Fungal composites, a sustainable solution for buildings, have the potential to revolutionize the construction industry by reducing waste and greenhouse gas emissions.
Living Material Made from Fungus: A Sustainable Solution for Buildings
Fungi and bacteria have been combined to create rigid, living structures similar to bone and coral, which could one day be used as self-repairing building materials. This innovative approach aims to reduce waste and greenhouse gas emissions in the construction industry.
Fungal composites are a class of materials composed of fungal mycelium and other natural fibers.
These biodegradable materials have gained attention for their potential applications in sustainable construction, packaging, and textiles.
Mycelium, the vegetative part of a fungus, is used to bind and reinforce fibers, creating a strong and durable composite material.
Fungal composites can be engineered to mimic the properties of traditional materials, such as wood or plastic, while offering improved sustainability and eco-friendliness.
The Challenge of Sustainable Building Materials
One of the significant challenges facing the world today is finding more sustainable building materials. The manufacture of concrete alone accounts for over 5% of total human-caused greenhouse gas emissions. Researchers are exploring alternative materials that can be produced using cells, which have desirable attributes such as self-assembly, repair, and photosynthesis.
Bamboo, a highly renewable resource, is being used as an alternative to traditional wood in construction.
Its strength-to-weight ratio and durability make it an attractive option for builders.
Recycled plastic lumber is another sustainable material gaining popularity.
Made from post-consumer waste, it reduces landfill waste and requires minimal maintenance.
Low-carbon concrete, made with supplementary cementitious materials, also offers reduced environmental impact.
A New Approach to Building Materials
Chelsea Heveran and her team at Montana State University have successfully created a mineralized structure around a scaffold of fungal mycelium. Mycelium is a network of microscopic, branching filaments that makes up part of most fungi. The team applied the bacterium Sporosarcina pasteurii to the scaffold, which metabolized urea in their growth medium and formed a hardened structure composed of calcium carbonate.
Inspired by Nature
The team drew inspiration from bone, where biomineral is formed on a scaffold of ‘collagen and other proteins.’ Bone is incredibly strong and tough given its lightweight nature. Heveran’s team aimed to replicate this strength and durability in their living material. The structure developed by the team was viable for at least a month, a significant improvement over previous living materials that had only stayed alive for a few days.
Nature-inspired buildings are structures that mimic natural forms and processes to create unique, eco-friendly designs.
These buildings often incorporate green roofs, living walls, and solar panels to minimize their carbon footprint.
The Burj Khalifa in Dubai features a desert-inspired design, while the Amazon Spheres in Seattle resemble a rainforest with its lush greenery.
Nature-inspired buildings not only reduce energy consumption but also provide a healthier indoor environment for occupants.
Potential Applications
Heveran and her colleagues are excited about their results and look forward to engineering more complex and larger structures. When viability is sufficiently high, they could impart lasting biological characteristics to the material, such as self-healing, sensing, or environmental remediation. Aysu Kuru at the University of Sydney proposes using mycelium as a scaffolding medium for living materials, which he believes is a simple yet powerful strategy.
Conclusion
The development of living materials made from fungus and bacteria has the potential to revolutionize the construction industry. By reducing waste and greenhouse gas emissions, this innovative approach could help create more sustainable buildings in the future.
- newscientist.com | Living material made from fungus could make buildings more sustainable
