Mold

Mold is a living thing, but it is not a plant or an animal. It is a type of fungus. Mold grows in damp, warm places. You may have seen it on old bread or fruit. It often looks fuzzy and can be green, black, or white.

How Mold Grows

Mold starts from tiny bits called spores. Spores float through the air all the time. When they land on food or a wet wall, they can begin to grow. Mold likes damp places best. It spreads by sending out long threads and making more spores.

Good and Bad Mold

Some mold is helpful to people. A mold called Penicillium gave us penicillin, a famous medicine that fights germs. Other molds are used to make special cheeses. But some mold can make people sick if they breathe it in. Moldy food should be thrown away to stay safe.

Fun Facts

• Mold helps clean up the Earth by breaking down dead leaves and wood.
• There are over 100,000 kinds of mold in the world.
• Blue cheese gets its color and flavor from mold.

Did You Know?

Penicillin was found by accident in 1928 when a scientist noticed mold killing germs on a dish in his lab.