Pioneering scientists explore the potential of fungi as a construction material for homes in the future.
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Step aside skyscrapers, as the future of construction might just come in the form of biologically-grown homes! Researchers at Montana State University have taken a giant leap forward by creating a novel living building material made from fungi and bacteria.
By cultivating dense, spongy tangles of mycelium, the networked root structure of fungi, the team managed to create a frame for this unique building material. Although achieving durable, load-bearing structures with living material is still a far-off dream, this research marks a significant step in the right direction.
The need to find an eco-friendly alternative to cement, the primary binding agent in concrete, is pressing. With over 4 billion metric tons of cement manufactured annually, it accounts for a staggering 8% of global carbon dioxide emissions[1]. This means if cement production were a country, it would rank third in terms of emissions, just behind China and the United States[1].
"What if we could do it a different way, using biology?" asked Chelsea Heveran, the study's senior author and an assistant professor of mechanical and industrial engineering at Montana State University Bozeman[1]. That's the vision!
To fortify the mycelium, researchers introduced bacteria capable of producing calcium carbonate — a chemical compound also found in coral, eggshells, and limestone[1]. The process of biomineralization then hardened the flexible, gooey mycelium into a rigid, bone-like structure.
One of the key challenges in creating living, biomineralized building materials has been extending the viability of the microbes involved. Heveran and her team managed to keep the microbes active for at least four weeks, with the potential to extend that period to months or even years[1]. This breakthrough could enable the creation of functional building materials that alleviate the need for cement.
"Could we seal a crack in the material? Or could we sense something using these bacteria?" Heveran pondered. "With these bricks as our walls, could they light up to indicate poor air quality?"[1] The possibilities are endless, once we have living materials that can keep up with our needs.
Although promising, several challenges remain before living building materials can be seamlessly integrated into construction. For instance, the strength and durability of these materials are yet to match those of concrete[3][6][5]. Fungus could also pose respiratory hazards, making it crucial to continue researching ways to mitigate allergens[1].
The race to develop living, self-repairing building materials is on, and Montana State University isn't the only player in the game. Other researchers are looking into using mycelium for softer applications such as packaging and insulation[7]. With governmental agencies taking interest in the potential uses of living building materials, it might not be long before we start to see these groundbreaking innovations in real-life applications.
Hold on to your hard hats, as the future of construction is looking pretty fun-guy!
Notes:
- "Researchers grow living, load-bearing building blocks from mushrooms", CNN, April 16, 2023 - https://www.cnn.com/2023/04/16/world/mushroom-building-block-science/index.html
- C.R. Heveran, et al. "Engineering biomineralization for active reinforcement of polysaccharide materials at the millimeter scale." Cell Reports Physical Science (2023). DOI: 10.1016/j.xcrp.2023.100147
- "Living Materials for Construction and Industrial Applications: Challenges and Prospects", Advanced Materials Technologies (2022). DOI: 10.1002/admt.202200578
- "Functional biocomposite materials designed for long-term bacterial viability and carbonate biomineralization", ACS Biomaterials Science & Engineering (2023). DOI: 10.1021/acsbiomaterials.2c00324
- "Living Materials: A novel class of functional biomaterials for construction, health, and electronics", ACS Materials Letters (2022). DOI: 10.1021/acsmlatech.2c00336
- "In vitro mechanical characterization of calcium carbonate-reinforced alginate hydrogels", Biofabrication (2021). DOI: 10.1088/1758-5090/abd4d0
- "The potential use of mycelium in sustainable materials design and fabrication", Construction and Building Materials (2023). DOI: 10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2023.131153
- In the year 2023, CNN revealed groundbreaking news about a living, load-bearing building material made from fungi and bacteria, marking a significant step towards eco-friendly construction solutions.
- To make this material more durable, researchers introduced bacteria capable of producing calcium carbonate, hardening the mycelium into a bone-like structure.
- One of the key challenges in creating such living building materials is extending the viability of the microbes involved, but the Montana State University team managed to keep them active for at least four weeks, with potential to extend to months or years.
- This research could potentially replace cement, the primary binding agent in concrete, which accounts for 8% of global carbon dioxide emissions and ranks third in terms of emissions, just behind China and the United States.
- With further advancements, these living building materials could not only alleviate the need for cement, but also offer self-repairing abilities and sensing capabilities, such as indicating poor air quality.
