Abstract: A mycelium growth bed for optimal production of pure mycelium or a pure mycelium composite with controlled or predictable properties, the bed comprising a tray, a conveying platform, a permeable membrane, a substrate, and a porous material. The permeable membrane is positioned on the conveying platform within the tray. The substrate is positioned on the permeable membrane and the porous material is positioned on top of the substrate. The system provides a configuration wherein the CO2 concentration is held above 3%, the relative humidity is held above 40% and the O2 concentration is held below 20% in steady state conditions to produce leather-like mycelium without fruiting bodies.

Abstract: Packaging may include a base box and a lid having a tamper-evident seal. The tamper-evident seal may include a paper substrate having a first adhesive portion configured to attach to a side panel of the base box, a second adhesive portion configured to attach to a second side panel of the lid. The first and second adhesive portions may be disposed on opposing sides of the paper substrate, and a tab configured to be accessible on an exterior of a package when the tamper-evident seal is applied may be a part of the paper substrate. When the tab is pulled with sufficient force, the paper substrate tears such that the first adhesive portion and the second adhesive portion remain fixed to the first and second side panels, respectively, while the remainder of the paper substrate tears free so that the packaging may be opened.

Abstract: A mycelium growth bed for optimal production of pure mycelium or a pure mycelium composite with controlled or predictable properties, the bed comprising a tray, a conveying platform, a permeable membrane, a substrate, and a porous material. The permeable membrane is positioned on the conveying platform within the tray. The substrate is positioned on the permeable membrane and the porous material is positioned on top of the substrate. The system provides a configuration wherein the CO2 concentration is held above 3%, the relative humidity is held above 40% and the O2 concentration is held below 20% in steady state conditions to produce leather-like mycelium without fruiting bodies.

Abstract: The present disclosure generally relates to an ozone sanitizing system and method. In one embodiment, a system for sanitizing various objects using ozone gas is disclosed. The system comprises an ozone generating device configured to generate ozone gas for sanitizing one or more objects, and a vessel configured to couple with the ozone generating device for receiving the ozone gas to sanitize the one or more objects stored inside the vessel during an ozone sanitizing cycle. The system is configured to recirculate at least a gas mixture generated during the ozone sanitizing cycle to increase an ozone concentration inside the vessel.

Abstract: An unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) for a remote oceanic environment includes a float system, at least one electric motor, and a seawater battery. The float system allows the UAV to maintain buoyancy on a body of water. The electric motor or motors produce the required lift for the UAV to achieve and maintain flight. The flight includes the UAV landing on the body of water and takeoff from the body of water. The seawater battery directly or indirectly powers the electric motor or motors using seawater from the body of water while the UAV is floating on the body of water.

Abstract: A mycelium growth bed for optimal production of pure mycelium or a pure mycelium composite with controlled or predictable properties, the bed comprising a tray, a conveying platform, a permeable membrane, a substrate, a porous material and a lid. The permeable membrane is positioned on the conveying platform within the tray. The substrate is positioned on the permeable membrane and the porous material is positioned on top of the substrate. The system provides a configuration having a substrate weight to surrounding space volume ratio between 0.5 and 5.0 g/cc, an air volume (surrounding space) to substrate volume between 0.01 and 1.0, and an air volume (surrounding space) to substrate area is between 0.5 and 5 cc/cm, wherein the CO2 concentration is held above 3%, the relative humidity is held above 40% and the O2 concentration is held below 20% in steady state conditions to produce leather-like mycelium without fruiting bodies.

Abstract: The present disclosure generally relates to an ozone sanitizing system and method. In one embodiment, a system for sanitizing various objects using ozone gas is disclosed. The system comprises an ozone generating device configured generate ozone gas for sanitizing one or more objects, and a vessel configured to couple with the ozone generating device for receiving the ozone gas to sanitize the one or more objects stored inside the vessel during an ozone sanitizing cycle. The system is configured to recirculate at least a gas mixture generated during the ozone sanitizing cycle to increase an ozone concentration inside the vessel.

Abstract: The present disclosure generally relates to an ozone sanitizing system and method. In one embodiment, a system for sanitizing various objects using ozone gas is disclosed. The system comprises an ozone generating device configured to generate ozone gas for sanitizing one or more objects, and a vessel configured to couple with the ozone generating device for receiving the ozone gas to sanitize the one or more objects stored inside the vessel during an ozone sanitizing cycle. The system is configured to recirculate at least a gas mixture generated during the ozone sanitizing cycle to increase an ozone concentration inside the vessel.

Abstract: The present disclosure generally relates to an ozone sanitizing system and method. In one embodiment, a system for sanitizing various objects using ozone gas is disclosed. The system comprises an ozone generating device configured generate ozone gas for sanitizing one or more objects, and a vessel configured to couple with the ozone generating device for receiving the ozone gas to sanitize the one or more objects stored inside the vessel during an ozone sanitizing cycle. The system is configured to recirculate at least a gas mixture generated during the ozone sanitizing cycle to increase an ozone concentration inside the vessel.

Abstract: A mycelium growth bed for growing a solid substrate-bound mycelium through which the mycelium composite is easily and readily removed. This is achieved through the use of a perforation layer embedded between the mycelium substrate and the mycelium composite so as to create a uniform structural weakness and thereby enhancing harvesting abilities of the ex-substrate mycelium via a greatly reduced and uniform tear strength. The perforation layer, through which the mycelium grows, allows for the gated and controlled extrusion of a matrix of colonial cells that may be easily and uniformly delaminated from the underlying mycelium substrate.

Abstract: The present disclosure generally relates to an ozone sanitizing system and method. In one embodiment, a system for sanitizing various objects using ozone gas is disclosed. The system comprises an ozone generating device configured to generate ozone gas for sanitizing one or more objects, and a vessel configured to couple with the ozone generating device for receiving the ozone gas to sanitize the one or more objects stored inside the vessel during an ozone sanitizing cycle. The system is configured to recirculate at least a gas mixture generated during the ozone sanitizing cycle to increase an ozone concentration inside the vessel.

Abstract: An abrasion resistant finish for a fungal material, the finishing comprising an optimum quantity biodegradable polylactic acid plastic (PLA) dispersed in water to produce a PLA mixture. When the PLA mixture is applied to the fungal material, water carries the PLA deeply into the matrix of the fungal hyphae to a depth at least 2 N/10 mm or 1% of the thickness of the fungal material, whichever is greater. The finish fortifies the hyphal structure as the water evaporates and creates a PLA coating on the fungal material with improved abrasion resistance and water resistance.

Abstract: A mycelium growth bed for optimal production of pure mycelium or a pure mycelium composite with controlled or predictable properties, the bed comprising a tray, a conveying platform, a permeable membrane, a substrate, a porous material and a lid. The permeable membrane is positioned on the conveying platform within the tray. The substrate is positioned on the permeable membrane and the porous material is positioned on top of the substrate. The system provides a configuration having a substrate weight to surrounding space volume ratio between 0.5 and 5.0 g/cc, an air volume (surrounding space) to substrate volume between 0.01 and 1.0, and an air volume (surrounding space) to substrate area is between 0.5 and 5 cc/cm, wherein the CO2 concentration is held above 3%, the relative humidity is held above 40% and the O2 concentration is held below 20% in steady state conditions to produce leather-like mycelium without fruiting bodies.

Abstract: A method for reducing and determining coefficient of friction of a mycelium for improving a plurality of mechanical properties of the mycelium. In the method, a first mycelium layer is contacted with an abrasive and pressure apparatus for smoothing and altering a microstructure of the mycelium. The smoothing of the mycelium microstructure reduces the coefficient of friction of the mycelium thereby enhancing the abrasion resistance of the mycelium. The coefficient of friction of the mycelium surface reduced through smoothing of the mycelium surface is determined utilizing a tilt angle mechanism.

Abstract: The present disclosure generally relates to an ozone sanitizing system and method. In one embodiment, a system for sanitizing various objects using ozone gas is disclosed. The system comprises an ozone generating device configured to generate ozone gas for sanitizing one or more objects, and a vessel configured to couple with the ozone generating device for receiving the ozone gas to sanitize the one or more objects stored inside the vessel during an ozone sanitizing cycle. The system is configured to recirculate at least a gas mixture generated during the ozone sanitizing cycle to increase an ozone concentration inside the vessel.

Abstract: A flexible fungal composite with an engineered and/or improved mechanical properties such as tear strength, tensile strength and resistance to separation. The fungal composite is generated by embedding a second material within a fungal matrix. The tear strength of the fungal composite is greater than the tear strength of the fungal matrix. The tensile strength of the fungal composite is at least equal to the tensile strength of the embedded material. And the resistance to delamination between the fungal matrix and the embedded material is such that the force required to separate the fungal matrix and the embedded material from each other is greater than or equal to the force required to separate the fungal matrix or the embedded material from themselves.

Abstract: Fungal crosslinked structures, fungal crosslinking systems, and methods for crosslinking a fungal material. The crosslinked fungal material described herein comprises a variety of crosslinkers, crosslinking sites, and various combinations of crosslinks, each forming unique structures. The crosslinked fungal material comprises at least one crosslinking compound attached to a bonding site. The fungal crosslinking system includes a preparation unit, an impregnating unit, a crosslinking unit and a rinsing unit. The preparation unit may partially deacetylate chitin within the fungal material and within chitin nanowhiskers. The impregnating unit impregnates the fungal material with chitin nanowhiskers. The crosslinking unit is configured to crosslink the fungal material and chitin nanowhiskers via genipin to create a composite material. The rinsing unit rinses and removes unreacted genipin material thereby rendering a crosslinked composite material.

Abstract: A thermoelectric generating unit includes a hot-side heat exchanger (HHX) including one or more discrete channels and substantially flat first and second cold-side plates. A first plurality of thermoelectric devices are between the first cold-side plate and a first side of the HHX; and a second plurality of thermoelectric devices can be between the second cold-side plate and a second side of the HHX. Fasteners can extend between the first and second cold-side plates at locations outside of the HHX channel(s). The fasteners can be disposed within gaps between the thermoelectric devices of the first plurality and within gaps between the thermoelectric devices of the second plurality. The fasteners can compress the first plurality of thermoelectric devices between the first cold-side plate and the first side of the HHX and can compress the second plurality of thermoelectric devices between the second cold-side plate and the second side of the HHX.

Abstract: Under one aspect, a structure includes a tetrahedrite substrate; a first contact metal layer disposed over and in direct contact with the tetrahedrite substrate; and a second contact metal layer disposed over the first contact metal layer. A thermoelectric device can include such a structure. Under another aspect, a method includes providing a tetrahedrite substrate; disposing a first contact metal layer over and in direct contact with the tetrahedrite substrate; and disposing a second contact metal layer over the first contact metal layer. A method of making a thermoelectric device can include such a method.

Abstract: A thermoelectric generator includes a tapered inlet manifold including first and second non-parallel sides; first and second pluralities of outlet manifolds; and thermoelectric generating units (TGUs) each including a hot-side heat exchanger (HHX) with inlet and outlet; a cold-side heat exchanger (CHX); and thermoelectric devices arranged between the HHX and CHX. The inlets of some of the HHXs receive exhaust gas from the first side of the tapered inlet manifold and the outlets of those HHXs are coupled to outlet manifolds of the first plurality of outlet manifolds. The inlets of other of the HHXs receive exhaust gas from the second side of the tapered inlet manifold and the outlets of those HHXs are coupled to outlet manifolds of the second plurality of outlet manifolds. The thermoelectric devices can generate electricity responsive to a temperature differential between the exhaust gas and the CHXs.