Scientists made a living dress out of Cordyceps that self-heals with potato water
Fashion just got weirdly biological. Researchers at SIAT built a living textile that literally feeds on starch water to fix its own rips, turning zombie fungi into self-repairing clothing.
The team led by Ke Li at the Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology collaborated with design firm Peelsphere to craft a prototype dress using living mycelium from the Cordyceps militaris fungus.
After being processed and dried at 45°C, the fungal material enters a low-metabolic hibernation state where it remains flexible like standard fabric while retaining its biological functions.
To activate self-repair, users apply a nutrient solution made of potato water to damaged spots. Adding a tiny scrap of fresh fungus along with the starch broth makes the dormant cells sprout new fungal threads, seamlessly fusing holes without needing thread or glue.
The engineering platform published in Science Advances treats mycelium as a modular base structure. Mixing in different yeast or fungus strains allows the material to self-pigment blue or gain natural ultraviolet light resistance, while its inherent hydrophobic structure makes it naturally stain-resistant.
The dream of never sewing a rip again comes with the small caveat of nursing an actual mold colony in the closet. Humanity is one missed watering away from having their wardrobe attempt to colonize the living room carpet.
Source: Science Advances
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