We think of mushrooms as food. But mycelium-based blocks could be the future of construction |
When mushrooms make the news, it’s often for grim reasons – a mysterious poisoning, toxic species in the bush, or high-profile court cases.
But the mushroom itself is only the fruit body. Beneath every cap lies the real organism: a hidden network of white threads weaving through soil and wood.
And that underground network, called mycelium, may help solve some of our biggest climate and waste problems.
In my research on building materials, I focus on improving the durability of mycelium-based materials for construction purposes. So what exactly is mycelium, and how can we harness it for various materials?
Mycelium is the living body of a fungus. It grows as thin, branching filaments known as hyphae, which spread out in all directions in search of food.
In a forest, these threads help break down leaves, logs and other organic matter, known as biomass. This turns waste into nutrients that trees and plants can use again. A single mycelial network can spread across metres of soil, and sometimes much farther.
Importantly, mycelium is everywhere. It thrives in leaf litter, compost piles, mulch, crops after harvest, and even in the dead wood under our feet. We usually never see it, yet it’s one of nature’s most powerful recyclers.
We can also use its unique features in the lab to create composite materials. Because mycelium grows by binding itself to........