The search for eco-friendly materials, which we can use to build eco-friendly stuff, goes on as we try to solve the problem of climate change, and it seems that mushrooms are going to be of great help in our quest.
Mushrooms are helping architects and engineers solve one the world’s biggest crises: climate change. These fungi are durable, biodegradable, and are proving to be a good alternative to more polluting materials.
Materials made with mycelium, the fungal network from which mushrooms grow, might be able to help turn that around. They produce far less planet-heating carbon dioxide than traditional materials like cement. An added bonus is that mushrooms are biodegradable, so they leave behind less harmful waste than traditional building materials. Mushrooms can even help with clean-up efforts, feeding off things that might have otherwise ended up in a landfill, like sawdust or agricultural waste.
While materials made from mushrooms are still in the early stages of development, they’re already showing some promise as an insulation material and as an alternative to concrete blocks. And how do they perform? The Verge documents it in this video.
(Image Credit: The Verge/ YouTube)
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I think she may be taking a selfie with that concrete block? Must be a Nokia! Back on concrete, I've heard that there is a mystery in what the Romans used in their concrete that we would love to solve, because whatever they used means salt water doesn't erode it like it does the modern stuff, but actually makes it stronger.
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i duno concrete works pretty good
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