Engineers invented an ultra-hard concrete alternative made of fungus and bacteria

Concrete is everywhere—from skyscrapers to sidewalks. But it comes at a steep environmental cost. Cement, the key ingredient in concrete, is responsible for about eight percent of global carbon dioxide emissions, and finding a greener replacement is one of the biggest challenges in sustainable construction.

Now, engineers from Montana State University have developed a promising new material that might just rise to the occasion. This fungi-based concrete alternative uses fungal mycelium and bacteria to create a durable...