Fungi have fantastic capabilities
Fungi, with the exception of shitake and certain other mushrooms, tend to be something we associate with moldy bread or dank-smelling mildew. But they really deserve more respect. Fungi have fantastic capabilities and can be grown, under certain circumstances, in almost any shape and be totally biodegradable. And, if this weren’t enough, they might have the potential to replace plastics one day. The secret is in the mycelia.
Union College Biology Professor Steve Horton likens this mostly underground portion of fungi (the mushrooms that pop up are the reproductive structures) to a tiny biological chain of tubular cells.
“It’s this linked chain of cells that’s able to communicate with the outside world, to sense what’s there in terms of food and light and moisture,” he said. “Mycelia can take in nutrients from available organic materials like wood and use them as food, and the fungus is able to grow as a result.”
“When you think of fungi and their mycelia, their function – ecologically – is really vital in degrading and breaking things down,” Horton added. “Without fungi, and bacteria, we’d be I don’t know how many meters deep in waste, both plant matter and animal tissue.”
Looking something like extremely delicate, white dental floss, mycelia grow in, through and around just about any organic substrate. Whether it’s leaves or mulch, mycelia digest these natural materials and can also bind everything together in a cohesive mat. And these mats can be grown in molds, such as those that might make a packing carton.
Ecovative Design, in Green Island, N.Y., is harnessing this particular mycological power and is being helped by Horton, and another Union researcher, Ronald Bucinell, associate professor of mechanical engineering.
Ecovative uses several species of fungi to manufacture environmentally-friendly products. The process starts with farming byproducts, like cotton gin waste; seed hulls from rice, buckwheat and oats; hemp or other plant materials. These are sterilized, mixed with nutrients and chilled. Then the mycelia spawn are added and are so good at proliferating that every cubic inch of material soon contains millions of tiny fungal fibers.
This compact matrix is then grown in a mold the shape of whatever item Ecovative is making. Once the desired texture, rigidity and other characteristics of the product are achieved, it’s popped from its mold and heated and dried to kill the mycelia and stop its growth.
The all-natural products, the creation of which can take less than 5 days, have no allergy concerns and are completely non-toxic. More impressive is the fact that they’re also impervious to fire (to a point), and just as water resistant as Styrofoam, but they won’t sit around taking up space in a landfill. They are also more UV-stable than foam since they are not petrochemical-based, and won’t emit volatile organic compounds. When exposed to the right microbes, they will break down in 180 days in any landfill or backyard.
Mycelium is comparatively inexpensive too as it can grow on farm waste that can’t be fed to animals or burned for fuel. Better yet, the fungi can be propagated without sunlight or much human oversight in simple trays at room temperature – no immense greenhouses with costly temperature-control systems needed. It also means a smaller carbon footprint and Ecovative is hoping to the point where they can displace all plastics and foams in the market.
The Latest Bing News on:
Fungi Replacing Plastics
- Final Resultson April 26, 2024 at 10:24 am
MWJNR3WZZ3ZP4226 April 2024 Final results31 December 2023 Foresight Enterprise VCT plc, managed by Foresight Group LLP, today announces the final results for the year ended 31 December 2023. These ...
- MIT Technology Reviewon April 26, 2024 at 3:00 am
But when I unboxed my two petunias this week, they were in bad shape, with rotted leaves. And in a day, they were dead crisps. My first attempt to do biotech at home is a total bust, and it cost me ...
- The nine eco-friendly habits scientists warn can harm our healthon April 21, 2024 at 11:00 pm
Microbiologists believe sustainable practices like cutting back on energy, ditching single-use plastics and recycling can be bad for our health, says Kim Jones ...
- 10 best pest control companies in Troy, Illinoison April 21, 2024 at 9:00 pm
Take care of your pest control problems for good! USA Today Homefront has compiled the best DATAPOINT_ERR_{name} pest control companies to take care of your problems today.
- 10 best pest control companies in Nutley, New Jerseyon April 21, 2024 at 9:00 pm
Take care of your pest control problems for good! USA Today Homefront has compiled the best DATAPOINT_ERR_{name} pest control companies to take care of your problems today.
- Investment fund targets profit with a purposeon April 21, 2024 at 5:01 pm
The TELUS Pollinator Fund is now one of the largest corporate impact funds in the world. One of its credos is “profit with a purpose”. More than 30 firms have received backing to date and they’re ...
- Earth Day battles plastic: The impact of dangerous microplastics on healthon April 20, 2024 at 11:48 pm
As we turn the corner into spring and our landscape comes back to life, it is the perfect time to celebrate Earth Day.Earth day is celebrated every April 22 to ...
- Specimen collection card reportedly preserves DNA samples without refrigerationon April 19, 2024 at 1:59 am
Ahlstrom has revealed LeafSaver, a specimen collection card designed to store and transport DNA samples from plants, fungi, insects, and parasites at ambient temperatures - thus reducing the ...
- How to Get Rid of a Gnat Infestationon April 14, 2024 at 12:11 pm
Gnats are nuisances, prone to hover around warm bodies and fermenting foods. If you felt like a gnat was targeting you while you sipped on a glass of wine, well, you were right. Humans, pets, and ...
- Traditional insulating materials are destroying the environment, says experton April 11, 2024 at 3:30 am
In this week’s Net Hero Podcast, we spoke to Ehab Sayed, Founder of biotechnology company, BIOHM, who told us that fungi can completely transform ecosystems from the ground up ...
The Latest Google Headlines on:
Fungi Replacing Plastics
[google_news title=”” keyword=”Fungi Replacing Plastics” num_posts=”10″ blurb_length=”0″ show_thumb=”left”]
[/vc_column_text]
The Latest Bing News on:
Mycelium
- Tayer: Mycelium dreamin’ toward a healthy economic ecosystemon April 26, 2024 at 11:13 am
Chamber manager John Tayer writes about the "mycelium" network that is required in order to build a sustainable economic system.
- The Challenges — and Opportunities — of Establishing a More Circular Mushroom Economyon April 26, 2024 at 9:39 am
As demand flourishes, managing the waste from the growing process (known as substrate) poses some problems but brings solutions that could ensure a sustainable future for the market.
- Beauty Experts Assess the Future of Sustainable Packagingon April 26, 2024 at 8:32 am
Beauty industry experts address accomplishments, challenges, opportunities, & roadblocks—and why collaboration is key to future success. See our Q&A below.
- Assessing the Future of Sustainable Cosmetic Packagingon April 26, 2024 at 6:28 am
Beauty industry experts address accomplishments, challenges, opportunities, & roadblocks—and why collaboration is key to future success. See our Q&A below.
- How to Find Morel Mushrooms: Foraging 101on April 25, 2024 at 11:08 am
BY RACHELLE SCHRUTE Few things get foragers excited like morel mushroom season. Few mushrooms get culinary mycophiles more giddy, and for good reason. Morels are delicious. Because this ...
- It's Giving... Fun With Fungi: A Mycologist Reveals Amazing Developments in the Magical World of Mushrooms (Exclusive)on April 25, 2024 at 10:00 am
Mycologist Giuliana Furci spoke exclusively with Green Matters to talk all things fungi, including their many uses and surprising facts.
- Frenchtown Golf Course using mushrooms to solve bug problemon April 25, 2024 at 7:45 am
King Ranch Golf Course in Frenchtown was tired of bugging out over mosquitos on the green, so they turned to mushrooms to solve the problem.
- 3 Powerhouse Women Striving For Sustainability In The Beauty Industryon April 24, 2024 at 7:16 am
There is still a long way to go on the sustainability front in the beauty industry. However, some brands and founders are forging paths towards a more earth-friendly approach. Here, Vogue champions ...
- A ‘Wonderland’ Adventure in the Bronxon April 24, 2024 at 2:02 am
A show at the New York Botanical Garden, inspired by Lewis Carroll’s books, will explore his fictional and real worlds through plants, art and artifacts.
- Is Mycelium All Hype, No Hope? Experts Weigh In During Earth Day Panelon April 23, 2024 at 12:00 pm
Sustainability leaders discussed the challenges and opportunities of working with biomaterials during a panel celebrating Earth Day.
The Latest Google Headlines on:
Mycelium
[google_news title=”” keyword=”Mycelium” num_posts=”10″ blurb_length=”0″ show_thumb=”left”]