Swiss Researchers Unveil Tough, Biodegradable “Living Fungal Material”
Switzerland: Scientists at EMPA (Swiss Federal Laboratories for Materials Science) introduced an innovative “living” material grown from the mycelium of split-gill mushrooms. The fungus-based film is flexible, tear-resistant, and fully biodegradable. Its cells respond to humidity changes, altering properties in real time. Not only is the material edible, but it can also self-repair minor damage—a potential game-changer for eco-friendly packaging, wearable sensors, or even building components. Researchers say harnessing nature’s own assembly processes could yield high-performing products without reliance on petrochemicals. Skeptics wonder if scaling fungal production is feasible for commercial usage, but the breakthrough points to a promising new frontier in sustainable biomaterials.
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Key Entities
- • EMPA (Swiss Federal Laboratories) – A research institute focused on advanced materials.
- • Split-gill Mushroom – The fungus species used to grow the film-like biomaterial.
- • Advanced Materials – The journal that published the team’s findings.
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