Researchers at MIT have found a way to produce a wood-like material in the lab. The material can be used to ‘grow’ furniture without having to cut down trees.
The material is made from cells obtained from the leaves of a Zinnia elegans plant. The cells are cultured in a liquid for two days and then transferred to a gel-like substance containing nutrients and two different hormones.
Researchers can determine the properties of woody material by adjusting hormone levels. A higher hormone level results in a denser cell structure, resulting in a harder material. The achievable hardness is comparable to ‘real’ wood. With a 3d printer, the gel can be assembled in different shapes and sizes. It takes several months for the material to grow.
It’ll take some time before we get to the Zinnia table. For now, researchers will continue to experiment with cells to better understand their development and our impact on them. Eventually, they hope to be able to apply their method to other plant and tree species as well. The material from the zinnia plant is not real wood, but with cells taken from a tree, it may be possible to grow wood in a lab.
The full report of the investigation is available online here.
Source: MIT
Source: Hardware Info
