With heatwaves expected to soar this summer, staying cool isn’t just about comfort, it’s a matter of survival. But relying heavily on air conditioning consumes huge amounts of energy and harms both wallets and the environment. Scientists in Singapore believe they’ve found a better way to cool buildings by copying elephants. Elephants: Nature’s heat experts Elephants thrive in hot, humid climates without the help of sweat glands. Instead, their deeply wrinkled skin helps them stay cool. The wrinkles trap water and increase the surface area, boosting evaporation and cooling the body naturally. Inspired by this, scientists from Nanyang Technological University (NTU) and bioSEA, a biomimicry design firm, wondered: Can we build walls that cool like elephants do? Wrinkled tiles made from mushrooms To replicate this effect, the team developed special wall tiles shaped like hexagons. These tiles are made from a unique, eco-friendly material called mycelium — the root-like structure of fungi combined with agricultural waste like bamboo shavings and oats. The surface of the tile mimics the wrinkled texture of elephant skin. This design helps cool spaces more efficiently by trapping cool air and increasing surface area for water evaporation. Impressive lab results When tested, these textured tiles cooled 25% faster than smooth tiles made of the same material. They performed best when installed with the flat side attached to a building and the wrinkled side facing out. The team used oyster mushroom mycelium for the experiment. The mixture was packed into molds and left to grow in darkness for two weeks, then dried in an oven to prevent further growth. The result? A biodegradable, porous tile that acts as a natural insulator. A step toward greener construction Unlike most synthetic insulation materials, these mycelium tiles are sustainable from start to finish. They use waste products, require little energy to make, and break down naturally when discarded. Now, the team in partnership with a startup called Mykílio is exploring how to scale up production and test the tiles on actual buildings. Despite the time needed to grow each tile, the low energy cost and environmental benefits could make this nature-inspired solution a game-changer. As lead researcher Prof. Hortense Le Ferrand says, “This could reshape how we think about cooling buildings — with nature guiding the way.”
