--- title: "Keanu Reeves Responds to Deadly Compound Named After Him" description: "Excellent Pesticide Everyone's enamored by Keanu Reeves — scientists included. Earlier this month, a group of biotechnologists in Germany invented a pesticide so efficient at killing a crop-destroying fungus that they named it \"Keanumycins\" after the action star because, in the lead researcher's words, \"he, too, is extremely deadly in his roles.\" And thanks to […]" date: "2023-03-07" modified: "2023-03-07" authors: - name: "Frank Landymore" job_title: "Contributing Writer" link: "https://futurism.com/authors/flandymore" url: "https://futurism.com/the-byte/keanu-reeves-responds-to-deadly-compound-named-after-him" categories: - "Science & Energy" tags: - "keanu reeves" - "pesticides" - "the digest" --- # Keanu Reeves Responds to Deadly Compound Named After Him ![In a recent Reddit AMA, Keanu Reeves was asked about what he thought about the pesticide that was recently named after him.]() *\Image: Albert L. Ortega via Getty / Futurism\* ## Excellent Pesticide Everyone's enamored by famed Canadian actor Keanu Reeves — scientists included. Earlier this month, a group of biotechnologists in Germany [invented a pesticide]() so efficient at killing a crop-destroying fungus that they named it "Keanumycins" after the action star because, in the [lead researcher's words](), "he, too, is extremely deadly in his roles." And thanks to Reddit, we now get to behold Reeves' reaction to his new honorary appellation. Reeves [hosted an "Ask Me Anything" thread]() over the weekend, and one of its most upvoted questions asked for his thoughts on the deadly compound. "...Hi, thank you…they should've called it John Wick…" Reeves [wrote]() — his odd use of ellipses perfectly conveying the whimsical cadence of his speech — while referring to the series of action movies, in which he stars as a stoic killing machine with near-perfect aim. "But that's pretty cool…and surreal for me," he added. "But thanks, scientist people!" You can practically hear the accompanying air guitar riff. Indeed, it's pretty much impossible not to read his response in Ted Logan's voice, Keanu's role as a loveably dorky high school slacker in the "Bill & Ted" movies. Excellent pesticide, dude! ## Fungi Funeral Given the levels of fame he's enjoyed over the years, it's endearing to think that, out of all the countless things done as tribute to him — and no doubt the countless amount of babies named after him, too — it's a newly discovered fungus killer named in his honor that Reeves finds so surreal. But hey, maybe we shouldn't underestimate the importance of a potent pesticide, especially Keanumycins. According to the researchers, it targets a fungus known as *Botrytis cinerea*, which is responsible for a soft, gray rot in crops. Since *Botrytis cinerea* and other plant-plaguing fungi have become more resilient against pesticides, finding such a powerful killer in Keanumycins isn't something that should be underestimated — much like a certain fictional onscreen hitman. Maybe the scientists should take Reeve's advice and name it after John Wick after all. **More on Keanu Reeves:** *[Keanu Reeves Worried AI Could Soon Replace the Journalists Who Interview Him]()* ## Author At Futurism, my work has often centered on bringing a sense of clarity and insight to complex topics ranging from the regulation of emerging technologies to the esoteric ideologies of Silicon Valley executives, while striving not to lose the poetic sense of awe inspired by often-obscure fields like astrophysics and quantum computing. I broke the story of CNET using AI to produce articles that turned out to be riddled with factual errors and plagiarism — a dam-breaking inflection point, as I've reported, that's inspired copycats and endless discourse while beguiling stakeholders ranging from tech giants to purveyors of spam around the web. My work at Futurism has been cited by publications including CBS News, the Los Angeles Times, Vice, Gizmodo, Engadget, the Verge, and Vanity Fair. I grew up in locales ranging from India to China, and now live in the exotic suburbs of Virginia. In my free time, I'm an avid reader of weird sci-fi literature, an aficionado of East Asian cinema, and, regrettably, a relapsed gamer. Allegedly, I’m working on a debut novel, currently untitled. ### Author social links [Bluesky]()