Music of the future: speaker construction with mushrooms
The Fraunhofer Institute IWU is researching whether mushroom mycelium is suitable for loudspeaker construction. This is because mushrooms absorb or reflect sound depending on their surface structure. Mushroom loudspeakers are still a long way off, but the initial results are promising.
I'll leave jokes about mushroom heads or psilocybin to the comments column. This is about something else: the Fraunhofer Institute for Machine Tools and Forming Technology (IWU) sees great potential for mushroom mycelium in loudspeaker construction. To this end, the researchers want to process the fungal tissue using 3D printing and then influence its growth.
The basic idea: fungal tissue takes on a wide variety of surface structures depending on how it is cultivated. This allows surfaces to be produced that are sound-absorbing or sound-reflecting as required. Mushroom mycelium has several advantages over other materials: It is inexpensive, biodegradable, renewable and does not require expensive resources. In contrast to conventional processes, no waste is generated during production. The mushroom material is also non-toxic, according to the press release.
Source: Fraunhofer
Source: Fraunhofer
Fraunhofer IWU explains the project using the example of transmission line loudspeakers. Speakers of this type redirect bass frequencies several times inside and have a complicated geometry. According to Fraunhofer IWU, such speakers could be manufactured more easily and cheaply using mushroom materials. Mushrooms are to be used not only for the insulating material, but also for the housing.
Source: Fraunhofer
My interest in IT and writing landed me in tech journalism early on (2000). I want to know how we can use technology without being used. Outside of the office, I’m a keen musician who makes up for lacking talent with excessive enthusiasm.