Architects seeking sustainable alternatives to concrete may soon have a living option. Researchers at Montana State University have developed a novel building material made from fungal mycelium—the thread-like roots of fungi—combined with bacteria that trigger a natural mineralization process. The result is a lightweight material that remains alive for over a month and can be shaped into complex, bone-like geometries.Unlike concrete, which requires high-temperature production and emits significant carbon dioxide, this material is grown at low temperatures and hardens through a process similar to coral or shell formation. While self-healing wasn’t directly tested, the material’s extended viability lays the groundwork for regenerative capabilities and other functions like pollutant cleanup. The researchers used the fungus Neurospora crassa as a biological scaffold, which is either self-mineralized or colonized by the soil bacterium Sporosarcina pasteurii. Together, these organisms for...