Researchers discovered that vermiculite, a naturally occurring mineral, is an excellent material for growing fungi that produce proteases—enzymes used in medicine, laundry detergents, and food processing. When Aspergillus fungi were grown on vermiculite using a technique called solid-state fermentation, they produced 3 to 18 times more protease than when grown on other materials. This discovery could make enzyme production more efficient and cost-effective for industrial applications.