How to make wood glow
Hardwood is increasingly being cultivated in Swiss forests and its sustainable utilisation requires new approaches. Empa researchers have developed a ground-breaking solution: Wood that glows green with the help of a fungus and, as a biohybrid, enables new applications in design and technology.
Empa researchers in St. Gallen have succeeded in endowing wood with new properties. Their latest breakthrough – luminous wood. This material is created by treating wood samples with the Hallimasch fungus, which emits a green light due to the natural substance luciferin.
From natural phenomenon to laboratory success
Luminescent wood is not a new phenomenon; Aristotle described the green glow of wood over 2,400 years ago. However, biotechnology has now succeeded for the first time in reproducing this process in the laboratory under controlled conditions. The decomposition of lignin preserves the tensile strength of the wood, while the fungal filaments produce the glow.
Sustainability and creativity in perfect symbiosis
This biohybrid material opens up new possibilities. In addition to technical applications, furniture, jewellery or other design elements could also be realised with the luminous wood. At the same time, this innovative use of hardwood contributes to sustainable cascade utilisation and reduces the energy recovery of the wood.
Optimising the luminosity
After three months of incubation, the luminous wood develops its maximum brightness. The process, which takes place under humid conditions, currently lasts around ten days. Researchers are working on further improving the luminosity and duration in order to make the material even more versatile in the future.
A pioneering solution
The luminous wood shows how natural resources can be transformed into new, sustainable applications using innovative technologies. The symbiosis of wood and fungus is a fascinating example of how research can contribute to solving ecological and economic challenges.