Researchers in Finland have made an exciting discovery in the search for viable alternatives to plastic—a mushroom that grows abundantly on the sides of trees. This particular mushroom, known as Fomes fomentarius or tinder fungus, has traditionally been used as a fire starter due to its prevalence on rotting tree bark. However, scientists from the VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland believe that it holds far greater potential. According to their study published in Science Advances, the fruiting bodies of F. fomentarius exhibit ingeniously lightweight biological designs. While simple in composition, these structures demonstrate remarkable efficiency. The research team suggests … Continue reading Nature’s Secret Weapon: The Mushroom Set to Dethrone Plastic