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Fungi Discovered With Water-Freezing Ability
Researchers find fungal proteins that can catalyze ice formation at high subzero temperatures, with potential applications in weather modification and cryopreservation.
Mar. 18, 2026 at 1:56am
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An international team of researchers, including scientists from Virginia Tech, has discovered the identity of fungal proteins that can catalyze ice formation at high subzero temperatures. This discovery could lead to the development of a safer alternative to the traditional silver iodide particles used in cloud seeding for weather modification. The fungal ice nucleation proteins are also being explored for potential use in cryopreservation of cells, tissues, and other delicate biological materials.
Why it matters
The ability of fungi to influence ice formation in clouds could have significant implications for weather modification and climate modeling. The traditional cloud seeding agent, silver iodide, is highly toxic, so a safer, more environmentally friendly alternative like the fungal ice nucleation proteins could be a game-changer. Additionally, the unique properties of the fungal proteins make them promising for use in cryopreservation, which has applications in food production, medicine, and other fields.
The details
The researchers found that the fungal gene encoding the ice nucleation protein was likely acquired from a bacterial species through a process called horizontal gene transfer, potentially hundreds of thousands or even millions of years ago. The fungal proteins differ from their bacterial counterparts in that they are cell-free and water-soluble, making them more appealing for various applications. In cloud seeding, the fungal molecules could be added directly to clouds, whereas the bacterial ice nucleation would require the entire cell. Similarly, the fungal proteins are better suited for cryopreservation, as they can be added as a small, well-defined molecule without introducing the entire bacterial cell.
- The research was published in Science Advances on March 18, 2026.
The players
Xiaofeng Wang
A researcher at Virginia Tech who contributed his expertise in yeast biotechnology to confirm the identity of the new gene.
Boris A. Vinatzer
A professor in the School of Plant and Environmental Sciences at Virginia Tech and an affiliate with the Translational Plant Sciences Center, who led the research.
David Schmale
A professor and director of the Translational Plant Sciences Center at Virginia Tech, who leads a summer ice nucleation research program in Austria for undergraduate students.
Konrad Meister
A researcher at Boise State University and the Max Planck Institute for Polymer Research in Germany, who contributed to the study.
Valeria Molinero
A researcher in the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry at Boise State University, who participated in the study.
What they’re saying
“If we learn how to cheaply produce enough of this fungal protein, then we could put that into clouds and make cloud seeding much safer.”
— Boris A. Vinatzer, Professor, School of Plant and Environmental Sciences, Virginia Tech
“It is known that fungi can acquire genes from bacteria, but it's not something that is common. So I never expected that this fungal gene had a bacterial origin.”
— Boris A. Vinatzer, Professor, School of Plant and Environmental Sciences, Virginia Tech
“Now that we know this fungal molecule, it will become easier to find out how much of these kinds of molecules are in clouds. And in the long run, this research could contribute to developing better climate models.”
— Boris A. Vinatzer, Professor, School of Plant and Environmental Sciences, Virginia Tech
What’s next
Researchers plan to further investigate how fungi benefit from the acquired gene that encodes the ice nucleation protein, and explore ways to cheaply produce large quantities of the fungal protein for potential use in cloud seeding and cryopreservation applications.
The takeaway
The discovery of fungal proteins with the ability to catalyze ice formation at high subzero temperatures could lead to the development of a safer, more environmentally friendly alternative to the traditional silver iodide used in cloud seeding. Additionally, the unique properties of the fungal ice nucleation proteins make them promising for use in cryopreservation, with potential applications in food production, medicine, and other fields.
