Scientists at Empa’s Cellulose & Wood Materials Lab in Switzerland have created glowing wood using fungus. By combining balsa wood and the honey fungus (Desarmillaria tabescens), researchers made wood that shines bright green. The fungus produces luciferin, the substance that causes the glow known as “foxfire.”
The researchers chose balsa wood because of its light density, which allowed it to absorb eight times its weight during the process. Over 10 days, the wood developed a chemical reaction that made it glow for up to 10 hours.
This bioluminescent wood could provide an electricity-free light source, offering a low-energy alternative for lighting solutions.
