Aivan Korvaa: ultra-organic headphones made from grown material

For production 'organic headphones' the cooperation of the company was required Ivan and scientists of the technical research center VVT from Finland and the Aalto University there - they made the necessary components with their help synthetic of biology, which covers the use general mechanical biological principles, the result of which is reflected in material design, energy production and improvement of human health. But why exactly? headphones?

At Aivan, they were chosen because popularity and heaps different material, which is needed to assemble a pair of headphones - that's it pennies similar solid materials that keep them company mesh engineered materials. They used six different microbiologically 'bred' ingredients for the headphones, such as fungi and bioplastics.

The hard yet flexible material for the headphone frame is made of 3D-printed bioplastics, which is not based on gasoline, but on dairy acid and bakery yeast, and thus completely degradable. The soft lining for the ear part is made with help filamentous fungi trichoderma ressei, which is jokingly said at Aivan to produce the strongest natural bubbles. The fungus produces sparkling protein a hydrophobin that helps fungal cells grow into the air, out of moist soil.

Hydrophobin is then mixed with vegetable cellulose, to create a stable but still soft structure. The 'foam' is covered by the mycelium - long, thread-like roots of fungi, which have recently been used both in textile industry like in architecture. In this case, they use the fungus phanerochaete chrysosporium, which creates leather similar material.

For the needs grids they used inside the headphones biosynthetic spider's silk, which is produced by microbes and used in production electric flow. Through a complex process, they create a non-woven structure that can be connected in strongly and flexible yarn. Biosynthetic yarn is used to make strong ones fiber, which can be used in many ways, including as protection in bulletproof vests.

The other parts of the headphones are made of biosynthetic cellulose, and cellulose is one of the primary components of plants - it was grown in bioreactors, with the help of enzymes or microbes, which is a lot faster way, as if it were obtained through normal plant growth.

The team designed various molds from 3D-printed plastic, in which they then grew the necessary material. On average, it took a few days to 'grow' the material, but that only depended on the type and volume of the material. Some even had to to dehydrate by freezing to remove excess moisture. At Aivan, however, they spent 6 months for making bio headphones.

Korvaa means in the Finnish language the ear respectively replace – although headphones they are not completely working, used them to demonstrate the usefulness of microbiologically cultured materials in everyday use.

With a little more research and practice it will be possible one day replace plastic, as we know it now. The first step will be made in industry due to high costs prestigious products, and after a slightly longer time, we can expect such technology for production as well everyday ones objects.

Gallery: Aivan Korvaa