Old fungus could be used to make plastics

Plus: Asteroid Ryugu samples contain organic matter older than the solar system. Feb 27, 2023 [Blueprint]( This new research is [both plastic and fantastic](. The team behind it says there’s still mush-room for improvement, but that tinder fungus may now be useful when making certain grades of plastic and shock-absorbing materials. This is because it has been found to be not unlike plywood or leather in terms of structural strength, except that it weighs even less. But before you take a closer look at that, consider [this video](. It shows something far, far away – namely, Asteroid Ryugu, where samples containing organic matter older than the solar system have been found, which is fairly out of this world. Good morning. I’m Alice, an Editor at IE. This is The Blueprint. Let’s dive in. [Engineers solve short-circuit puzzle, paving way for fast-charging EVs.]( [premium] Lithium dendrites can form on the negative electrode during the charging process, particularly under conditions like overcharging or lower-temperature charging. [Play]VIDEO OF THE DAY [Asteroid Ryugu samples contain organic matter older than the solar system.]( [Asteroid Ryugu samples contain organic matter older than the solar system.]( It’s what you might call a meteoric discovery. [Must Read]MUST READ [Old fungus could soon be used to make new plastics.]( [Old fungus could soon be used to make new plastics.]( Tinder fungus, which grows on the bark of rotting beech and birch trees, has been used as a fire starter for a long time, but it [may now have a new use: making plastic](. Humans have used the material to feed fires for centuries. But it recently piqued the interest of the scientific community as a replacement for certain plastics. Researchers at the VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland have analyzed the internal structure of the fungus, formally called Fomes fomentarius, in order to better understand its strong yet lightweight consistency. The fungus was discovered to have a similar structural strength to plywood or leather but at a lower weight. → The fungus could be used to produce certain grades of plastic and some shock-absorbing materials. It has a very stiff and hard protective outer layer: a softer, spongy mid-layer, and a strong and tough inner layer, each of which could outperform a different class of man-made and natural materials. [READ MORE [Arrow]]( [Facebook]( [INNOVATION]INNOVATION [Amazon tests carbon removal with seaweed farming between wind turbines.]( The world’s [first commercial-scale seaweed farm]( is expected to produce at least 6,000kg of fresh seaweed in its first year. 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