Biodegradable Packaging, Inspired by Fungus

Mycelium is tubular, filamentous material that is a vegetative part of a fungus. They help provide fungi with nutrients. You might see mycelium if you hike in the woods and flip over a log; it’s the patchy white stuff. 

This video explores how one scientist was inspired by what he saw in nature as a child to create a biodegradable packaging material in his work as a scientist. 

Our planet is awash in materials like styrofoam, which are difficult to get rid of, but we can start by reducing its use. One way to do so is to replace it with a better material that will break down naturally.