
This past Spring, RPI student Kevin Chen experimented with different methods for composting corn-based polymers used in 3-D printing. In this photo, we are testing the ability of oyster mushrooms to degrade a “rabbit” made from the material. The fact that fungal mycelium are growing on the rabbit’s surface indicates that they have begun to utilize it as a nutrient source.
This has to be the coolest application of 3D printing I’ve seen so far. I think it’s going to be big in a couple years as more people find out about it.