A mysterious mushroom makes people see hundreds of tiny humans — and scientists have finally identified the species behind it! Imagine eating a mushroom and suddenly seeing miniature people walking across your table, climbing walls, or moving around your furniture. As unbelievable as it sounds, people in China and the Philippines have reported these strange experiences for generations. Researchers at the University of Utah have now confirmed that the mushroom responsible is Lanmaoa asiatica, a species known locally as Jian shou qing in China and Sedesdem in the Philippines. After analyzing DNA from 53 mushroom samples, scientists established the species' identity across both regions. The hallucinations, known as Lilliputian hallucinations, typically occur when the mushroom is eaten undercooked. But here's the biggest mystery: Scientists found no psilocybin or other known psychedelic compounds. This suggests the mushroom may contain a previously unidentified chemical capable of producing these extraordinary visions. The research also uncovered four previously unknown species within the same mushroom genus. Scientists still don't know exactly how the mushroom affects the brain, and consuming unidentified or improperly prepared wild mushrooms can be dangerous. Source: Domnauer, C., & Dentinger, B. T. M. (2026). Phylogenomic systematics of Lanmaoa (Boletaceae). Mycologia, 118(4), 732–742.