Swiss researchers create 'almost magical' luminous wood using honey fungus

Swiss researchers have developed a new kind of biohybrid wood that glows in the dark, described as "very beautiful and almost magical," according to IFLScience, and Boing Boing. This luminous wood is created through the interaction of the fungus Desarmillaria tabescens, also known as the ringless honey fungus, with non-living wood.

The project is led by fungal researcher Francis Schwarze from Empa's Cellulose & Wood Materials lab in St. Gallen. "Artificially produced composite materials of this kind would be interesting for many types of application," Schwarze said, as reported by IFLScience and Boing Boing. The team incubated the fungus and balsa wood together in laboratory conditions for three months, maintaining high humidity. During this period, the balsa wood absorbed moisture, increasing its weight by eight times, according to IFLScience, and Cursor Info.

Desarmillaria tabescens produces luciferin, the substance responsible for the glowing effect in the wood. The fungus breaks down lignin, a natural polymer that provides rigidity to wood, without harming cellulose, thus maintaining the wood's structural integrity, reported Designboom. Upon closer examination, researchers discovered that the cellulose in the wood remains intact, providing tensile strength and stability.

The glowing reaction starts as soon as the wood with fungus comes into contact with air, triggering an enzyme reaction. The bioluminescence fully kicks in after about 10 hours, emitting green light with a wavelength of 560 nanometers, as reported by IFLScience and Designboom. This biohybrid wood emits a soft green light at night, similar to fireflies or glowworms, according to Boing Boing.

However, the bioluminescence is not very bright, comparable to the intensity of a candle, as noted by France Info. The glow lasts for around 10 days, and the scientists continue to work on improving their technology, aiming to increase the brightness of the glow and extend the duration of the bioluminescent wood.

"We are now optimizing the laboratory parameters in order to further increase the luminosity in the future," Empa researcher Giorgia Giovannini added, as reported by IFLScience.

The researchers see enormous potential in their discovery. The team hopes that the biohybrid wood could be used to create building materials that double as sustainable light sources, according to Boing Boing. Possible applications include lighting in homes, streets, and forests, as mentioned by Cursor Info. Architects could add luminous wood veneers to bus shelters or store fronts, allowing cities to be adorned with soft, natural lighting without light pollution, as noted by France Info.

Inspired by the phenomenon of foxfire, the team is working to incorporate bioluminescence into building materials, expanding the range of applications for luminous wood, as reported by France Info and IFLScience. This bioluminescent phenomenon, known as "foxfire," occurs in nature when certain fungi produce a glow in rotting wood.

There are over 70 species of fungi that show bioluminescence, as noted by IFLScience. Desarmillaria tabescens is particularly powerful in producing bioluminescence and is a good option for making luminous wood because it can infiltrate the wood without reducing its stability.

"Naturally luminous wood was first described around 2,400 years ago by the Greek philosopher Aristotle," Francis Schwarze said, according to IFLScience and Boing Boing. Equipping wood with new functionalities, such as magnetic, waterproof, or electricity-generating properties, is part of a wider goal to find more sustainable uses for Swiss hardwood than burning, as reported by IFLScience.

Luminous wood could be processed into designer furniture or jewelry, and several startups, such as the French company Woodlight, are working on luminous plants that could be used as bedside lamps, according to France Info. Previously, luminous plants have been developed that work similarly to the bioluminescent organisms depicted in the movie Avatar, as noted by France Info. While dead wood can be used for this purpose, other research has examined living plants that glow for similar purposes, including genetically modified organisms that raise potential contamination issues in nature.

The study on luminous wood was published in the scientific journal Advanced Science (AdvSci).

This article was written in collaboration with generative AI company Alchemiq