Scientists continue their research without slowing down to eliminate plastics, which pose a great threat to the environment because it is very difficult to recycle. A study published yesterday on Sciences Advances reveals that this material could be replaced by something very interesting: mushrooms.
Mushrooms, of which there are thousands of species in the world, can have many interesting properties. It is stated that the Fomes fomentarius (also known as the tinder mushroom) studied by the researchers can replace the plastic used in electronics, sports equipment, vehicles and many other products.
Headphones and gadgets made of cork coming?
The scientists stated that this Fomes fomentarius, which is the focus of the research, can be used to produce a variety of materials with many different properties, from soft and spongy to hard and woody. They added that by studying the architecture of the fungus, they hope to pave the way for it to become part of our sustainable goals.
This mushroom, which looks like a horse’s hoof protruding from a tree trunk in nature, has already been used by humans for thousands of years to make fire. But scientists say a class of lightweight, high-performance materials could be created in the future with a unique three layers of the type, each with different properties.
According to one of the researchers, Pezhman Mohammadi, Fomes fomentarius has a very hard outer shell that can be used to produce shockproof parts. There is also a soft middle layer that can mimic leather and feels nice to the touch, and a final layer that looks like wood. The team used advanced imaging techniques to examine each layer and understand its potential uses.
Of course, it still takes a lot of time for fungi to replace plastic. In addition, it will not be right to collect these species from forests, as it may cause great damage to the ecosystem. Let’s add that experts say there is still a lot of research needed on him. If something like this does happen, though, materials made from biodegradable mushrooms have the potential to make huge contributions to the environment.
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