A black fungus is thriving in the midst of Ireland’s whiskey boom – we need to know more about it

A distinctive black fungus known as Baudoinia is thriving around Irish whiskey maturation warehouses, fueled by ethanol vapors that escape from aging barrels. As The Conversation tells it, this growth—often called "whiskey fungus"—creates a dark patina on nearby walls, trees, and road signs. While there is currently no evidence that the fungus is harmful to human health, researchers at Dublin City University are launching a project to study its spread and the impact of ethanol emissions on local air quality.

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