Biosolutions beneath our feet: How fungi are rewriting roads and pavements

There’s a biosolution for … man’ best friend

Feeding our furry friends is a careful balancing act: Pet food must be irresistible enough that they eat it consistently, yet also provide the nutrition they need to thrive. Crafting food that hits both marks is one of the central challenges of modern pet nutrition — and enzymes and microbes are playing an important role in this equation. Pets do not choose what they eat. Their daily nourishment depends entirely on what we place in their bowl, and that makes feeding far more than a routine task. To keep pets eating it day after day, pet food must not only be appealing; it must also deliver the essential nutrients they need to function properly and enjoy life with their families. This audio article is part of The Biosolutions Bulletin. For the text version of this article and to get The Biosolutions Bulletin delivered monthly directly to your inbox, please go to: https://www.novonesis.com/en/biosolutions-bulletin [https://www.novonesis.com/en/biosolutions-bulletin]

Who let the dogs in?

How did pets evolve from independent, working animals to cherished family members, and what does a 100% human-managed life mean for their health and well-being? In this article, we’ll be tracing their journey from helpers to furry family. Do you have a pet dog at home? When was the last time your dog helped you hunt a fowl or a fox, marched beside you into battle, or carried you across snowy landscapes on a sled? Most probably, never. For most of human history, dogs, and pets in general, were valued primarily for what they did, not simply for who they were. The transformation of pets from useful companions into deeply loved family members is relatively recent. Interestingly, this shift is also connected to a growing set of health challenges seen in modern pets, which we’ll explore later. Today, many kinds of animals live in human homes, but dogs and cats remain the most common companions. This audio article is part of The Biosolutions Bulletin. For the text version of this article and to get The Biosolutions Bulletin delivered monthly directly to your inbox, please go to: https://www.novonesis.com/en/biosolutions-bulletin [https://www.novonesis.com/en/biosolutions-bulletin]

Rethinking the materials that hold the modern world together

The widespread use of cement and bitumen (the binding ingredient in asphalt) has shaped the buildings we live in and the roads we travel on, making modern infrastructure possible. But it has also created a deep dependence on fossil fuels and energy-intensive production.   To appreciate why alternatives like those explored in “Biosolutions beneath our feet”  are being considered, it helps to first examine how these conventional materials came to dominate — and the challenges that now accompany their continued use.   In this episode of the Biosolutions Bulletin by Novonesis, you will learn how we could rethink the materials that hold the modern world together.   This audio article is part of The Biosolutions Bulletin. For the text version of this article and to get The Biosolutions Bulletin delivered monthly directly to your inbox, please go to: https://www.novonesis.com/en/biosolutions-bulletin [https://www.novonesis.com/en/biosolutions-bulletin]

Biosolutions beneath our feet: How fungi are rewriting roads and pavements

What if the materials holding our roads and pavements together didn’t come from burning fuel or melting rock — but from life itself?  In conventional infrastructure, binders like cement and bitumen rely on force. Fungal binders work differently: they don’t need heat or chemistry. Instead, the fungus spreads through sand, gravel, and stone, weaving a dense, interwoven network that binds the particles together with strength born from entanglement and natural adhesion. It sounds almost magical — yet it is biology, not fantasy, quietly shaping the roads beneath our feet.   In this episode of the Biosolutions Bulletin by Novonesis you will learn about biosolutions beneath our feet and how fungi are rewriting toads and pavements.  This audio article is part of The Biosolutions Bulletin. For the text version of this article and to get The Biosolutions Bulletin delivered monthly directly to your inbox, please go to: https://www.novonesis.com/en/biosolutions-bulletin [https://www.novonesis.com/en/biosolutions-bulletin]

Pulp nonfiction: The story of paper and why it still matters

With biosolutions taking the center stage, it’s the story of how an industry once defined by heavy machinery and chemical use began learning from the lightest touch in nature. From its first known sheets in China, paper has played an indispensable role in human life, and for almost 1,800 years, the possible environmental and health impacts of its production went largely unnoticed. This audio article is part of The Biosolutions Bulletin. For the text version of this article and to get The Biosolutions Bulletin delivered monthly directly to your inbox, please go to: https://www.novonesis.com/en/biosolutions-bulletin [https://www.novonesis.com/en/biosolutions-bulletin]