Scientists have developed a leather-like material grown from mushroom mycelium (the root structure of fungi) that can match the strength of animal leather through a process called cross-linking or tanning. They tested different cross-linking chemicals—both synthetic ones like glutaraldehyde and natural plant extracts—and found that these chemicals improve the material’s strength and durability. The best results came from treating the mycelium with a low concentration of glutaraldehyde, which made it nearly as strong as real leather while using a sustainable, environmentally-friendly process.