Mushrooms, the cleanest technology on earth

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Philip Ross has spent the last 20 years of his life experimenting with mushrooms. No, not in that way – he's interested in the material properties of mycelium, the vegetative body of fungus.

Ross's work with mycelium started out as an artistic experiment, with him building furniture out of the material. But it quickly ballooned into something much bigger: he started building structures, and eventually started a company to research the unique properties of mushrooms. Now, Ross believes he's found a revolutionary new building material.

Ross's new, mushroom-based material is made entirely from agricultural waste, so it's eco-friendly. It's waterproof and fireproof. It's able to float. It's stronger than concrete. It can be used to make everything from bricks, to batteries, to glass, to shoes.

The work of Philip Ross and his team of mycologists has been captured in a new documentary, Built With The Cleanest Technology On Earth – Nature, part of Mazda's 'Challenge Convention To Make This Better' film series, which champions nonconformists the world over. Watch the film here.

For more unbelievable stories of inspirational oddballs, head to Mazda Rebels.