Scientists create self-healing wearable mycelium leather & more environmental news.

[View this email in your browser]( Friday, April 28, 2023 "Try to leave the Earth a better place than when you arrived." — Sidney Sheldon Scientists Create Self-Healing Wearable Mycelium Leather Mycelium is the root system of [fungi]( — like [mushrooms]( — that consists of thin, hair-like tissue filaments. This rich network of fungal threads — called hyphae — grows in [soil]( substrate or on places like rotting [tree]( trunks. The mass of roots collects nutrients and [water]( as well as anchors and supports the mushroom fruit, though some mycelia species don’t produce mushrooms. [Read More]( Related: [Cultivating Mushrooms by Trees Could Feed Millions While Mitigating Climate Change, Research Finds]( 9 National Parks You’ll Need Permits to Visit This Summer Since the [National Park Service]( began recording visitorship in 1904, an estimated 15.7 billion visitors have come to enjoy America’s beautiful national parks. These cultural, historical and natural landmarks are popular vacation destinations for many, but their popularity is concentrated in a few key areas — [half of all visitors have gone to the same 25 units]( within the national park system. Here’s all you need to know about booking your visit to these nine spectacular national parks. [Read More]( Related: [Rare Yosemite National Park Closure Prompted by Flood Risk From Rapid Snowmelt]( Microplastics 101: Everything You Need to Know We use a lot of plastic. Since the 1950s, more than 8.3 billion tons of plastic has been produced by humans. All in all, only 9% of these plastics have actually been recycled, and the rest has either been incinerated or landed up in landfills — and, in many cases, in the natural environment, especially waterways and oceans. At our current rate of plastic production and disposal, our oceans are on track to contain more plastic than fish as soon as 2050. [Read More]( Related: [Algae Growing Under Arctic Sea Ice Found Contaminated by Microplastics]( A Guide for the Eco-Friendly Beer Drinker How do you pick the greenest beer off the shelf? Unlike wine – which has a lot more regulations and certifications that make purchasing a [sustainable bottle]( more straightforward – beer doesn’t have universal unique certifications or labels to indicate their sustainability efforts. Some smaller initiatives are taking place – Iowa launched the [Iowa Green Brewery Certification]( in 2017, for one – but choosing an eco-friendly beer usually requires more attention to the practices of individual breweries. [Read More]( Related: [The Ultimate Fast Food Guide for Vegans and Vegetarians]( Do you get this newsletter daily? If not, [sign up here]( or forward to a friend. [Facebook]( [Twitter]( [Website]( [Instagram]( Copyright © 2023 EcoWatch, All rights reserved. You are receiving this email because you signed up for EcoWatch Top News of The Day Our mailing address is: EcoWatch 1122 Oberlin RoadRaleigh, NC 27605 [Add us to your address book]( Want to change how you receive these emails? You can [update your preferences]( or [unsubscribe from this list](. [Mailchimp Email Marketing](