Scientists in China create a self-healing dress from living fungus

Researchers in China have created a textile made from living fungal mycelium that can heal its own cuts, grow new surface layers on command, and biodegrade completely within weeks. The material, built from Cordyceps militaris fungus, keeps its cells alive throughout the manufacturing process, unlike most fungal textiles, which are dried, heated or chemically treated in ways that kill the organism. According to a new study published in Science Advances, titled ‘A programmable fungal platform for engineered living textiles’, reports that this approach allows the fabric to respond to damage and environmental cues long after it has been shaped into a finished product.