fungi-infused wood
Glows-in-the-Dark

Francis Schwarze and his team at Empa’s Cellulose & Wood Materials lab in St. Gallen have harnessed the power of fungi to co-create (with nature) glow-in-the-dark wood.

The Light Source? Bioluminescent Fungi

The glow comes from is the ringless honey fungus, a parasitic organism often associated with tree rot. While its destructive tendencies may seem like a drawback, the fungus has a hidden talent—it produces luciferin, a compound responsible for bioluminescence. Through a two-stage reaction, the fungus activates luciferin, causing the wood it inhabits to emit a gentle green glow.

This process begins with fungal threads infiltrating the wood, spreading like a delicate web through its structure. The result? A luminous material that combines living fungal cells with the non-living fibers of wood—a true biohybrid.

The possibilities of Glow-in-the-Dark

We humans love to light up the dark, so the potential for this glowing material is vast. Especially considering how universally we use wood now. From furniture, to architecture, urban lighting, to even jewelry, providing sustainable aesthetics that look electric.

From Lab to Life

For the first time, researchers have replicated and controlled this bioluminescent process in a lab, proving that it’s not just a novelty but a scalable technology. The ability to fine-tune the glow and integrate it into wooden materials opens doors to practical, sustainable solutions for modern living.

Discoveries like these bridge the gap between nature and technology. Perhaps it will inspire more solutions and innovations from the earth.