Why did magic mushrooms evolve? We may finally have the answer

Psilocybin in magic mushrooms may have evolved primarily as a chemical defense to deter insects that eat fungi. Evolutionary research referenced by New Scientist suggests the genes and biosynthetic traits for psilocybin persist because they improve mushroom survival in insect rich environments, rather than because they offer benefits to humans or other animals. The article frames psilocybin as an evolutionary puzzle that is being approached using comparative genetics and evolutionary genomics across multiple mushroom species, aiming to connect the origin and maintenance of the pathway to specific ecological pressures.