Mycowood: A New Era for Instruments

Mushroom Revival Podcast

Hear that...? Fungal violins have entered the music scene. This technology, known as Mycowood, uses fungi to partially degrade wood used to make violins; and it results in superior acoustics. We are joined by the scientist behind these innovative fungal projects, Dr. Javier Ribera, who is a materials scientist at EMPA with specialties in cellulose and wood materials. Javier walks us through the creation of Mycowood technology, and how this unique application could evolve in further wood-based design.

Topics Covered:

• The inspiration for creating Mycowood
• How climate change is physically altering our lumber supply
• The history, theory, and materials science of the famous Stradivarius Violin
• Wood as a material for resonance, and how fungi can be used to engineer the acoustics
• The three fungi tested by EMPA for Mycowood including Schizophyllum commune, Physisporinus vitreus, and Xylaria spp.
• Processes of creating Mycowood
• The current availability of Mycowood technologies

Show notes:

Dr. Javier Riberia’s Research Gate: https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Javier-Ribera-2

Interview with Francis Schwarze: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=48H_-CRuzWY

EMPA Website:https://www.empa.ch/

Violino ai funghi (Fungal Violin): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jlICRNzPoic

EMPA Report on Mycowood for Violins: https://www.empa.ch/web/s604/mycowood-violin?inheritRedirect=true

BIotech Stradivari: https://nph.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1002/ppp3.10097

Mycowood Violins in the NY Times: https://www.nytimes.com/2021/04/29/learning/mycowood-violins-a-different-kind-of-time-machine.html
www.mushroomrevival.com

We are a functional mushroom company and make 100% certified USDA Organic and Vegan mushroom supplements. We are transparent with our lab results, and use actual fruiting bodies aka mushrooms! We provide our supplements in tincture, capsule, powder, and delicious gummy form.

Energy (Cordyceps): Need a little pick-me-up before a workout or when you’re picking up your kids from school? The Energy Cordyceps is the mushy match for you.

Focus (Lion’s Mane): Needing a little more focus in your daily life? Lion’s Mane is known to be the mushroom for the brain and may support cognitive function.

Calm (Reishi): Looking for some tranquility and zen in your life? Reishi will bring you into the zen state of mind you’ve been searching for.

Daily 10 (Mushroom Mix): It’s like having 10 bodyguard mushrooms fighting off all those bad guys. This is a good place to start as it contains all of the daily mushies you need.

Not sure where to begin? Take our mushroom quiz here.

Use code ‘PODTREAT’ for a 30% discount.