Researchers from a mushroom leather company have developed an artificial leather made from mushroom mycelium, inspired by the cult film “Terminator” of 1984. This breakthrough material has the potential to replace or modify silicone sensors, making them more universal and environmentally friendly.
The scientists, Antoni Gandia and Andrew Adamatski, decided to use Ganoderma Sessile fungus for their experiment. They grew the fungus on the surface of an 18 cm high terminator model, which was pre-processed with agar to expedite the process.
After just five days in the incubator, the fungus completely covered the model, and the skin itself demonstrated sensitivity to light and touch.
“In one of the scenes of the film, artificial skin is applied to the robot, which is self-healing and transmits various data to it,” says Gandia. “We wanted to demonstrate that modern science is already capable of creating something similar.”
In a scientific article currently undergoing review, the material is described as “alive, regenerative, and sensitive to external influences of the Ganoderma Sessile mycelium.” This experiment has essentially transformed a simple toy into a complex biocybernetic creature.
Aside from electronics, this “living skin” could be useful in construction, particularly for temperature regulation inside buildings.
“By delving deeper into mycelium’s possibilities, we are approaching a future in which biocybernetic systems become a part of our daily lives,” conclude the researchers in their article.