Scientists are always looking for new ways to work with nature to create eco-friendly solutions. In this project, they found a way to make wood glow using a natural fungus. This glowing wood could help save energy and offer a green alternative to electric lights.
Scientists have discovered a way to make wood glow in the dark by using a 2,400-year-old fungus known as honey fungus. This unique material is the result of combining living fungus with natural wood to create what’s called a biohybrid. After three months of careful lab work, the result was a block of wood that shines with a bright green light.
The research was led by scientists at Empa’s Cellulose & Wood Materials lab in St. Gallen, Switzerland. Their goal was to create smart and sustainable materials that could one day be used in real-world applications, such as lighting. By using the bioluminescent fungus Desarmillaria tabescens and light, low-density balsa wood, they developed a glowing material with potential uses in science, design and environmental technology.
Choosing Honey Fungus
Lead researcher Francis Schwarze tested different types of glowing mushrooms and found that honey fungus was especially effective. It naturally produces a chemical called luciferin, which causes it to glow, something people have known about since ancient times. In fact, Greek and Roman philosophers like Aristotle and Pliny the Elder wrote about glowing fungi over 2,000 years ago.
Balsa wood was chosen because of its lightweight and porous structure, which made it easier for the fungal threads to spread throughout the material.
Processing the Glow
Making the wood glow wasn’t simple. The team had to balance the right fungus, wood type, moisture level and environmental conditions. Moisture, in particular, played a key role. The wood had to be soaked in water to reach a moisture level between 700% and 1,200% before the fungus could be added.
During the three-month incubation period, the balsa wood absorbed water and nutrients. As it interacted with oxygen, it triggered a natural chemical reaction especially involving caffeic acid that caused the wood to start glowing. After about 10 hours, the green light reached its brightest point and continued to shine for around 10 days.
Naturally Lighting the Future
This glowing wood could one day become a sustainable alternative to electric lighting. Imagine night lights powered not by batteries or plugs, but by fungus-infused wood. It could help reduce energy use and even lower light pollution in cities.
However, there are still challenges. The light fades over time and researchers are now working on ways to make the glow last longer and shine brighter. They also need to better understand how different wood types, moisture levels and environmental conditions affect the brightness and stability of the glow.
The team believes that with more research, this natural lighting method could have a big impact in fields like design, architecture and sustainable technology. While there’s more work to do, this glowing wood represents a promising step toward eco-friendly innovations that work in harmony with nature.
This glowing wood could be a smart, eco-friendly way to light up spaces without using electricity. In the future, it might help reduce energy use, lower light pollution and offer a natural lighting option for homes, streets or even artwork. It’s a small glow today but it could light the way to a greener tomorrow.
