He crossed 26 miles in a kayak made from mushrooms – and lived to tell the tale
2 days ago
- #sustainability
- #mycelium
- #innovation
- Sam Shoemaker kayaked 26.4 miles from Catalina Island to San Pedro in a mushroom-grown kayak, marking the longest open-water journey in such a vessel.
- The kayak was made from mycelium, a fungal network, showcasing its potential as an eco-friendly alternative to plastics.
- Shoemaker's journey took 12 hours, during which he encountered a fin whale, which inspired him to complete the voyage.
- Mycelium-based materials, termed AquaFung, are lightweight, buoyant, and biodegradable, offering sustainable options for aquatic equipment.
- Shoemaker's work aligns with a growing community of artists and scientists exploring fungal innovation for practical applications.
- The project highlights the challenges of scaling mycelium production, as creating one kayak took a year and remains heavier than commercial options.
- Shoemaker plans to share his open-source research to inspire others to improve upon his designs.
- The success of mushroom-based materials in fashion (e.g., Stella McCartney's mushroom leather) hints at broader industrial potential.
- Despite optimism, Shoemaker cautions that mycelium is not yet a silver bullet for replacing plastics but represents a promising step forward.