*Correction (5/29/08): An earlier version of this story incorrectly stated that ASTM would do the testing.
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Greensulate—made from mushrooms and agricultural waste—promises natural protection from heat and cold
*Correction (5/29/08): An earlier version of this story incorrectly stated that ASTM would do the testing.
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3 Comments
Add CommentSeems to be a very efficient form of insulation. I wonder if it will be produced in a woolly version, or as a sprayable filler. Great that impressive advances like this are rising like a tide along the shore. Possibly synergies between say rooftop insulation sheets and solar panels will be found. Or new flooring combining some toughened version of this greensulate and a foot or shine-friendly surface. And presumably, like computers, the field of green developments will continue to accelerate in innovation and durability and keep us gobsmacked for the foreseeable future.
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thissounds promising. however, is it correct to say "...and assure that mold and spores do not photosynthesize." when the shrooms do not respond to light?
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisWow, there seem to be some serious misconceptions about fungi in this article. I'm a little surprised they made it into the Scientific American!
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisFirst of all, fungi do not photosynthesize (and neither do "mold and spores"). They can respond to light, but they don't use it for energy, only as an environmental signal.
Next, it's pretty silly to refer to mycelium as "mushroom roots". The mycelium is the main body of the organism. The only purpose of the mushroom is to release spores. So if we were to make an analogy with a plant, the mycelium would not correspond to the roots, but the entire plant. A mushroom would be analogous to a flower or fruit.