Graphene is the thinnest material yet known, composed of a single layer of carbon atoms arranged in a hexagonal lattice. That structure gives it many unusual properties that hold great promise for real-world applications: batteries, super capacitors, antennas, water filters, transistors, solar cells, and touchscreens, just to name a few. The physicists who first synthesized graphene in the lab won the 2010 Nobel Prize in Physics. But 19th century inventor Thomas Edison may have unknowingly created graphene as a byproduct of his original experiments on incandescent bulbs over a century earlier, according to a new paper published in the journal ACS Nano.

“To reproduce what Thomas Edison did, with the tools and knowledge we have now, is very exciting,” said co-author James Tour, a chemist at Rice University. “Finding that he could have produced graphene inspires curiosity about what other information lies buried in historical experiments. What questions would our scientific forefathers ask if they could join us in the lab today? What questions can we answer when we revisit their work through a modern lens?”

Edison didn’t invent the concept of incandescent lamps; there were several versions predating his efforts. However, they generally had a a very short life span and required high electric current, so they weren’t well suited to Edison’s vision of large-scale commercialization. He experimented with different filament materials starting with carbonized cardboard and compressed lampblack. This, too, quickly burnt out, as did filaments made with various grasses and canes, like hemp and palmetto. Eventually Edison discovered that carbonized bamboo made for the best filament, with life spans over 1200 hours using a 110 volt power source.

Lucas Eddy, Tour’s  grad student at Rice, was trying to figure out ways to mass produce graphene using the smallest, easiest equipment he could manage, with materials that were both affordable and readily available. He considered such options as arc welders and natural phenomena like lightning striking trees—both of which he admitted were “complete dead ends.” Edison’s light bulb, Eddy decided, would be ideal, since unlike other early light bulbs, Edison’s version was able to achieve the critical 2000 degree C temperatures required for flash Joule heating—the best method for making so-called turbostratic graphene.

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But the mushroom itself is only the fruit body. Beneath every cap lies the real organism: a hidden network of white threads weaving through soil and wood.

And that underground network, called mycelium, may help solve some of our biggest climate and waste problems.

In my research on building materials, I focus on improving the durability of mycelium-based materials for construction purposes. So what exactly is mycelium, and how can we harness it for various materials?

Mycelium is everywhere

Mycelium is the living body of a fungus. It grows as thin, branching filaments known as hyphae, which spread out in all directions in search of food.

In a forest, these threads help break down leaves, logs and other organic matter, known as biomass. This turns waste into nutrients that trees and plants can use again. A single mycelial network can spread across metres of soil, and sometimes much farther.

Importantly, mycelium is everywhere. It thrives in leaf litter, compost piles, mulch, crops after harvest, and even in the dead wood under our feet. We usually never see it, yet it’s one of nature’s most powerful recyclers.

A living glue

We can also use its unique features in the lab to create composite materials. Because mycelium grows by binding itself to whatever it feeds on, it naturally forms a kind of living glue. As the fibres spread, they wrap around particles of sawdust, straw, or other agricultural and industrial biomass waste, locking them together.

After a few days, this mixture becomes a lightweight but solid block. If we then stop the growth and eventually “kill” the fungi with heat, the block still holds its shape – no machinery, no plastics, and very little energy required.

All this makes mycelium very appealing in materials science. It grows at room temperature. It is shaped inside a mould. And it produces structures that are breathable, biodegradable and fire-resistant.

For designers, architects and engineers, mycelium offers a rare combination: organic material that can be grown to order.

Although the field is still young, mycelium-based materials are emerging in several areas, such as alternatives to polystyrene in packaging, alternatives to synthetic insulation panels, acoustic panels for reducing echo in noisy spaces, and even leather-like materials.

Mycelium has also been used in construction prototypes where architects have built temporary structures using blocks grown from plant waste, highlighting how construction might one day include “grown” components.

More work to be done

These examples show the versatility of mycelium, but also its limits. Mycelium-based composites – often called MBCs – are not yet strong enough to replace bricks or most plastic parts. They absorb humidity unless they are treated. They decay outdoors without protective coatings. Growth time and organic characteristics also makes large-scale, uniform production difficult.

My research group focuses on improving the durability of mycelium-based composites for building applications – predominantly for passive cooling – while maintaining their environmental benefits.

To improve the durability of a mycelium composite block, we’re exploring several routes.

First, there’s natural reinforcement – mixing fibres such as hemp, flax or other agricultural, industrial and construction byproducts to improve strength while keeping the material biodegradable.

Adding a protective coating is another option. If we can add natural waxes, oils or mineral layers, the materials could resist moisture without making the material toxic or non-compostable.

We’re also harnessing artificial intelligence to adjust temperature, humidity and nutrient sources for growing the blocks, to see if we can grow materials that are more uniformly dense and have better passive cooling and structural performance.

Not every method works. Some coatings trap moisture, which can weaken the material. Some fibres have slow growth. In other cases, the material becomes too brittle or too spongy. But each trial teaches us more about how fungi build their networks – and how we might guide them to build stronger ones.

Our broader goal is to create bio-based materials that can withstand real-world conditions: weather, load and time. If we can do that, mycelium-based composites could reduce the amount of plastic in packaging, offer low-carbon alternatives in construction, and push designers, architects and builders to think beyond what can be machined or moulded towards what can be grown.

A future for fungi

For now, mycelium-based materials aren’t a magic solution. They can’t yet replace most metals, concrete or high-performance plastics, and outdoor durability is still a significant hurdle.

Uniformity is challenging to achieve because mycelium is a living organism rather than an industrial polymer. And, as with any new material, standards and regulations take time to develop.

Still, the pace of discovery is fast. Researchers are exploring ways to tailor mycelium by feeding it different types of waste or combining it with plant fibres. Others study how living mycelium might one day repair cracks on its own or cool down buildings without using extra energy.

In the long term, we may see hybrid building components – part grown, part engineered – where mycelium-based composites provide insulation or acoustic performance inside a stronger outer shell.

The mushroom may be the part we recognise, but it’s the hidden fungal network underground that could shape the next generation of sustainable materials.

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In this episode of For Your Innovation, Brett Winton, along with ARK Invest Chief Investment Strategist, Charles Roberts, and Research Analyst, Nemo Marjanovic, sit down with Geoffrey von Maltzahn, CEO and founder of Lila Sciences and a general partner at Flagship Pioneering. Fresh out of stealth mode, Lila is pioneering the concept of scientific superintelligence—leveraging AI and automation to accelerate discovery across materials science, chemistry, and life sciences. Geoffrey shares his vision for transforming the scientific method into an AI-driven engine that pushes the boundaries of innovation at unprecedented speeds. The conversation explores the limitations of traditional scientific research, the role of AI-driven autonomous labs, and how Lila aims to revolutionize hypothesis testing and experimentation. Geoffrey discusses how scientific intelligence can scale across domains, the importance of proprietary data, and why unlocking AI’s potential in science could be one of the most valuable technological advances of our time.

Key Points From This Episode:
● ARK Invest sees Lila as a transformative opportunity.
● Lila’s AI science factories are reinventing research.
● We’re experiencing breakthroughs in mRNA and material science through AI.
● Scientists roles are evolving in an AI-powered world.

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