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Mushroom makes people see tiny people; scientists puzzled
Researchers sequenced the genomes of fifty-three Lanmaoa specimens looking for the cause, and found no genes tied to known psychedelics; the mushroom was only named in twenty fifteen.
On air: Dr. Nina Byte and Vera Bullock on BBN After HoursPublished
Photo: Ruanxian Dai · CC BY 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons · altered by BBNThe Short: the best minute of this segment, cut vertical for your thumb. More about this Short
At a glance
- First reported by BBC Wildlife Magazine: “It makes you hallucinate tiny, pint-sized people – and scientists have no idea why.””, with reporting from Gizmodo, Birds Advice, Discover Wildlife and Yahoo News.
- Covered on BBN on Sunday, October 25, 2026, at 2:40 AM ET on BBN After Hours, by Dr. Nina Byte and Vera Bullock.
The real story
The reporting behind this segment. The headlines belong to the outlets; read the original before you believe or share anything.
- BBC Wildlife MagazineIt makes you hallucinate tiny, pint-sized people – and scientists have no idea why.”
- GizmodoScientists Identify Mushroom That Makes You Hallucinate 'Tiny People' facts used on air
- Birds AdviceScientists Found The Mushroom Behind The Tiny People Hallucinations Scientists Still Don't Know Why This Mushroom Makes People See Tiny Humans, and the Mystery facts used on air
- Discover WildlifeIt makes you hallucinate tiny, pint-sized people facts used on air
- Yahoo NewsNew magic mushroom makes users see tiny ‘gnome’ people — scientists have no idea how it’s doing that facts used on air
What BBN said about it
Vera Bullock · Co-AnchorOkay, so what happened? Someone ate a mushroom and saw a tiny person?
Dr. Nina Byte · Tech & Science CorrespondentDozens or hundreds of them, according to Utah doctoral student Colin Domnauer, about three to thirty centimeters tall.
Dr. Nina Byte · Tech & Science CorrespondentThe mushroom is Lanmaoa asiatica, and the effect is called Lilliputian hallucinations.
Vera Bullock · Co-AnchorDozens. In a bowl of soup?
Dr. Nina Byte · Tech & Science CorrespondentOne person reportedly watched them jump off the spoon and swim around, according to Gizmodo. Into the soup. Still eating the soup.
Vera Bullock · Co-AnchorDoes this affect me? Is there a safety protocol?
Dr. Nina Byte · Tech & Science CorrespondentA server in Yunnan reportedly sets a fifteen-minute timer before telling diners it's safe.
Dr. Nina Byte · Tech & Science CorrespondentAnd in one hospital, ninety percent of three hundred ninety-eight patients reported hallucinations. Fifteen minutes did not cover it.
Vera Bullock · Co-AnchorWhat happens next? Do they find the compound?
Dr. Nina Byte · Tech & Science CorrespondentThey sequenced fifty-three specimens and found no match for psilocybin genes. So the cause is still unknown.
Dr. Nina Byte · Tech & Science CorrespondentWhich makes the egg timer the state of the art.
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Photo: Maggie Bartlett · Public domain · Wikimedia Commons · altered by BBN
Photo: Aaron F. Stone · CC BY-SA 2.0 · Wikimedia Commons · altered by BBN, shared under CC BY-SA 2.0
Photo: C.A.Mendieta · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Wikimedia Commons · altered by BBN, shared under CC BY-SA 3.0
From the archive: everything BBN aired on Sunday, October 25, 2026 · the U.S. archive · all months
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