When trees fall into peat bogs or riverbeds, nature begins a slow transformation. Starved of oxygen and buried in mud, the wood gradually darkens, densifies, and mineralises. Centuries later, these trunks sometimes reemerge as prized “ancient buried wood,” known for its rot resistance and marble-like sheen. Now, a team of international scientists has found a way to replicate that natural upgrade—only faster, cleaner, and at an industrial scale.
The result is BioStrong Wood, a material that’s not only stronger than stainless steel but also lighter, more sustainable, and surprisingly much more affordable. “Wood is one of the most accessible biological materials, but outside its conventional use, it is barely being explored for high‑performance applications,” said Professor Erlantz Lizundia, a lead researcher from the University of the Basque Country who published research in Science Advances. “Our results show that it is possible to obtain materials with a very high mechanical performance and which are, in turn, economically viable and offer carbon capture capabilities.”
Developed through a collaboration between the University of the Basque Country (EHU) in Spain, Wuhan University, and the Chinese Academy of Sciences, BioStrong Wood is the end product of a three-step process that mimics the fossilisation of ancient timber.
First, planks of fast-growing poplar and radiata pine are inoculated with white-rot fungi. These microbes selectively digest lignin—the glue-like polymer that binds wood fibres—while leaving the strong cellulose framework intact. Next, a mild alkaline wash halts the fungal activity and clears away low-molecular-weight residues. Finally, the boards are hot-pressed at temperatures above 180°C, collapsing cell walls and fusing fragmented lignin into new carbon–carbon bonds.
The result is a dense, horn-like slab that retains up to 85% of its original mass—far more than acid-treated “super woods.”
Mechanical testing revealed that BioStrong Wood can withstand tensile stresses above 530 MPa, edging out the 520 MPa benchmark of SAE 304 stainless steel. It also absorbs over eleven times more energy before fracturing compared to untreated wood. Flexural strength tripled, and the material remained stable across extreme temperature swings from –196°C to 120°C. Water resistance is another standout feature: with contact angles near 140°, the wood repels moisture effectively, showing minimal swelling or mildew even under accelerated weathering conditions.
Behind these numbers lies a reengineered microarchitecture.
X-ray diffraction shows increased cellulose crystallinity, while scanning electron microscopy reveals a near-total elimination of pores. Reformed lignin acts like a natural epoxy, locking cellulose sheets together and sealing off pathways for water and oxygen. But strength is only half the story. Sustainability is where BioStrong Wood truly shines. A life-cycle analysis found that each kilogram of the material sequesters approximately 1.2 kilograms of CO₂—even after accounting for energy use and chemical inputs. That’s a stark contrast to steel, which emits 1.9 kilograms of CO₂ per kilogram produced, and glass-fibre composites, which can reach 5 kilograms. Production costs are equally promising, with estimates placing BioStrong Wood at around CNY 2 (US$0.30) per kilogram—making it competitive with plywood and dramatically cheaper than aerospace-grade polymers.
Early prototypes suggest a wide range of applications, from vehicle panels and sports equipment to impact-resistant phone cases and cryogenic insulation supports. The material’s aesthetic resemblance to fossilised wood also makes it suitable for exposed architectural beams.
Because the process works with multiple wood species, regional mills could use local forestry residues—reducing reliance on imported steel or petrochemical resins. Researchers are already experimenting with faster fungal strains and shorter incubation times to scale production from days to hours. Challenges remain, especially around fire certification and end-of-life recycling – with controlled pyrolysis to biochar one potential pathway. But the team is optimistic that BioStrong Wood could soon meet building codes and industrial standards. If trials succeed, the researchers said planks may top skyscrapers, line vehicles, or shield spacecraft: “Even in advanced engineering, timber has a place—and now, it might just outmuscle metal,” they said.
For more information: Ziyang Lu et al, A superstrong, decarbonizing structural material enabled by microbe-assisted cell wall engineering via a biomechanochemical process, Science Advances (2025). DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.ady0183. Journal information: Science Advances
