A vegan leather made of dormant fungi can repair itself

The fungi can regrow, potentially fixing tears in items one day made from the alternative leather

Fungus mycelium growing on a decaying trunk.

Fungi’s threadlike structures called mycelium (shown) have been made into a leather alternative. Researchers have found a way to coax the mycelium in the leather to regrow after the material has been punctured.

HHelene/Getty Images Plus

Imagine if a ripped leather jacket could repair itself instead of needing to be replaced.