire, including arsenic, used for its colorlessness and lack of odor and taste. For a timeline of famous poisonings, read on here.

To attempt foraging in safety, check out guides for safe foraging for beginners here and here. Never forget the cardinal rule, as mentioned in the video: When in doubt, throw it out!

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Meet The Creators

Educator
Michael Beug
Director
Denys Spolitak
Narrator
Susan Zimmerman
Music
Cem Misirlioglu, Greg Chudzik
Sound Designer
Cem Misirlioglu
Director of Production
Gerta Xhelo
Produced by
Sazia Afrin
Editorial Director
Alex Rosenthal
Editorial Producer
Shannon Odell
Script Editor
Charles Wallace
Fact-Checker
Charles Wallace

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