Swiss researchers develop living material from fungi

A Swiss research team has developed a new type of material from fungi. This could be used to create compostable films, moisture sensors or edible additives for food and cosmetics, they say. +Get the most important news from Switzerland in your inbox The secret of the new material lies in the fact that it is alive, the Swiss Federal Laboratories for Materials Science and Technology (EMPA) announced on Tuesday. The researchers used the so-called mycelium of the widespread, edible fungus known as the "common split-leaf fungus" as the basis for their new material. Mycelia are root-like, thread-like fungal structures that are already being actively researched as potential material sources. However, natural materials present a challenge: although they are biodegradable, they are often not stable or flexible enough for practical applications. To compensate for these weaknesses, they are often chemically treated, but this reduces their sustainability. + ‘Switzerland should be a model ...