What if plastic could detect light or clean wastewater? This is precisely the principle behind the idea of bioengineered living, “functional” materials. This clever study used the kombucha technique to grow a starchy material (similar to ingredients of biodegradable plastic) that can detect light, remove hormones from wastewater, and more.
Engineered living materials are composed of both synthetic materials and living cells. They are made in a lab to do things, like respond to…