Invention: Explosive-eating fungus

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Invention: Explosive-eating fungus

18:09 21 February 2006

NewScientist.com news service

Barry Fox

http://www.newscientist.com/article.ns?id=dn8755

For over 30 years, Barry Fox has trawled through the world's weird

and wonderful patent applications, uncovering the most exciting,

bizarre or even terrifying new ideas. His column, Invention, is

exclusively online. Scroll down for a roundup of previous Invention

articles.

Explosive-eating fungus

Could fungus counter the explosive power of dynamite? That's the

idea behind a patent filed by Riggs of Texas, US.

When explosives are used for mining or demolition, some may fail to

detonate and get lost in the rubble. Riggs reckons the remedy could

be to mix pellets of dormant fungal spores in with the explosive

charge before inserting the wick into the explosive package.

The dry spores lie dormant while the explosives are in storage and,

if the charge detonates as intended, will get blown to smithereens.

But if the explosive fails to detonate, water from the air should

migrate down the wick and into the charge. The spores should then

germinate and devour the charge, rendering it harmless.

The white-rot fungus Phlebia radiate is particularly fond of high

explosives, according to the patent. And the speed at which it

gobbles the stuff up depends on the number of pellets added: 5

pellets per stick for slow degradation or 30 to make it safe after

just a few days.

Read the explosive-gobbling fungus patent here.