Sheets of fungus could be used as eco-friendly fireproofing for homes

 Fungi can be pressed into thin sheets that resist fire by forming a protective coating of char, and they could be turned into fireproofing materials for buildings.

Thin sheets of compressed fungi have excellent fire-resistant properties and could be used as a non-toxic, biodegradable alternative to current fireproofing materials.

In the past, fireproofing materials were made with toxic, flame-retardant chemicals like asbestos and polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs). These have been replaced with other flame retardants such as organophosphates, which are considered safer, but some studies have linked these alternatives with brain toxicity and harm to aquatic organisms.