F. Oxysporum Fungus Wears Golden Armor

Depending on how loosely you wish to apply the concept, there are numerous living things you might use as analogies for Iron Man, such as turtles, armadillos, and clams. But do any of them possess Tony Stark's flair? There is. Its name is Fusarium oxysporum, and what it lacks in hip names it more than makes up for in hard work.

A fungus called Fusarium mines for gold. This pink fungus, which may be found throughout Australia, can find gold molecules in the soil and dissolve them. Small, thread-like tendrils that extend from the fungus as it develops. These tendrils entice the gold and get encrusted with it as a result. Additionally, scientists noticed that the fungus that discovered the gold expanded more than fungi that weren't able to do so.

There is little chance that you will see any golden mushrooms developing in the woods anytime soon because the process occurs in the soil and at a microscopic level. That being said, nobody knows if there was enough gold on hand.

Kingdom: Fungi
Division: Ascomycota
Class: Sordariomycetes
Order: Hypocreales
Family: Nectriaceae
Genus: Fusarium
Species: F. oxysporum