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Wednesday, May 13, 2009

Magic Mushrooms

Posted by Paul Constant on Wed, May 13, 2009 at 1:31 PM

2e26/1242246635-smurfs_color_pictures_sleeping_smur.jpgEngineering students claim to have developed a kind of mushroom that could potentially replace plastics, packaging materials, and insulation.

In a lab, workers grow mycelia, the roots of mushrooms that look like gobs of white and brown fiber. In place of dirt, the roots grow in agricultural by-products, which creates a series of intertwining fibers which give the product its rigidity. Then, they simply place the mixture in a mold and let it grow for a couple of weeks until it’s super dense (1 cubic inch has 8 MILES of fibers). After that they shove them in an oven to dry and presto, you’ve got a finished product.

One day we might all live in mushrooms.

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Comments (15) RSS

Oldest First Unregistered On Registered On Add a comment
1
oh look, Paul is using the RSS feed for digg!

good job!
Posted by Gay Pitbull http://www.lemonparty.org on May 13, 2009 at 1:32 PM
Urgutha Forka 2
So can you get high off them or not?
Posted by Urgutha Forka on May 13, 2009 at 1:38 PM
Tina 3
EAT ME
Posted by Tina on May 13, 2009 at 1:51 PM
Will in Seattle 4
Australia already has compostable plastics - heck, you can even find them at Trader Joe's wrapping your foodstuffs.

Toss em in the yard waste when you're done with them - crinkle em up a bit first to help them compost.
Posted by Will in Seattle http://www.facebook.com/WillSeattle on May 13, 2009 at 2:00 PM
Loveschild 5
I want mine made out of truffles and chanterelles. I would be just like smurfette but sexier. LMFAO
Posted by Loveschild http://www.marriagedebate.com on May 13, 2009 at 2:08 PM
Cato the Younger Younger 6
And if we live in mushrooms does that mean there will only be one blonde bimbo who all the guys will have to gang bang?
Posted by Cato the Younger Younger on May 13, 2009 at 2:14 PM
Max Solomon 7
we could live in structures made of spider webs clad in hemp boards. IF WE WANTED TO.
Posted by Max Solomon on May 13, 2009 at 2:18 PM
Original Monique 8
I totally want to see the documentary about mushrooms that is playing at SIFF this year, but I will be in Hawaii.

So I yeah I still come out ahead, but it would have been a good movie to see...
Posted by Original Monique http://www.facebook.com/notifications.php#/group.php?gid=124801948427 on May 13, 2009 at 3:00 PM
The Amazing Jim 9
That'd be fuckin' smurfy!
Posted by The Amazing Jim http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#/profile.php?id=100000076496291&ref=profile on May 13, 2009 at 3:07 PM
Will in Seattle 10
I'll tell you how it went, OM. I doubt it'll be smurfy enough.
Posted by Will in Seattle http://www.facebook.com/WillSeattle on May 13, 2009 at 3:08 PM
Violet_DaGrinder 11
If we're not too attached to our treehouses!

http://www.terreform.org/projects_habita…
Posted by Violet_DaGrinder http://www.imeem.com/jukeboxmusic51/music/y1malqpG/prince-the-new-power-generation-featuring-eric-leeds-on-f/ on May 13, 2009 at 3:13 PM
Will in Seattle 12
Ooh, I want a treehouse with a toadstool pathway leading up to it!
Posted by Will in Seattle http://www.facebook.com/WillSeattle on May 13, 2009 at 4:01 PM
yucca flower 13
@ Cato the Younger Younger,

Everyone knows the Smurfs were gay! Just look at what they called themselves: Papa, Tailor, Painter, Harmony, Hefty, Vanity. Tell me you can't see the sub-text here.

p.s. Smurfette was a tranny and dating the gym bunny exclusively.
Posted by yucca flower on May 13, 2009 at 5:21 PM
pissy mcslogbot 14
p.s. Smurfette was a tranny and dating the gym bunny exclusively.

pics plz, for ummm, verification purposes.
Posted by pissy mcslogbot on May 13, 2009 at 5:33 PM
Greg 15
@14: http://www.coolest-homemade-costumes.com…

This thing about mushrooms reminds me of a science fiction book in which an alien civilization cultivated a special kind of mollusk that grew excessive amounts of shell material, which the aliens used like bricks for constructing buildings. "Weirdest damn architecture you ever saw," commented one of the characters.
Posted by Greg on May 14, 2009 at 9:51 AM

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