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M004 → Myco Research | Open Resource

These experiments came from 4 months of growing mycelium in my apartment in Barcelona, using low-tech methodologies.

We see mycelium as a new range of Materials

Mycelium fibrous and polymeric properties can replace toxic materials in applications from construction to packaging to fashion.

All you need to grow mycelium is a CLEAN SPACE + WASTE (substrate), AIRFLOW, and WATER. No energy is needed.
Environmental conditions like carbon dioxide & oxygen concentration, temperature, and humidity are the factors that most influence growth.

Inoculation / How to grow :

(1) Sterilized substrates - spent coffee grounds and sawdust and Grain Spawn Plerotus Osteratus Mycelium.
(2) Sterilized substrate - Synthetic textiles
(3) Sterilized space pre-inoculation, my bedroom.

Substrates:

A range of organic and inorganic substrates can be used to grow mycelium, creating a composite material (mycocomposite). We started by using sawdust (1), coffee (2/3), rice husks (4), coconut husk fibers, and textiles as solid substrates. The final material property heavily depends on the chosen substrate. The substrate needs to be sterilized in a high-pressure cooker (30min) or autoclave (20min).

Contaminations - The Challange:

Contaminations are the biggest challenge faced when growing mycelium, as the environmental conditions are also suitable for the growth of other organisms in the fungal world, like mold, which contaminates the mycelium network.

Speculative Shoe Sole:

Made from a tri-material composite: coconut husk fiber for structure on the bottom and ground synthetic jeans on top for comfort.
Plerotus Osteratus Mycelium.

SPECIES CATALOGUE:

Each species of Mushroom is different and has a different Mycelium.
Alike plants and animals, each species has their peculiarities, morphology, and preferred lifestyle.

AGROCYBE AEGERITA

Characteristics: Mycelium is not as robust, and does not produce a lot of aerial mycelium, not able to harvest pure MySkin.
Ease of Growth: Moderate
Time of Growth: 4 to 6 weeks
Substrates: Hardwood logs, sawdust, and straw.
Humidity: 85-95%
Temperature: 20-25°C

LENTINULA EDODES

Characteristics: Robust growth, ideal for composites, delicate Mycelium Skin, stronger than Pleterous Osteratus Skin, not able to harvest pure MySkin.
Ease of Growth: Moderate
Time of Growth: 1 to 2 months
Substrates: Hardwood logs, sawdust supplemented with bran.
Humidity: 85-90%
Temperature: 20-26°C

PLEUROTUS OSTREATUS

Characteristics: Fast and robust growth, ability to degrade a variety of substrates including plastics. Fragile but pliable Mycelium Skin.
Ease of Growth: Very easy
Time of Growth: 10 days - 2 weeks
Substrates: Straw, rice husks, sawdust, coffee grounds, textiles, plastic, most versatile in terms of substrate….
Humidity: 85-95% Temperature: 20-24°C

GANODERMA LUCIDUM

Characteristics: Strong mycelium network, ideal of Mycelium Skin.
Ease of Growth: Moderate to difficult
Characteristics: Strong mycelium network, ideal of Mycelium Skin
Substrates: Hardwood logs, sawdust, and rice husks.
Humidity: 85-90%
Temperature: 25-30°C

PLEUROTUS CITRINOPILEATUS

Characteristics: Robust growth, strong mycelium network, grows in clusters so not ideal for Mycelium Skin material. very strong and sticky. Removes and changes substrate colors - especially, textiles with synthetic dyes. Specially interesting in regards to bioremediation and material development.
Ease of Growth: Modorate
Time of Growth: 2 to 4 weeks
Substrates: Straw, sawdust, coffee grounds, paper, and agricultural waste.
Humidity: 85-95%
Temperature: 20-24°C

+ RESEARCH

CONNECTION

The same block of colonized mycelium was divided in two. They were layered vertically and in between a ceramic plate and coffee caps were added to create a “tunnel of energy”. The mycelium digested the coffee inside the coffee caps and made its way vertically to join the other block. We did not re-mix the substrate, just added more waste (coffee caps).

GROWTH

Mycelium grows in circles in the forest, fairy rings. We wanted to test the theory indoors, the ball contains rice husks/sawdust as substrate, and a rubber anti-slip mat with tiny holes held together with a rubber elastic band to create the circle.

SYNTHETIC TEXTILES

Pleurotus Ostreatus Mycelium growing through and digesting plastic.
Cotton Jeans as a substrate on the left and Synthetic Jeans on the right.
1- Mycelial growth after 1 week
2- Mycelial growth after 2 weeks

AIR

Mushrooms (Oyster) spout where airflow is directed. Here, the mushroom punched through the covid mask. They can punch through plastic and inorganic materials, creating specific enzymes to digest them and reach oxygen.

WATER

Mycelium floats. This happens because chitin, the main component of the mycelial cell wall, is hydrophobic.