Materials & Tech

·

Study

Fungal Mycelium Creates Stronger 'Living Sand'

Fungal Mycelium Creates Stronger 'Living Sand'

Split gill

What they found

Mycelium plus microbial nanocellulose made sand stronger, more cohesive and better at holding water.

Mycelium plus microbial nanocellulose made sand stronger, more cohesive and better at holding water.

How solid is it?

Field study

Field study

Materials/engineering

Materials/engineering

Evidence ladder: Lab dish → Animal → Early human → Strong human. Reviews summarize earlier research.

At a glance

Latin name

Schizophyllum commune, Komagataeibacter medellinensis

Schizophyllum commune, Komagataeibacter medellinensis

Compound

nanocellulose

nanocellulose

Published in

Carbohydrate Polymers

Carbohydrate Polymers

Covered in Shroom Scan

Section

ECOLOGY & CONSERVATION

ECOLOGY & CONSERVATION

As it ran in Shroom Scan

Living Sand

Living Sand

Researchers combined fungal mycelium with microbial nanocellulose to make ordinary sand stronger, more stable, and better at holding water. The fungi (Schizophyllum commune strains) and bacteria (Komagataeibacter medellinensis) grew through the sand, creating natural fiber networks that boosted cohesion and reduced erosion. This “living sand” could be used in sustainable construction, erosion control, and water retention projects, offering a greener alternative to conventional building materials.

Researchers combined fungal mycelium with microbial nanocellulose to make ordinary sand stronger, more stable, and better at holding water. The fungi (Schizophyllum commune strains) and bacteria (Komagataeibacter medellinensis) grew through the sand, creating natural fiber networks that boosted cohesion and reduced erosion. This “living sand” could be used in sustainable construction, erosion control, and water retention projects, offering a greener alternative to conventional building materials.

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